Page 76 of Pack Larsen

“Alek, we just want a chance to explain,” Pace says calmly, waiting for an answer. I hear Alek’s voice through the phone as he speaks, right before Pace’s eyes snap to mine and he drops his head back with a shake of his head. “So, if it’s your fault, maybe you can actually help fix this?”

There’s a long pause, and Pace looks like he’s about ready to commit murder.

“You want us to wait the whole weekend before talking to her? You’re not serious,” he grinds. “That’s my omega. My woman. I can’t go a fucking night without her anymore, man. Please don’t make me start now.”

Another pause.

“Of course, we love her,” Pace sighs, right before he curses as colorfully as Munro and drops my cell from his ear. Handing it over to me, seeing it’s disconnected, he says, “Guess we’re going to stew in our stupidity until she comes home with her head on straight. Apparently, we should have told her where we were going instead of keeping her in the dark.”

“I didn’t even think to tell her because it wasn’t meant to be a big deal,” I rush to say, as though it’s him I’m trying to convince.

“It was meant to be a surprise,” Pace agrees, but he shrugs a shoulder. “Doesn’t change the fact that Alek isn’t willing to let us speak to her until she comes home tomorrow.”

“Fuck,” Rage snaps, right before he storms off. I hear the door to Silver’s nest slam shut a moment later, and Haze sighs before following after his brother. Munro disappears next, much quieter than Rage, and Pace clenches his jaw as he watches him go.

“We’ll fix this,” he promises, and I nod, sure we will. I can’t accept any other outcome.

Tired and scared out of my mind that Silver won’t hear us out, I say, “I’m gonna go watch a movie. Distract myself.”

Pace nods and claps my shoulder as I pass, and I drag my sorry ass into the living room, choose the first movie I happen across, and settle into the couch for a miserable night without my girl for the first time since she let me crawl into the caverns of her heart.

***

I know that scent anywhere. I’d know it if I were fucking dead.

Eyes popping open, sleep vacuumed right out of my body the moment I’m flooded with bubblegum, I turn my head to the side and watch as Silver steps into the living room in nothing but an oversized t-shirt and sleep shorts, kicking off her sneakers as she eyes me with a tired, haunted look on her face.

She steps toward me, pausing to reach for the remote on the coffee table, and switches the television off, but not before I see that it’s two o’clock in the morning. Gently discarding the remote once the room is plunged into darkness, I search for her, blinded by the pitch black that now bathes the room.

I stay exactly where I am, afraid to move in case I spook her, only for her to surprise me and say, “I can’t sleep at Alek’s, because you’ve all ruined me. The hour I had, I slept like shit. I can’t sleep without any of you, and it’s making me pissy and ratty and horrible to deal with, so Alek told me I should either hear you all out or take a Xanax and pass out in the guest room.”

Listening intently, I take in every word uttered in the annoyed, sleepy voice of hers, holding my breath just in case my breathing sends her running. That is until there’s a body falling on top of me and my breath leaves me in a rush, a grunt falling from my lips when Silver drops her entire body weight onto me.

I’m frozen for all of two seconds before I’m wrapping her in my arms so fucking tight that she squeaks. I can’t loosen my arms, though, the feel of her against me, the scent I love surrounding me, the way her hair tickles my chin while she tucks her head into my neck, it’s too much for me not to hold her as tight as I possibly can. She’s warm, safe in my arms, and for the first time in hours, I can finally take my first breath that doesn’t feel like scraping my lungs over shards of glass.

Just as I’m opening my mouth, words on the tip of my tongue, ready to spill my guts and explain everything, Silver sighs and mutters, “You’ve ruined me and I need sleep. Please, let me sleep, just for a couple of hours. I’ll hear you all out then. Alek said I was being stupid, and I’m putting my faith in him, so I’ll listen. Just… let me sleep before you… before you tell me why I caught Pace,” she yawns loudly. “Taking money from… from my…”

Silver is asleep before she even finishes her sentence, stunning me into staring down the crazy girl in both awe, relief, and a bone-deep love I can feel filling me up from head to toe.

Swallowing hard, I maneuver her about a little so we’re both comfortable, finding one of the blankets I know she loves to cuddle with and draping it over us both.

With Silver back in my arms, everything feels like it's righting itself, pushing itself back into order. My life feels like it’s supposed to be with her sleeping on top of me, with her bubblegum scent washing over me, her breath warming my neck as she sleeps soundly. My body relaxes slowly the longer she remains asleep, and I close my eyes, inhaling fruity bubblegum that now mingles with my frosted plum, and I finally drift off into sleep with one goal in mind for tomorrow.

I’m telling this girl I love her, and I won’t be letting her go, not ever again.

Chapter 29

Silver

A warm hand tickles my back with steady and slow strokes up and down my spine, tucked beneath the shirt I stole from Alek. My cousin’s sweet and earthy scent clings to the material, comforting me while I feel like ass, but there’s another scent that now wraps around me like the comforting embrace of home.

“You awake yet?” Aero whispers quietly against the top of my head, his lips brushing against my hair as he speaks.

“No,” I grouch, not ready to wake up and face the day. Call me a chicken or whatever the hell you want, but facing the pack I essentially ran away from before hearing them out about a possible betrayal and being told I was being stupid by my own cousin doesn't make a girl feel good. Excuse me if I want to remain in the blissful solitude of sleep a little longer before dealing with either betrayal or stupidity.

“As much as I’d love to let you sleep longer, baby, I need you to wake up so we can clear a few things up. I’m currently being glared at by a very miserable beta and three frustrated and furious alphas,” Aero informs me, splaying his whole hand on my back, the spot beneath his palm warming.

Sighing, I keep my eyes closed and snuggle into Aero’s chest, because, apparently, I’m a total sap and can’t help myself, and ask, “Are they pissed at me?”

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