Page 96 of Citius

He kissed my temple, lips warm and reassuring against my skin, and whispered, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I murmured, more out of habit than intention. “I think so.”

“Good.” He kissed my temple again. “Then let’s eat. We’ll talk aboutyourday later.”

My day?

Still reeling from the alpha cyclone, I struggled to recall what had happened earlier. Anger, Morgan, coconut—coconut was Piper—interception photo, lost SD card…

Oh no. A wave of guilt surged as I realized my mistake. I’d shut him out again, hadn’t I?

Joaquin slunk off toward the utility room, sarcastic applause trailing in his wake. “Outstanding first pack meeting, boys.”

***

By the time I finished word-vomiting the entire story of the misplaced SD card and my subsequent meltdown, I was more snot than human. Joaquin held me tight, supporting both our weights against the headboard of our bed, his hands tracing soothing patterns along my back and hips.

“I’m sorry,” I said, rubbing at the tear-soaked patch on his shirt. “So sorry for blocking you out. I opened my bag to grab the card, and it was gone. I didn’t know what to do. Everything slammed right into me all at once, and I—I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for your feelings, Alijah.” The rasp in his voice was my refuge. “You’re entitled to them—all of them—even the ones that suck.”

His hand wound a slow, deliberate trail toward the base of my skull, guiding my head to rest on his shoulder.

“I know, I know,” I said with a sigh. “I didn’t mean to close the bond, but…it gets so loud in here.” I gestured roughly at the side of my head. “Don’t want to be a distraction.”

Joaquin was quiet for a moment, but his steady caresses never stopped. “Did I distract you when I dropped a light on my foot the week after we bonded?”

“No, it was—a flash of pain. I realized something happened, but it wasn’t serious. And that when I pulled on the bond, it… I think it helped?”

“Mhm, very much,” he said, using a tissue to clean up the worst of my mess. “And when I crashed Morgan’s lunch break the other week?”

“Cancel plans one time, and you—” My retort turned into a stifled squeal as Joaquin abruptly dipped his head and bit down on my shoulder, flooding my bond mark with tingles. “Not fair!”

“Then answer the question,” he said, watching me with the eyes of a sated predator, looking far too pleased with the power he held over me.

“Bright, jittery—like you were dialed in. Enjoying yourself.”

“Want to know how it feels when you’re talking to her?” Joaquin asked with deliberate provocation as he took my earlobe between his thumb and forefinger. I sucked in a lungful of pepper-laced temptation. His smirk deepened, showing off the dimple on his left cheek, and he held my gaze. “Well, so would I—because you ice me out every time.”

“Joaquin…” I lacked the ability to articulate the jumbled feelings lodged under my sternum.

“Youlikeher.” His words were soft but certain. “That’s why I started paying attention to her. Looking at her social media, not that she posts much. Watching old interviews and tracking down whatever I could. I wanted to make sure I could trust her. Not just as a person, but as a potential partner.”

My heart stuttered. “For—for both of us?”

Given the events of the evening,for all of usmight be more accurate. But the idea was so overwhelming and mind-boggling that I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.

He nodded with a wistful expression. “When I said I wanted a pack, I meant a complete one, with every designation. Like how I grew up.”

His childhood was idyllic, the kind of pack bliss I’d only ever seen in movies. Family traditions, birthday parties, destination vacations, endless smiles, and unconditional love. Until all three of his fathers—two alphas and a beta—were killed by a drunk driver.

That left his beta and omega mothers to care for three precious little sisters. And a fourteen-year-old son whose scrawny shoulders suddenlyhad to bear the weight of being the man of the house.

He’d always been honest about wanting a pack, but I hadn’t realized that dream might involvefivemen trying to woo the same, technically off-limits omega.

Or was it four? Owen hadn’t said he wasn’t interested in Morgan, but this was Owen we were talking about—stoic, spartan, impossible-to-pin-down Owen.

Besides, Cal and Wyatt weren’t even pack. And the powers that be never approved courting paperwork when multiple unpacked parties were vying for the same partner.

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