Page 17 of Why Cruise

“Thanks. It’s my new aesthetic.” I could practically hear growling from the alphas. “You knew I was on board?”

“I know everything that happens on my ship.” She rolled onto her side, propping her head on her hand. “Including why you’re here.”

“Daisy called you.”

“Daisy texted me.” Her smile was wicked. “Something about you needing adult supervision?”

I growled, but there was no heat in it. Aria knew me too well for posturing. She probably had a better grasp of my net worth than I did. And she had put up with my immaturity. No. She had made me pay for the privilege of her company and her brutal reality checks. But that was back when I thought I could buy what she was selling.

“It’s nothing. I’m on vacation.”

She snorted. “You don’t need a vacation, Justice.”

“Tell that to my board.” I muttered

“You need a pack.” She traced a finger down my chest. “The right pack.”

I caught her hand. “I don’t do packs.”

“No.” She sat up, all traces of seduction gone. “You don’t do vulnerability. There’s a difference.”

I didn’t have a response to that. Aria never pulled her punches.

“Have dinner with me tonight.” It wasn’t a request.

“Aria…”

“Eight o’clock. Wear something pretty.” She stood, stretching like a cat. “And Justice? Try not to throw any alphas overboard before then. The paperwork is murder.”

She sashayed away, taking half the alphas with her, leaving me with the ghost of her kiss and too many thoughts I didn’t want to examine.

A pack? What the fuck would I do with a pack?

I didn’t need a pack. I needed employees and a board who did what they were told.

Mackenzie

“He’s absolutely gorgeous,” I whispered to Theo, not taking my eyes off the alpha lounging across the pool. His skin was sun-kissed gold, and his dark swim trunks rode low on his hips in a way that should have been illegal. He matched it with a bowling shirt he left completely open, showing off his endless abs. Even from here, I could catch hints of his scent, something dangerously spicy that made my head spin.

“I hadn’t noticed,” Theo said, sinking lower in the water.

I snorted. “Right. That’s why you’ve been pretending not to stare at him for the past twenty minutes.”

“Fifteen at most.” He ran fingers through his hair and shook off the excess water. “Fine. It’s the thigh tattoo.”

I splashed water at Theo and turned my back on the gorgeous alpha. “Shut up before I flood the pool with slick. Why are thigh tattoos so sexy?”

“I know. All I can think of is…”

“Can you read it from here?” I joined Theo at the edge of the pool for better viewing.

“‘Redemption’ maybe?”

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

I startled at the unknown voice, turning to find an alpha squatting down right next to us. He was older, maybe mid-fifties, with carefully styled silver hair and a gaudy gold chain.

“Two unmated omegas all alone?” He smiled, showing too many teeth. “That hardly seems safe.”

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