Page 110 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“Do you want a pack?”

Dylan cocked his head to the side, considering. They’d had this conversation before, but that was a different lifetime ago, imagined notions on the bleachers after school.

He’d always imagined himself with one, though packing up with omegas was rare. However, now that he had Ashley…

“I don’t know, might like having you to myself. Do you want one?”

Ashley shrugged. “I don’t know,” were the words that came out, but she wasn’t telling him the whole truth. Or maybe she hadn’t even recognized it yet, buthefelt that longing she had. Or just maybe she wasn’t ready to admit it.

“I see no issue with that,” Dylan said, and tugged her into him. “One thing at a time. Having doubts?” he asked, just checking.

“No, no doubts.” She squeezed his hand and let him pull her from the bed. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. There are a few conversations we probably should’ve had prior to… you know.”

“Bonding ourselves together forever?” he said, a smug smile tugging at his lips.

“Yes. That.” Ashley rolled her eyes.

“There’s time for all of that later. For now, we can face our client.”

“Oh, he’d hate you referring to him like that,” Ashley said, and laid a hand on his side, over the scar beneath his shirt. “And I still want to know the story behind this,” she told him.

Chills spilled out from her touch, and his stomach tightened with nerves. “It’s a long one. Can I tell you later?”

She nodded, and then motioned for him to open the door. “Well. It’s now or never.”

Dylan felt Ashley’s jitters as they entered the room, but in her defense, she didn’t appear flustered on the surface.

Her poker face was impressive, remaining solid even as River remarked, “That didn’t take long.” River sat at the kitchen bar, sipping coffee from a basic white mug.

They couldn’t see the bond marks, but their scents were mixed enough that the two of them, at the very least, could tell something had happened between Ashley and Dylan.

Not to mention that they entered from the same direction, the sound of only one door opening to announce their approach.

Pride filled him as Ashley kept up appearances, and he wondered how long their little game would last. How long could they keep Cam and River from finding out they were bonded?

“Can you blame them?” Cameron answered, leaning casually against the kitchen counter.

“You owe me a hundred bucks,” River said, and Dylan arched a brow. They’d made their own game out of his situation with Ashley.

Cameron sighed and pulled out his phone. “I’ll send it over now.”

“There was a bet?” Ashley asked, sharing a glance with Dylan.

“Yes. I thought Dylan would blow it. River had more faith in you,” Cameron said, shaking his head as he tapped at his phone.

River’s phone chimed and the beta beamed. “Thanks, babe.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Cam grumbled.

“Don’t get so pouty about it,” River said. “We’re not the winners here,” he teased, and shot the two of them a wink.

Dylan certainly felt like a winner as Ashley’s cheeks flushed. Then she checked the time on her fitness watch and reality was approaching. “I don’t want to be late to the gym, so…”

Dylan chuckled softly at her desire to escape, and nodded. “I can walk you down to your car,” he began, but?—

“We’re ready, we were just waiting on you two,” Cameron said, gaze jumping from one alpha to the other.

Ashley arched a brow. “Wow, maybe we’ll actually get started on time today,” she drawled.

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