Page 16 of Pack Larsen

“You cheated,” he proclaims like always, throwing his arms up like he’s actually bothered that I beat him yet again.

Rolling my eyes, I hold out the bow and ask, “Explain to me again how I can cheat at archery. What do you think I did, rigged the arrows before coming over here? Promised them a life of freedom if they only listen to me?”

“I don’t know how you did it, but I know you did, and I will prove it one of these days,” my cousin playfully gripes, accepting the bow back.

“You’re an idiot,” I quip, removing the glove and handing that over, too.

Alek only grins as he replaces his new weapon, carefully balancing it on the new hook he’s had installed since I was here last. “An idiot with a bow and arrow and a wall of swords. You’ll do well to remember that.”

At the last minute, his eyes drop to Aero, and I burst out laughing when the omega’s eyes widen a fraction and his head snaps in my direction.

“We’re so scared. Shaking in our sneakers,” I mock, still chuckling as Aero shakes his head like he’s just stepped into another universe and he’s still adjusting. I mean, it is pretty wild standing in a large gym built at the back of a massive property that sits in the solitude of the countryside, shooting arrows and gushing over swords and shit with a dude who looks like a descendent of Ragnar Lodbrok. And that was after watching Mac and Ford beating the shit out of one another with their MMA instructor. Pretty sure that was an intimidation factor when Alek informed them I had a friend coming with me, because I’m sure MMA training is on Friday, not Sunday…

But I digress, because in spite of all that, Aero somehow found eating brunch made by Professor Barnes Champion the trippiest thing he’s experienced thus far. It’s the little things, right?

“Whatever. Come on, you little shit,” he snickers, grabbing his beige tank top and throwing it on as he leads us back out of the gym and along the path that takes us to the back of the beautiful and updated wood-and-brick farmhouse with a wraparound porch.

Leading us inside and to the open and airy living room with an oversized, flat-screen TV that hangs from the damned ceiling, Alek sits on the floor, back against the pillow-like couch with a pleading look on his face already. I know what he’s going to ask before the words slip free of his mouth, my eyes still rolling as the dumbass asks, “Think you can fix my braids for me? Laz tried, but his fat fingers didn’t do them tight enough.”

“I heard that, you ungrateful bastard,” Lazarus shouts from upstairs, likely in the office which sits just at the top of the stairs, his English accent thick and charming. “I warned you that you’d be better off waiting for Silver, but did you listen? Did you fuck. Don’t come crying to me next time.”

Alek is grinning at me, and I shake my head. “He’s going to strangle you one of these days.”

“Nah. He loves me too much,” Alek assures, as though it were an actual possibility but Lazarus’s love for him keeps him safe.

“As much as I love stepping in shit,” Laz calls back, and I hear the smile in his voice that proves he’s joking.

Taking a seat beside Alek, Aero claiming the seat directly beside me, close enough that I feel his body heat, I begin unravelling Alek’s hair. Running my fingers through his still thick hair, unknotting any snags with gentle touches, I ask, “So, how’s things?”

“Good. Stocks are up, so good news for us. Took a hit a couple of weeks ago, but we’re on a steady incline and back to making money,” he answers, tipping his head back for me without me having to ask.

“Love to hear it. How’re things outside of business, though?” I wonder, feeling Aero shift beside me as though he’s leaning in to watch me braid Alek’s hair. Sure enough, a quick glance shows him with his head almost close enough to mine that our cheeks would brush if I only shifted slightly to the right.

Smiling, I begin separating Alek’s hair into different strands as he answers. “Good on that front too, kid. Barnes has a crush, but he won’t tell us who it is. He’s keeping secrets because, and I quote, ‘we’re all unstable nutcases who don’t know how to be chill with women.’ He’s full of shit, obviously. Laz is mad chill. The twins are super chill.”

“That leaves just you without the chill, dude,” I point out.

“Okay, so maybe he won’t tell us because I have no chill. I’m curious, sue me,” he grouches, lips twitching with a suppressed smile as he rolls his eyes. “Anyway, all I know is that she smells like a banana split, works at the university, and isn’t keen on alphas.”

I pause, sure I know exactly who that is, because I only know one person in the whole of North U that smells like Alek’s favorite dessert.

“What? Why did you stop?” he blurts, watching me from where he’s peering at me upside down.

Shaking my head, I make the quick decision not to share, because if Barnes isn’t revealing the identity of his new crush, then there has to be a reason for it. Each of the alphas in Alek’s pack are all honest, almost to a fault. They don’t keep secrets, ever, so there has to be a good explanation for why he’s keeping Miss Favero a secret from his pack.

“Just had a thought,” I answer, quickly switching the topic just as I begin to twist one portion of Alek’s hair into a Dutch braid. “Have you talked to Meemaw lately?”

Alek stares at me for a long moment before nodding, receiving a slap to the forehead a split second later. Wincing, he glares and mutters, “Okay, one, ouch, you bitch. Two, yeah. I spoke to her yesterday. Did you know your mom and dads are planning a charity benefit?”

I groan, already fully aware and regretting my choices. “Yup. Meemaw suckered me with that shit.”

“You’re going?” Alek blurts, his face morphing into one of horrified amusement.

Nodding as though I’ve been sentenced to death and simply have to accept my fate, I sigh and explain, “Only because Meemaw, Paw Hudson, and Paw Copper want me there. They guilt-tripped me until I said yes, using the excuse that they never see me anymore. I can’t say no to them, even if I saw them last month for an entire week. They still wrangled a promise from me that I’d show my face, and I regret being so weak-willed where they’re concerned.”

Silence answers me for only a handful of seconds before Alek bursts out into laughter, and my lips twitch even if I find my new predicament as annoying as Munro’s beautiful face.

“Oh, man,” Alek breathes, crossing his meaty arms over his defined chest. “That’s funny. I only agreed to go because Ford and Mac’s company are auctioning a vacation getaway and they’re presenting it at the benefit.”

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