Page 78 of Talk About… Rivalry

This man was going to be the death of me.

“What’s the plan for the pack house, then?” Leo questioned, pulling us out of our trance.

“Do you have enough room for all of us?” Maverick asked. “If her heat could happen any minute, we need to be ready.”

“She needs a nest,” I added.

“Is she going to run if we do all of this?” Bennett asked. For the first time, his voice hinted at vulnerability. It made him a bit more human to me and I felt my shoulders relaxing.

“Just don’t go over the top,” I suggested. “She needs to be able to make it her way. Plus, we have some things to finish up before that’s even possible. The rooms all need painting and there’s no furniture. One of the bathrooms upstairs isn’t even functional.”

We were already out of time; this was not going to be easy.

“I’m not sure I want to bring in any crews,” Leo said. “Not if she’s about to go into heat.”

Bennett and Maverick both growled at the thought and I let out a chuckle.

“I’m going to have to agree with the alphas on this one, too.”

“I’m a visual person,” Bennett said. “Let’s make a list.”

Leo moved to the kitchen drawer, pulling out a pen and paper before handing it over to the alpha. We all chimed in with the things that needed done, even going as far as moving from room to room until we were back where we started.

When we finished, I had to do something. All this extra nervous energy was making me fucking crazy.

“I’m going to start in that bathroom. I’ve had to fix plumbing on more than one occasion, let me see what I can do,” Maverick said before disappearing.

“He’s going to need tools,” Leo said absently as he headed for the garage.

That just left me and Bennett.

The moment we were alone I was hyper aware of his presence. His scent intensified again as his gray eyes caught me in their trap like they did every time I stared at him.

“You can’t avoid me forever, omega,” he said. His voice was firm and unrelenting. “Our relationship is just as important as ours with Sidney, and ours as a triad, and ours as a pack.”

“I know that,” I admitted, feeling guilt rising up. “She’s just a wild card, and I wanted to make sure she felt secure and I didn’t chase her off by falling into your bed a little too fast.”

“If she wasn’t a factor, how would you have reacted?”

I snorted. “Probably by falling into your bed, alpha. If you think that you don’t have an effect on me then you’re dead wrong.”

He breathed in. “Oh, I’m well aware of the effect I have on you. Your scent is amazing and right now that divine scent of yours is even sweeter.”

He took another deep breath, his eyes darkening with pure heat.

I had a feeling if I would look down at his lap I’d be well aware of just how affected he was.

“I don’t want to go into this heat with her without making sure that we are solid first.”

It didn’t terrify me quite as much now. Maybe I just needed to hear that we were just as important, that it wouldn’t make her run off.

“Okay,” I promised, “but I don’t want to rush into this.”

“That’s fine,” he said as he leaned in, a wicked smile lighting up his face. “Just be warned. I’m going to get you to myself before this is over.”

The garage door slammed open and Leo came out with a heavy toolbox in his hand. He stopped long enough to look at us.

“Can you two handle getting some paint?”

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