Page 164 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“Tuesday.”

Cam’s eyes went wide. His heat had gone on an entire two extra days than it was supposed to.

“Don’t freak out. River gave me some contacts to check in with for you. I told Christian you’d be indisposed for a bit longer.”

Just as quickly as the panic had set in, it receded.

“Thank you.”Alphawas on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it.

Nothisalpha. But notnothis alpha. An alpha. One who kept them safe while Cam was in heat, one who cooked excellent bacon. One who took care of things when needed.

A good alpha.

Even if Cam didn’t have the urge to wrap this alpha around his finger, he could appreciate Dylan all the same.

Maybe Ashley had the right idea, starting with this one.

Speaking of…

The door of the nest shut with asnick,and twin footsteps padded out to them. Cam turned in the barstool, grinning before he knew why. “Good morning,” he said.

Ashley was wearing his boxers and a tee, and River was in his own boxers and a shirt. Their hair waswild.

And they smell like me.

“How are you feeling?” Ashley reached him first, brushing a hand through his hair and nuzzling at the top of his head before she paused and gingerly lifted away. “Sorry, I?—“

Cameron caught her before she could pull away and buried his face in her collarbone. “S’okay,” he said. “I feel good.”

Her purr surrounded him and Cameron sighed happily as she chuckled. “Breakfast smells almost as good as you do,” she said.

Cameron released her so she could eat, and River tried to slip away after her, but Cam caught his hand and pulled him in, too.River hugged him tightly, and Cam laid his cheek on his chest, rubbing lightly, the fabric soft against his skin. He was facing across the bar, and watched as Dylan greeted Ashley, the softest of kisses exchanged.

“Feeling better?” River asked.

Cam nodded, and reluctantly released River, pulling out the barstools on either side of him.

Ashley sat to his left, and River to his right.

“So, you all survived,” Dylan mused, nursing a cup of coffee to himself.

“Barely,” River teased, nudging him. His smile was sweet and loving and Cameron remembered the way it felt trailing down his stomach.

Cam inhaled, and all he smelled wasthem.The mix of their pheromones and sweat and sex.

And Dylan, whose scent wasn’t as intrusive as he once might’ve imagined.

They… gelled.

As they ate, Cameron tangled a foot with Ashley’s and laid a hand on River’s thigh. Ashley wiggled her foot against his, sharing a soft smile with him, and his chest went fluttery.

River stroked a thumb over the back of his knuckles, and it felt… right.

She wants a pack.

Here, in this moment, all Cameron could think was…finally.

36. REALITY

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