Page 94 of Why Cruise

She squirmed in her seat and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. It was her first tell all night.

Daryl practically kicked his feet and screamed as he debated his bet.

“All in.”

The words hung in the air. Justice sat back, expression carefully neutral.

“Kenzie doesn’t have the balls,” Daryl sneered.

I squeezed Mackenzie’s shoulder, but she was already reaching for her chips.

“I call.”

Daryl flipped his kings with a triumphant grin. “We should have been playing strip poker. You’d be naked and on my knot right about now, Boo Bear.”

“What the fuck did you say?” And that came from Marshall. Daryl was too busy reaching for the pot to notice.

Mackenzie’s hands didn’t shake at all as she turned over her cards.

“I don’t know. I’m just a silly little omega, but I think that means I win.”

The silence was delicious. Daryl’s face went from red to white to purple.

Justice cackled, his smile so wide it must hurt.

Mackenzie’s laugh was pure joy as she pulled in Daryl’s chips. My fingers traced patterns on her knee under the table, and she leaned back against me just slightly.

“You’re buying dinner now.” Theo beamed.

“I’m still buying dinner.” Justice said.

“Kenzie, let’s go,” Daryl said, getting up from the table.

“Maybe we should buy him thank you panties,” she replied to Theo, ignoring Daryl.

“Kenzie, c’mon.” Daryl took a step away from the table.

“I bet all alphas go commando.” Theo said, raising a quick eyebrow at me.

“Mackenzie, I said let’s go.” His aura flared. Justice and I both stood. I kept my back to him, but I knew Justice would have it.

Mackenzie started trying to pick up all her chips. I tossed one to the dealer and motioned to her pot. “Color up.”

Mackenzie stood and waited for her chips. She turned to Daryl and squared her shoulders. “The auction’s not for another hour. Theo and I are going to go play the slots.”

“Now, Mackenzie.”

Her hands were shaking as she collected her $500 chips. She spoke without looking at Daryl. “I promised your pack we’d go to the auction. That’s in an hour.” She held her hand out for Theo. He joined her on this side of the table. Her head was down as she walked into the main part of the casino with him.

Daryl stomped his feet like a toddler and took off in the opposite direction. His pack lead had to jog to catch up.

“Well,” Justice said quietly as we watched them go, “that was fun.”

“Just…”

He cut me off. “No. I still hate you.” We both knew that was a lie, he just didn’t want to feel his feelings. He picked up his chips, traded a word with the Marshall and headed into the casino.

“You shouldn’t be playing games with other people’s omegas,” Catherine said in my ear.

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