Page 153 of Mark & Don't Tell

She rolls her eyes. “Always with the dramatics. Fine, if you must know, I came here to ask you, as the mother of your child and mate?—”

“Ex-mate,” Linc growls. “Daria is our mate.”

“Yes, but I had you first.” She gives me a cruel smile, but I’m not bothered by whatever delusional stake she thinks she has on them. “Like I was saying, I’m here to demand you end this silly relationship with this”—she waves her hand in my direction—“thing because you’re hurting our son.” She grabs onto Ryan’s arm, and he tries to blink at his dads like an innocent child in need of rescue.

Lincoln runs his hand over his face. “Ryan is the one who needs to apologize. He came to Good Vibes and made a scene. He embarrassed Daria in front of everyone.”

Felicia shakes her head. “From where I’m standing, she deserved it. I can’t believe you all were foolish enough to let her sneak her way into your beds. It’s obvious she’s pining after Ryan.”

“For the last time, Ryan had nothing to do with this. We’re scent matches. There was no malicious intent,” I say.

“Those are big words for a little girl,” Felicia says, smirking like she’s landing blows.

Oh, this sweet summer child. She clearly has no idea who raised me.

“Permission to talk shit?” Marco murmurs.

“Granted,” I tell him.

“Listen, Fran?—”

“Felicia,” she says, cutting Marco off.

Marco nods. “Right. Fran. Listen, I don’t know who you think you are, but I know you’re not insulting my sister, or you’re trying to catch hands.”

“Whoa, there, buddy. You can’t fight her.” I grab his arm, and he gives me an incredulous look.

“I know that. You can totally take her.”

“Marco, I’m not going to fight her.”

“Scared?” Felicia says with a delighted chuckle.

“No.” I step away from the pack and close the distance between us, smirking when her eyes widen. I stop a few inches short of running into her and hold her gaze. Felicia is all mean words and cruel actions, but she’s probably never known a real struggle. She’s never known what it’s like to have someone you love hit you. “He’s right, you know? I could kick your ass.” I let my gaze travel down her expensive clothes before slowly dragging it back up. “But you’re not worth my time, and my pack doesn’t want you here.” I walk around her and shoulder check her, smirking when she stumbles in her designer heels.

“Should we go inside?” I ask my pack.

“This is your last chance,” Ryan tells his dads. “It’s her or me.”

“How cliché,” Marco says with a sad sigh. “You’re an idiot if you think they’ll pick you over her. My sister is pretty amazing, and she loves them. She’d never make them choose, and you’ll never understand that that is exactly why they love her.”

“Aw, Marco.” I put my hand on my heart. “You can’t make me cry when Fran is glaring at me.”

Fran growls.

We all ignore her.

“I really hope, one day, you’ll come to your senses.” Linc studies his son. “I love you, Ryan, but I love Daria too, and I’m not going to choose.”

“You’ll never see me again,” Ryan threatens.

Linc’s shoulders sag. “If that’s the choice you’re making, I’ll respect it. I’ll always be here for you if you really need me. We all will.”

Vic and Kai nod in agreement, and Ryan practically vibrates with anger. Maybe he really thought threatening them would go his way. He clearly doesn’t know his dads.

“Come on,” I tell my pack. “Let’s go home.”

Ryan steps way back as the guys head toward me. Marco gives him a smug smile and joins us.

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