Page 73 of Zoinks! Nice Pack, Bro

It’s comforting, reassuring and makes me breathe easier.

This situation is terrifying, but here is Anthony looking at me with such a calm presence that I am melting into him.

“You okay, little bro?” I hum, a slight nod of my head as Cam looks over at me, giving me a smile before his attention is back on the game.

Small glances like that, letting me know that even as other things happen that they’re there for me. That they care for me but they also trust each other with me. It’s overwhelming and feels insane.

Anthony wraps a finger around my hair as he gives me anothersmile. His phone starts buzzing and as he looks down I reach out, forgetting about the game as I hold his wrist looking down at the picture on his lock screen.

It’s us at the gym.

My eyes raise up to see him, the way he shrugs his shoulders, like it’s not a big deal that I’m there on his lock screen makes me smirk. He’s not embarrassed at me seeing it and I love that.

“I like looking at you, pretty girl.”

I’m climbing up on his lap, the game forgotten now. Wrapping my arms around him as his hand slides to my back, under my shirt because he always wants to feel my skin against his.

It’s so comforting and perfect.

I should be freaking out more. Maybe it’s the meds that are calming me down, letting me accept the blessings that are coming into my life without pushing them away from me.

My nose runs over Anthony’s neck as the sliding door opens and Jace walks in from outside. My eyes run over them as I watch Paxton carrying a tray of food, having let me and Ant have a second together. He is looking at the couch and he gives me a smirk that is all teasing and joy.

“No fooling around before dinner..”

“Yes, daddy.” Paxton’s eyes flame, shaking his head at me as I move off the couch, headed to where Jace is setting the table for us to eat at.

This is the first time that we are all eating in the house and it feels strange. It’s like we’ve done this before but at the same time there’s nerves in my stomach as Cameron and Anthony vault towards the food like lunatics. They’re grabbing plates and loading them before dropping down in the stools around the island.

There’s only four stools and Jace realizes this. He is moving to sit me on the stool beside Cam. He stands on the other side with Paxton, who is loading up a plate for me. The meat is already cut as he sets it in front of me.

Paxton has a look in his eyes as he hands me the plate, like he wants some sort of approval for cooking and I like that he has some vulnerability for once. He’s always so sure of himself and strong.

This has to be his alpha instincts trying to provide for me.

“Thank you, Pax.” He grunts in response, like the caveman he is and shoves a bite of his burger into his mouth as he leans against the counter. “Maybe I can cook this week.”

We all fall into easy conversation. Jace and Paxton keep adding more food to my plate as they talk about work, their latest development projects. They ask questions about work and my hobbies.

Anthony gets up to load the dishwasher, which Cameron informs him he is doing wrong and takes over.

I like seeing them like this.

The way the four alphas interact with each other. They tease and fall into each other, with old jokes and just this sense of family. And I want to fit in with them. I want to be part of this but it terrifies me.

What is this game? What if they get bored of me? What if we have sex and that was all they wanted? What if they want more and I get stuck in a nest like my mother?

Can I do just sex?

Yes.

Maybe I need to shift my mindset with all of this and put a little bit of distance.

I don’t need to talk to them about anything.

I can do everything on my own.

My fingers are counting against each other as I feel the way my blood feels like it’s speeding up inside my body. The heady rush that goes through me as anxiety takes over me. It’s like an override to my brain as it slams down the panic button. At the same time it’s forcing me to try and act natural, like nothing is wrong so I don’t alert anyone.

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