Page 45 of Mark & Don't Tell

“Heartbreak is never easy, Daria. No matter how many times it happens, it still hurts.”

I nod, frowning at my pasta, and take another bite. She would know. While I was out dating, Quinn was pining after her stepbrothers and hiding her scent. She suffered for years before finally breaking and going for the pack that was always meant to be hers.

Sighing, I twirl my fork in my pasta. “I guess,” I begin, hating the way my voice breaks. “I guess I thought it would be different this time.”

I don’t bring up that the pack we’re avoiding mentioning directly are my scent matches. Maybe because I’m ashamed, or maybe because part of me is still hoping they’ll come around and I don’t want Quinn to hate them. For now, all she needs to know is that I’m painfully single.

Guess my happily ever after was never meant to be.

Seventeen

LINC

“Well, that went well.”

Vic glares at me. “Is this fucking funny to you?”

I shrug. “What’s funny to me is that you’re so stubborn you can’t even see that we’ve been fighting for this pack, while you’ve been wallowing in self-pity.”

He rears back. Usually it’s Kai speaking the truth, and usually Kai is gentler, kinder. But that’s the approach we’ve been going with for too long. It’s time for some tough love.

“Self-pity?” He shakes his head. “Dios mío, cabrón. I left to give you guys a chance to keep your omega.”

This. Fucking. Idiot.

“First of all, don’t call me a cabrón, pendejo.” His eyes narrow, and I bet money he regrets teaching me Spanish. “Second of all, how many times do we have to tell you we don’t give a shit about Felicia? She’s not our family.”

Kai glances around, scowling at the patrons who are eyeing our table. “We’re making a scene.”

“Like I give a fuck,” Vic and I snap at the same time.

Chuckling, I give him a pointed look. “Even after all these years, we still do that.”

“After all these years, why are you still fighting for something you don’t need?”

I take a breath, preparing to lay into him, but Kai cuts in before I can.

“Vic, I say this with so much love. Pull your head out of your ass. We’ve always needed you. You’re pack. Our brother, and we’ve been miserable without you. Stop fucking self-sabotaging.”

“Can you seriously tell me you don’t blame me for Felicia leaving?”

“She was a cunt,” I say. The table next to us makes disgruntled noises, and I side-eye them. “Maybe don’t eavesdrop.” Their faces flame, but that’s their problem. I turn back to my family.

“I don’t blame you.” Kai confidently holds Vic’s gaze.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had this out with him, but this is the first time Vic hasn’t run away from the conversation. As he crosses his arms over his chest, I let out a heavy sigh. The fight isn’t over.

“I’m not losing her to you two.”

And there it is. Vic’s finally found something to fight for. I hate that it’s taken fate to get to him, but I can’t say I’m not relieved to see the determined glint in his eyes. That’s the Vic I know.

“We’re not trying to take her from you,” Kai murmurs.

“Uh, hello,” the waiter says nervously, setting our plates down. He shoots a questioning look at Daria’s vacated seat but smartly doesn’t say anything. The three of us seethe at one another while he finishes his job. As soon as he’s gone, I lean toward Vic.

“Kai and I already agreed that we do this together, as a pack, or not at all. But if you want her for yourself and really don’t want anything to do with us, walk away now.”

Kai kicks me under the table. I ignore him. He’s always so cognizant of people’s feelings, but what he doesn’t understand is that sometimes people need a shove to get moving.

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