Page 103 of Mark & Don't Tell

“And you?”

“I’ve never felt more content. Never felt more sure that my pack is taken care of. Never felt such...relief. You’re going to be good for us. I only hope we’ll be good enough for you.” He lets his gaze stray around the room. “This was Felicia’s nest.”

That explains why I don’t like it.

“Vic ripped it apart when she left,” he says softly, finally coming into the room with me. His frown deepens, and he scowls as he glances around, as if he can sense the wrongness too.

“I don’t like this room.” The words come out with the undercurrent of a growl. My instincts are screaming that there’s a threat somewhere in here. Even though there’s nothing left, even though I can’t smell that omega’s scent, she’s left something behind. Something vicious.

Kai pulls me into his arms. “You can do whatever you want with it. We can seal it up, so you never have to come into it again.” He brushes his cheek over mine, marking me. The citrus soothes some of my discontent, but it’s not enough to chase away the chill of wrongness that’s settled in my bones. “You can turn it into your closet or an office or whatever you want.”

“I was looking for a room for my nest.”

Kai hums and runs his hands over my back, soothing me. “I think I know the perfect spot.” One of his palms floats down my back so he can grab my hand. Facing me, he backs toward the door and searches my face. “Are you okay?”

I’m not sure. I knew about the ex, but seeing the room and what Vic did to it sort of makes it real, if that makes sense. Before, to me, she was only a figment of their past. Now, though? Now, I sort of feel like hunting her down and ripping her head off.

It’s obvious that whatever happened really hurt the guys, Vic especially. I remember the way he looked at me that night we met, like he expected rejection, like an omega would never want a beta.

She did that to him.

Another growl builds in the back of my throat.

“Vic, Linc!” Kai calls as he leads me out of the room. “Come here.”

They appear out of what’ll be my bedroom down the hall. When they see where we are, what space we emerged from, the two of them exchange quick, worried glances before rushing over.

“I found her in there,” Kai tells them. “She’s really upset.”

“Let’s get her to her bedroom,” Lincoln says.

“No!” My shout startles them, but I don’t care. “Vic’s room. I want to go to Vic’s.”

Understanding passes between them, the silent sort of communication that only comes with years of knowing each other. Years of being a family.

So much history that I’m not a part of. It’s absolutely irrational to be jealous of their lives before me—of time I didn’t have with them—but I am.

“Ready for another ride, bunny?” Lincoln asks seconds before he scoops me up bridal style and strides to Vic’s room.

The guys are right behind us. Vic’s eyebrows are pinched together. I hate that. I don’t want him to feel anything other than good. He’s amazing. How could anyone ever make him think something different?

Compared to the other room, Vic’s is like a breath of fresh air. Not only does it already smell like me—thank you, Quinn, for your wonderful diffusing oils—it also smells like him. The energy here is steady. Nothing sinister. No lingering emotions hang in the air. Here, it’s simply warmth and protection.

Exactly what we need.

Lincoln sets me on the bed, and I scoot to the middle as they all stand at the side, waiting for me to do something.

“Come cuddle,” I tell Vic first, holding out my arms to him.

The line between his eyebrows is still there as he kicks off his shoes and climbs onto the mattress. I lie on my side, and instead of turning over so he can spoon me, I face him and wiggle my body as close to his as I can get it, tossing my leg over his hip and securing him to me. Meeting his eyes, I run my fingers through his hair, lightly scraping my nails over his scalp.

“You’re my beta, Vic.”

He swallows. “I know.”

I shake my head and run my palm down to cup his cheek. “No, I don’t think you understand. You’re mine. You were always meant to be mine, and you’re more than I ever could have dreamed of. I don’t know what Felicia did to you, but I promise I’ll never make you doubt your place. You belong here.” I grab his hand and put it over my heart, the tank top I’m wearing cut low enough that his palm warms my skin.

The pads of his fingers flex, and his eyes bounce between mine, almost like he’s not sure if anything I’m saying is real.

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