Page 40 of Pack Favero

I’m absolutely breathless by the time he deems me scent marked enough, placing me on my feet and turning me slowly when I sway. Grinning down at me like a big goofball, he says, “There. That’ll do for now.”

“Alphas,” I sigh as though I’m put off, but the smile on my face can’t be mistaken for anything but happiness, and it’s mirrored in the gorgeous face hovering above mine.

“I like it when you pretend you don’t love it,” he goads before leaning in to steal a kiss before I can reply. It’s not a brief kiss, either. It’s a toe-curling, perfume-inducing, mind-shattering kiss that steals the air from my lungs and the sanity from my head.

I’m dizzy by the time he pulls back, high on his scent and drugging kisses, and when my eyelashes flutter open, I find him grinning down at me as he says, “Hey, little lady.”

Slowly, a dazed grin appears on my lips, and I murmur, “Hi, baby.”

Everything about the man softens and warms, and his smile turns almost boyish and adorable. He drops another kiss to my lips before whispering, “Won’t ever get tired of hearing that.”

Then, with a pat to my ass, he gestures to the living room and says, “Go kick your feet up and relax. We’ll fix up the plates.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to argue, ushering me from the kitchen with a stern ‘shoo’ that makes the two other alphas laugh, so I do as I’m told. I take my sneakers off and place them with the others near the door before climbing onto the comfortable couch, asking, “Are Ford and Mac home?”

Laz shakes his head. “Not yet. Their flight was delayed.”

I nod, feeling disappointed that all five of the guys won’t be here, but given that their store is set to open in a few weeks, I know travelling is a big thing for them right now. So, slipping my cell out of my back pocket, I type out a text to them both.

ZIRA:I heard your flight was delayed. That sucks. I miss you guys.

I receive replies from them both pretty quickly, and I smile at the text thread that unravels before it even begins.

FORD:Hear that, brother? She misses me.

MAC:She misses us both, idiot.

FORD:I’ll bet she misses me more, though.

MAC:You’re an idiot.

Rolling my eyes with a grin, I text:

ZIRA:I miss you both with equal amounts. Come home soon xx

Again, the two of them text back at the exact same time, and I melt into the couch when I read over their messages.

FORD:I miss you so much it’s not even funny, pretty girl. We’ll be home soon, don’t you worry <3

MAC:Miss you more, starlight. Can’t wait to see you x

When the chat descends into the pair trying to one up the other about how much they miss me, their goofy banter amusing me to no end, I place my cell on the coffee table and smile at Lazarus when he confidently walks into the living room balancing two plates and two beers tucked in his arm.

“For the princess,” he jokes, and I accept a bottle from his arm with a light laugh, taking a sip with a sigh as he places the plate on my lap before claiming the seat beside me. Reaching for the remote, he offers it to me. “What would you like to watch tonight?”

Shaking my head and refusing the remote, I tell him, “I’m easy. What’s your favorite thing to watch?”

His lips twitch. “Ever watched a TV program calledBrassic?”

The confusion on my face gives me away and Lazarus chuckles lowly before nodding. “Allow me to pop yourBrassiccherry, in that case. Sit tight, sweetheart. It gets a little crazy.”

And, for the rest of the night, we eat and watch a hilariously peak British TV show that quickly becomes a favorite. All the while, I can’t help but look at the three out of five alphas and wonder, not for the first time, how I got so damn lucky to have found them all.

Chapter 14

Zira

Cuddled tightly to a warm chest, I listen to Barnes’s breathing as he sleeps soundly, his body wrapped around my back with his arms twisted around my stomach and chest. It’s beyond comfortable, and I feel safe in the circle of his arms, content and happy to remain here all night. I smile as I inhale his scent as it surrounds me more here than it does anywhere else in the house, his room a perfect reflection of him.

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