Page 134 of Why Cruise

“What?” I asked.

Justice sighed. “I may have broken into your email and sent a note to your HR department applying for extended heat leave and bond sabbatical.”

“You may have?” I asked.

“In my defense, I wanted to make sure that you didn’t have anything to worry about. Okay? That’s what alphas do.”

Mackenzie crawled out of Ren’s lap and into Justice’s. Then she loudly whispered at me, “Theo, did you know our alpha is rich, likerichrich? Like rent a yacht on a whim, rich?”

“Well, he is Justice Twill.”

“You could do it, you know. You don’t love your job.”

I looked at Justice nervously.

“Ask him,” she said. I shook my head.

Mackenzie rolled her eyes and sat up straight. “Alpha,” she addressed Justice formally, but then giggled. “Theo has always wanted a really big pack. Four is not that big, yes, I understand. But he’s always wanted to be a stay-at-home omega.”

Justice chuckled. “Quit your job. Keep your job if you want. Go back to school. Whatever makes you happy.”

“Really?” I asked. “Wait. Are we moving in with you?”

Mackenzie put her hand to her chest. “I am technically homeless, and I don’t think we’ll all fit in Jillian’s spare bedroom.”

“Well, I don’t want to presume,” Justice said.

“Is your place big enough?”

“He has a five-bedroom, six-bathroom penthouse in the Knightbridge building. Right in the middle of downtown. Top floor. Huge outdoor deck. His neighbors have a pool, I think.”

We all stared at him.

“What?” Ren said. “Does it come as a surprise to any of you that I have been stalking Justice for over ten years? Although I’ve never been inside. I’m not that desperate. Sort of.”

“Unless there is room for a walk-in panty closet, I am not sure this is going to work,” Mackenzie said.

Then my stomach decided to enter the chat and growled so loud we could all hear it.

“Right,” Ren declared, and basically handed Mackenzie back to Justice. He dug me out of the sofa and threw an arm over my shoulder as we walked inside. “First food. Theo hasn’t eaten in days, and then more fucking.”

“More?” Mackenzie’s eyes went wide. “Theo just went through heat. You’d think that would be enough.”

“Princess, you are not adequately prepared for how much fucking there is going to be.”

PORT HAVEN

Justice

“There’s only one bed.” Mackenzie and Theo both tilted their heads to the right.

Ren’s laughter echoed through the apartment. “Justice Twill owns one of the most expensive condos in all of Port Haven and he only has a king size bed, a leather couch and a gaming console.”

“My home office is also decorated.” I said defensively.

“Did you…” Theo hedged, “like, pick this out of a showroom and just have the whole thing delivered?”

Ignoring that, I stepped out into the hall. “I figure you two can take these three rooms at the end of the hall, and maybe make your nest in between. We could have builders come in and knock down the walls if you want separate nests or make it one huge room or have adjoining doors or something.” I cracked open the door right across from mine. “Ren and I will take the rooms at the top of the hall, of course.”

---