Page 58 of The Gamma's Second Chance

“Can you see specific people?” Sebastian asks, examining his cards with a furrowed brow. “Anyone you want?”

His eyes flick up to meet Cassandra’s over the top of his cards, and he waits for her answer. “You mean like… like, think of that person and know what they’re about to do or what they just did?” she asks.

“Yes,” he says with a nod. “King Malachi, for example. Could you think of him and get a glimpse of where he is or what he’s doing right now?”

“No,” Cassandra says. “It’s usually random, and usually only people I am close to—physically or emotionally.”

Sebastian slumps back in his seat and shakes his head, his eyes back on his cards. “That’s too bad. That would be an extremely useful ability.”

“There needs to be a balance of power in our world,” she says, settling back against my chest again as I pick up my cards. “Just like how your children won’t be lycans unless you take over a pack or create your own.”

Sebastian shakes his head adamantly. “No, thank you.”

Cassandra cocks her head. “You wouldn’t want to be an alpha?”

“Absolutely not,” Seb says, slamming his cards on the table. “I like my job as the delta here at Crescent Lake. I don’t need or want to run a pack. It’s—” He glances at Wesley, who whispers something to Haven with his hand on her baby bump, a smile spreading across her face. “It’s just not for me,” Sebastian says, tapping his cards with the tips of his fingers and taking a swig of his beer.

The rest of the evening drags on, feeling as if it will never end. Not because it’s boring, but because all I want is to go home with Cassandra, strip her naked, and lay claim to her body. Her smiles and her laughter beckon me, and her scent and soft skin tease me all night. In my lap or out of it, in my arms or out of them, everything about her tempts my restraint until it teeters on a precarious ledge. I don’t even know who won the grilling contest because I’m too distracted by everything about her all evening.

Cassandra holds in a yawn as she chats with Taryn, and I jump from my chair, striding to her side, using that as my cue for us to go. “I’m ready to turn in for the evening,” I say, gathering her to my side.

She laughs and gives me a grateful smile. “Good night,” she says, waving to Taryn as I steer her towards the front door.

“Nolan!” Wes calls as my hand grips the doorknob. He jogs over to us, and I wait with my hand on the knob. “Haven and I are heading to Amber Forest tomorrow morning.”

“Is everything all right?” I ask.

“Everything is fine. Benjamin’s pack elders are giving him grief about… things… but I told him we would fill him in on what he missed at the meeting today.”

“Okay.” Wes stares at me, arms crossed and his brow raised. I sigh. I don’t want to go with them. For the first time, I don’t feel like I need to drop everything to do something for my alpha and luna. “You don’t actually need us to go with you, do you?”

“Nolan—”

“Ben knows about Haven. And you’ll be with her, and—”

“We’ll be there,” Cassandra says, cutting me off.

Wes nods his thanks, and I clench my jaw. “We’ll see you in the morning then,” he says before returning to the others.

I yank the door open and tug Cassandra outside and down the front steps with me, my teeth grinding together. “Nolan?” she asks, blocking my path so I can no longer storm down the path towards home. “Are you mad at me?”

I blink at her and shake my head, grabbing her by her hips and tugging her against my body. “Of course not,” I say, stroking her cheek. “I just don’t want to go.”

“It’s your job to go where Haven goes.”

I nod. “I know. But I was looking forward to enjoying some time off and relaxing since Haven will start her maternity leave early. I was looking forward to being with you.”

“You will be with me,” she says.

I scoff. “We’ll be working. It’s not the same.”

“And I can make it up to you tonight?” She bats her lashes and licks her lips, and my dick hardens and twitches in my pants.

“What did you have in mind?” I ask, dipping my lips to her neck.

She laughs and shakes her head, her eyes sparkling as she backs away from me, her hand lingering in mine. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

She turns around and hikes her skirt up in her hand, sprinting down the path towards home. I take off after her, pushing my irritation at this impromptu meeting aside for the moment, so I can enjoy my night with Cassandra.

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