Page 48 of Faith and Fury

She eyes me meaningfully.

Slowly, giving her every opportunity to back out, I lean closer, then closer again, until I’m pressing the inside of my neck to hers. My scent rolls out as naturally as breath. Marking her. Letting her mark me.

A long, contented purr escapes me.

Blustering back into the room, Jaxon announces, “You said the green one, right? Well, I got that, but I also thought we could—” he stops. “Oh. Damn. Am I interrupting?”

Faith withdraws, making my inner alpha grumble. She reaches for her notepad.

DON’T LIKE WHEN YOU’RE ON EDGE, she explains, blushing ever-so-slightly.

I just about melt on the spot. Before I can say anything, Jaxon blurts out, “You know, I’ve also been feeling pretty on edge.”

YOU’RE JUST PISSED OFF.

He pouts. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

At both Faith’s and Jaxon’s surprised looks, I realize I’m laughing. I can’t remember the last time things were like this in the den. Idle bantering. A smile I don’t have to force. My head perfectly clear.

Maybe things have never been like this.

Jaxon manages to convince Faith, with just the right amount of begging, that he needs to scent her as well. She finally offers her wrist, watching as he rubs himself up and down the length of her arm.

I can’t get enough of that scent. Not just of Jaxon, or me, but of all three of us.

Whole.

***

Caleb calls to let me know he’ll be late for dinner. He sounds tense. Broodier than usual. But he hangs up before I can ask, so I raise the question with Jaxon.

“Oh yeah,” Jaxon snorts. “He’s probably still pissed. Really chewed me a new one.”

I blink, suddenly grateful Faith is in the shower. “Did you challenge him?”

“He let Maverick fight Faith.”

“I know, but … I’m sure he had a good reason.”

“He did,” Jaxon confesses, “and sure, it worked out in the end. But still.” He huffs. “Maverick.”

I smile, sliding chopped onion into the pot.

“Apparently, by getting pissed at Maverick, I’m no better than Maverick.” He scoffs. “Like that makes any sense. Mav picks one fight with our omega, and he thinks he’s got dibs. I mean, you should’ve heard the way he spoke to her.”

I sigh. “Jax …”

“Yeah, yeah. Already got the lecture from Caleb. She’s not yours, Jaxon. Don’t get carried away, Jaxon. Come on.” He scowls, fidgeting with a placemat. “Like that ship hasn’t already sailed.”

Even if I want to agree with him, I can’t discredit Caleb’s reasoning. It’s not as if Faith ever promised herself to Pack Wilder. She’s unbonded, which means Maverick has as much right as the next alpha.

Though it pains me to imagine.

“It’s bad enough competing with Fang,” Jaxon mutters, “and he’s not even here. Now I gotta deal with Maverick, too?”

I stir the pot. “You assume she’s even interested in Maverick.”

“Good point. Who’d ever be interested in that guy?”

---