Page 67 of Consider The Lilies

“Yes, ma’am.” I swallow hard, waiting for her to react.

And I swear her lips twitch like she wants to smile.

“I guess you’re officially a member of the pack.” Yuki angles her head to one side, looking deep into my eyes. “You’re an equal member of this family now.” The way she’s talking makes me feel like she’s teaching me something. “Remember that, Stefan.” Sheplaces her fingers under my chin, not allowing me to shy away. “What you want is just as important as the rest of us.”

I’m nodding again, but I don’t know why. Is she not angry that I touched Lucy?

“What’s going on here?” Jack’s booming voice startles me.

Yuki turns, revealing the pack alpha. His dark eyes narrow, sliding from Yuki to me. My body instinctively curls inward at the intensity rolling off of him.

“I was simply welcoming our new mate to the pack.” Yuki’s fingers slip down my neck and over my mating bite. A swift shiver cuts through me, and my privates grow even harder. I wish it would stop. It’s uncomfortable. “But you might want to set some boundaries with him.” Yuki’s voice turns hard as she moves away from me, pausing next to Jack.

Fear pounds in my veins as the she-alpha glances over her shoulder back at me.

Is she going to tell him I kissed Lucy? Will Jack be angry? Will he yell at me? Hurt me? Beat me?

“Stefan was wandering around the house without a proper escort.” Yuki’s smirks, her gaze still holding mine. “There are some bad men in the house, and it’s not smart to be alone like that.” Her smile softens as she turns to Jack. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.” Then she walks off without another word.

“Thanks.” Jack watches her walk off. Her plush hips sway, and I clasp my hands in front of me, trying to hide my erection. “Omega.” Jack’s dark eyes narrow into slits as he moves to me. “Why aren’t you in our bedroom?”

Our bedroom.

And just like that, shame beats down on me.

This alpha has opened his arms and his home to me. He’s protected me, taught me, and comforted me like no one everhas before. And I betrayed him by kissing a pretty beta when he wasn’t looking.

I know Jack is a stern alpha. He’s continued to punish Bear for claiming me even though he seems happy to have me as a mate. But that seems to be how Jack is. He has high expectations for his packmates, and he takes it very seriously when they cross the line.

And I fear that’s what I’ve done—crossed an unforgivable line.

“Stefan?” Jack cups my cheek as he searches my eyes. “How did you like your scrambled eggs this morning? Were they good?”

I nod, and bitter guilt churns in my belly. “I kissed Lucy,” I blurt out, then squeeze my eyes shut tight, praying my punishment is swift.

“What?” His voice is so soft it sends chills up my spine. “YoukissedLucy?” He circles one hand around my wrist, pulling me off the bottom step. My feet touch the hardwood floor, and the alpha suddenly looks ten feet tall. “Did she kiss you back?” His voice rises, and his eyes flash.

I’m not sure how to answer that. I want to be honest, but I don’t want to get Lucy in trouble.

Keeping my head down, I struggle to find the right words. “Um…” I pull in a deep breath, and Jack’s hand comes into view. He touches my chin the same way Yuki did, tipping my head up.

“Talk to me, omega.”

“She kissed me back.”

A shadow crosses Jack’s face and his scent grows hot and sharp.Please, don’t hit me.

“Shit,” Jack growls, and I flinch hard. “I’m going to lose my goddamn assistant.” He rolls his eyes and I freeze.It’s not the reaction I expected.“You really like her?” he asks me like he’s just making sure.

Is it a trick question?

Is he hoping to get me to open up so he can punish me fully?

Do I really have a choice?

“Yes,” I say, deeply confused by what’s happening.Why isn’t he yelling?

Jack frowns then pushes out a sharp huff. “Okay.” He snaps his fingers, pointing up the stairs. “Back to our room.”

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