Page 141 of Mark & Don't Tell

“I think Vic is smoldering at you,” Marco stage whispers.

“He does that.” I turn back to my brother. “You can go sit with them, or you can help me make breakfast, whatever makes you comfortable.”

“I’m okay to go talk to them.” He eyes my pack. “Someone has to make sure their intentions are good.”

Before I can tell him that’s not necessary, Marco marches away and takes my seat, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes at each of my men. He’s only fourteen, but as he challenges my pack with a single look, I can see the grown omega he’ll become.

“Are you going to break her heart?” Marco asks them.

“Oh my god,” I say, covering my flaming face with my hands. “You don’t have to answer that.”

“It’s fine, little doe,” Vic replies before answering Marco. “You love your sister?”

“Of course,” Marco says.

“You’d do anything to make sure she was safe and happy?” Kai asks.

Marco nods enthusiastically. “Yes.”

“And you’d be there for her if anyone ever hurt her?”

Bristling slightly, Marco says, “Duh. Is this an interrogation, or are you going to answer my question?”

Vic bites back a grin and clears his throat. “All those things you feel for Daria, we feel too. She’s our mate, but more than that, we love her. We will always protect her. We will always give her the world. We will always make sure she’s happy.”

“Always,” Kai agrees.

“Well, I don’t know about always,” Linc says with a smirk in my direction. “I kind of like it when she gets mad at me.”

I flip him off and he chuckles. Marco eyes them and asks another question. I listen to them answer, making sure they’re not frustrated or annoyed, before slowly backing away and grabbing everything I need to make Marco’s breakfast.

My pack is kind to my brother, given his loaded questions. They never make him feel silly and take the time to reassure him that they’re in this for all the right reasons, and as Marco interrogates them, their sure and steady responses floating around me, I realize part of me needed to hear these answers too.

By the time I set a plate in front of Marco, my cheeks hurt from grinning. “Okay, tough guy. Maybe give them a break?”

“It’s okay.” Kai places his hand on my hip. “You can ask us whatever you want,” he tells Marco.

I climb into Kai’s lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my head against his. It’s so natural, I don’t even realize what I’ve done until Marco’s gaze strays over the way Kai’s fingers lace around my middle. It’s not inappropriate, by any means, but this is the first time Marco’s met anyone I’ve dated.

My brother’s eyes drift up to meet mine. “I like your pack.”

A soft smile breaks across my face. “I kind of like them too.”

“Tell an omega you love her, and she says she likes you,” Linc says with a shake of his head.

“Technically, you haven’t said it to me.” The comment is meant to be light and teasing, but it lands like a brick on the table.

Kai’s grip tightens around me, and his lips brush over the shell of my ear. “I love you,” he whispers.

I shiver in response, those three words nestling into my heart. Kai nuzzles my neck and inhales my scent. I close my eyes, chest trembling as he places a delicate kiss over my pulse point, right where he marked me.

“Hey, bunny?” I glance at Lincoln, and he grins. “I love you.”

My stomach flips, and Vic leans forward, catching my attention. “Te amo.”

Crying isn’t a natural response, but that’s exactly what I do. Not sad tears. Tears of relief. Tears of happiness.

Marco takes another bite of his French toast, watching me process their words with a curious expression on his face. This might be the first healthy relationship he’s been around. It’s not what society would deem as normal. They’re my ex-boyfriend’s dads. Vic is technically my step-uncle. They’re at least twenty years older than me and my sort-of bosses. But none of that matters. All that matters is their words ring true, shooting straight to my heart.

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