Page 81 of Why Cruise

I looked down at the drink Brock was offering me, at Daryl still on his knees, at the eager faces of his pack. Our pack?

“Kenzie, please, just have a drink with us at least.” The pack lead said please? To me?

“Okay.” My voice sounded far too small.

Daryle whooped and scooped me up again. I couldn’t not smile at his happiness.

“Everything’s different now,” Daryl promised. “Everything’s exactly how it should be.”

“Our omega’s home,” Leaf called out, digging me out of Daryl’s arms and passing me off to Sam.

“Group hug!” Sam yelled and smooshed me between him and Chaz. And suddenly I was surrounded by their scents, their warmth, their joy. Like coming home after a long trip. Like slipping into your own bed after sleeping on strange pillows.

“See?” Daryl’s voice was thick with emotion as he joined the huddle. “This is how it’s supposed to be. All of us together.”

Brock put the drink in my hands and slid his arm around my waist. Daryl squeezed me from the other side. The other boys high fived and dramatically held out a chair for me. Despite all the emotions swirling around my head, I couldn’t hold in a giggle.

Theo

I needed Mackenzie. I needed to tell her everything. The kiss. Rose. I wasn’t quite sure how to talk about the whole “Sir” thing. But I needed her.

She wasn’t in our room, but her phone was. I checked the lounge at the end of our floor and the buffet. I waited for the elevator up to the pool deck instead of taking the stairs. My stomach hurt. All the need and now worry about Mackenzie settled in like rocks grinding against each other.

I wove through the deck chairs. She wasn’t in the pool. Three more minutes before I would freak out.

I spun at the sound of her laughter from the pool bar. My steps faltered, so did my smile. Mackenzie perched in an alpha’s lap, her head thrown back in delight as she laughed at something he’d said. Four other alphas crowded around her, all unfamiliar faces. One held out a brightly colored drink, garnished with fresh fruit and a tiny paper umbrella. She spotted me and her entire face lit up.

“Theo!” She jumped up, lightly shoving off the arms holding her back, and rushed over, grabbing my hands. “Oh my god, you’ll never believe it. The auracle was right. Remember what she said about my pack? Daryl is here. He’s on the boat.”

“What?” My stomach dropped, upsetting all the rocks. “Daryl? Your ex?”

“Come meet him. Come meet everyone. He’s going to love you.” She tugged me toward the group, practically vibrating with excitement. “This is Theo, my best friend in the whole world.”

The alphas gave me perfunctory nods before turning their attention back to Mackenzie. One of them, clearly the pack lead, pulled her into his lap.

Mackenzie sat up and pointed at each alpha in turn. “Brock. Daryl. Sam. Leaf. And Chaz.”

“Brock,” the pack lead extended a hand to me, but dropped it the second he touched me. His hand was on her thigh, pushing higher and higher under her skirt. “Get our girl another drink.”

Our girl?I watched as they pressed another cocktail into her hands. She was already unsteady, her movements loose and giggly. Uninvited, I took the only empty chair at the table.

“How is it possible you got even prettier since we saw you last? It was only a month.” One of them said, running his fingers through her hair, tugging her head back slightly to boop her nose. “Those pictures you used to send Daryl? Insta hard-on.”

Mackenzie blushed and ducked her head. “Sam, stop.”

Pictures? He would share her pictures? I leaned in to get a better look. Daryl had a fresh bite mark. He’d done it. He’d joined their pack. Oh fuck.

“No, he’s right.” Another alpha, Leaf maybe, leaned in close. “And you smell divine.”

“Remember that time at the beach?” Daryl stroked her thigh. “When you wore that little red bikini?”

“You mean when she nearly caused a riot?” Chaz laughed. “Every alpha within five miles wanted their knot in her. Present company included.”

“Knots were had, my friend. Knots were had.” Daryl reached across the table to high five a packmate.

“Ours now." Another one of the boneheads reached for her and dragged her across the table, sending drinks flying. Mackenzie yelped and giggled, kicking her feet. “Ooft. Heavy.”

I watched them pass her between them like a toy, each trying to outdo the other with compliments and touches. She soaked up the attention, but there was something desperate in her eyes. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

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