Page 31 of Consider The Lilies

I can’t help but love her idea. Happy to not have to worry about this shit any longer, I grab a handful of Yuki’s ass, pulling her to me. “This is why you’re my second-in-command.” I slap her ass.

Yuki smiles proudly. “Because I’m a brilliant alpha filled with amazing ideas?”

I shake my head, looking at her chest. “Because you have the best tits in the house.”

Yuki lets out a lively laugh, shaking her head as she heads up to her room to change.

At the Table

Stefan

Istare at the hallway watching as Jack and Yuki disappear behind a small door. What are they doing in there? Did I say something that made them mad?

“Can I get you anything else?” Lucy asks as she prepares another place setting next to Yuki’s seat. I wonder if it’s for the bearded alpha.How many people are in this pack?

Or are they even a pack?

Maybe they’re just friends who all live in the same house, or they’re related. I think about Yuki’s distinctive features and decide that’s not likely, but you never know.

“Sir?” Lucy pulls me from my thoughts. “Can I get you anything else?”

“No.” I look down at my plate full of food. There’s still so much there. Jack won’t be happy when he sees all the food I wasted.

“Sir?” Lucy moves around the table, looking down at me with big worried eyes. “I don’t want to be too forward, but are you okay?” Her motherly tone sends a rush of fresh grief over me. It’s painful, lancing my chest and squeezing my throat.

Stop it!I yell at myself in my head.Mari would never wallow like this. She’d suck it up and move on like the warrior she was.

“I’m fine,” I lie, forcing a smile. It’s time I start acting like the adult I am. No more crying or pouting. This is my life, and I might as well accept it. “My name is Stefan,” I say with a little more confidence. “Stefan Kane. And I’d really like it if you called me Stefan.”

Lucy’s smile pulls a little tight. “I’m not sure if Mr. Stanley will allow me to call you that. He’s a very formal alpha when it comes to the staff.”

I nod, thinking about Jack’s powerful presence. Then I drop my gaze to my plate. There’s still over half my steak and way too many potatoes. They’re delicious, but it would take me a week to eat them all. “He’s going to yell at me,” I say to myself, trying to accept the inevitable.

Lucy walks off, but I don’t look to see where she went. I’m just so desperate for a friend. Yuki doesn’t seem very friendly, and I haven’t seen the bearded alpha since last night. Heseemednice when he spoke to me in the car, but I might have imagined that in my drugged-up state.

A spoon suddenly comes into my line of sight, scooping up heaps of potatoes and placing them on a little plate. Surprised, I look up at Lucy, not sure what she’s doing.

“Sometimes alphas struggle to understand that the rest of us have normal stomachs. We can’t eat a whole horse in one sitting.” She gives me a sympathetic smile as she cuts off a big chunk of my meat, placing it on her little plate. “Just promise you won’t tell on me,” she whispers like we’re sharing a secret. And I guess we are. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”

I quickly nod, so thankful. “My lips are sealed.” I sit a little taller, fighting the urge to hug her. And it’s hard not to. She smells so good this close. Like fresh ocean air, or what I imagine the ocean might smell like. Slightly sweet with notes of salt. “Plus, I think I’d probably be in more trouble than you.” I glance at the door where Jack and Yuki are talking.

“No!” Yuki’s angry voice cuts through the door, followed by a low growl. It vibrates through the air, making my stomach tighten and my privates tingle. I squeeze my thighs together, confused by the sensation.

“Let me go and put this away.” Lucy gives a wary look into the hall, disappearing through the archway, to where I assume the kitchen is.

Not sure what to do with myself, I stare at the hallway. Jack and Yuki are clearly fighting. I hope it’s not because of me. I get the feeling Yuki isn’t very happy I'm here.

“Good morning, Mr. Cosner,” Lucy steps back into the room right as the bearded-alpha appears.

I have a vague memory of the alpha from last night, but I don’t remember him being nearly this big. The man in front of me is huge. He looks taller than Jack, with arms the size of tree trunks. The thin blue fabric of his shirt is stretched tight across his chest, and the hem of his sleeves cuts into his biceps.

“Morning,” he says in his deep voice, and I quickly drop my gaze. This man looks like he eats nails for breakfast.

“What would you like to drink?” Lucy asks. “Coffee, tea, or juice?”

“Stefan.” I allow myself to peak up through my hair. The second our eyes meet, he smiles and it completely transforms his face. The alpha changes, looking like he could rip everyone in the room limb from limb to such a friendly expression. Almost like we’re old friends.

“Did you sleep okay?” Bear leans back as a plate of food is set in front of him. It’s not steak, but some kind of egg dish, mixed with a ton of other stuff. “Were you warm enough?” he asks. And for some reason, I feel compelled to answer him. Maybe it’s his kind eyes or his pleasant aroma—he smells cozy. Like worn leather and spicy cinnamon.

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