Page 91 of Pack Baines

The time he speaks of was a week after our six-day-long heat-fest where I forgot my own name, had to relearn how to use my legs, and smelt of my alphas and betas for days after, despite several showers. The flirty alpha woke me on a school day in the best way, slowly making love to me until my eyelids fluttered open before fucking me like an animal. He got so carried away that he knotted me, rendering me late for an exam I was set to take that morning. Thankfully, professors at North Five are pretty cool and understanding. I managed to take my exam later in the afternoon, but I still could have killed Evron for making me late to begin with, even if the orgasms were mind blowing.

“Anyway, have I told you how beautiful you are when you’re freshly fucked and smiling like you own the world and everything in it?” my cheeky alpha croons in my ear, slowly sliding from my body.

“You have, on many occasions, but I really like hearing it,” I inform seriously, lips twitching when both he and Creek laugh.

“Come on, you. Let’s have the quickest shower and get you outside to greet your guests. It’s your birthday, after all. It’s only fair we let you enjoy your birthday party,” Creek commands with a smile, helping me out of Evron’s bed that I slept in last night and to the ensuite shower.

We’re washed and dressed in record time, my hair dried and styled in plum-colored beach waves, my black-chiffon summer dress and leather jacket complementing my Doc Martens with purple laces.

Evron whistles as soon as he sees me, appreciation painting his face as he says, “Absolutely knock out, Blue. Fucking beautiful.”

I hum under my breath, walking into his arms and stealing a quick kiss. When I pull back, I whisper, “Love you.”

“Love you more,” he volleys, winking when I roll my eyes playfully, before leading me to the backyard where the party has already started. It’s late afternoon and people are milling around with beer bottles in hand, a barbeque in play that is securely manned by Geo. The twins are missing, and I spot pack Larsen lounging in one of the patio sets near the firepit.

Silver is here with her cousin, Alek, their likeness is startling enough that I was genuinely surprised when she introduced him as her cousin and not her brother. His hair is a light blond that I assume is Silver’s natural color, eyes brown instead of silver like his cousin’s, but the same cheekbones, chin, and bubbly personality. He’s a decade older, charming and handsome, and as goofy as Silver, and we meshed as soon as we met when he drove Silver here for a visit after my heat broke.

“Go say hi, beautiful,” Creek gestures, patting my ass before watching me head in Silver’s direction.

A beer bottle is placed in my hand as I pass Munro, and I grin at him before taking a swig, never skipping a step as I walk toward one of two of my best friends.

“Hey, Kitten!Happy birthdaaaay!” the pastel princess sings as soon as I’m close enough, yanking me into a tight hug a second later.

Laughing, I pat her back and hug her, officially used to Silver’s brand of affection. “Thank you, pixie.”

“Of course. It’s our first birthday we’re celebrating! Have you opened your gift from me yet? Please say you did. It’s so good. Soyou,” she sprouts quickly, and Alek is forced to slap a hand over her mouth.

“For the love of god, breathe, you nutcase,” he snickers, ignoring the glare Silver sends him. Instead, he shrugs at me and says, “In her defense, she’s an excellent gift giver, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to go postal when you see what she got you.”

“Oh, hell. Is it bad?” I cringe, the two of them already aware of how much I hate people spending money on me after the sneaky fuckers paid my medical bills after I broke my arm in the car crash. Apparently, the heifer and her cousin are filthy rich and thought nothing of it to pay my bills, and I damn near killed them for it. Just because they have money, doesn't mean they should waste it on me. It was a whole argument between the three of us, one I lost with very little effort, but still. I digress.

“Not as bad as the hospital bills, but definitely no better,” Alek quips, grinning at me as dread fills me. “Have fun with that.”

Groaning, I drop my head back and grumble, “Did anyone listen when I demanded no presents?”

“No!” several voices shout, and I turn to glare at my guys and pack Larsen, flipping them off with both middle fingers now that I’m cast-less and my arm works again.

Laughter answers me and I shake my head, taking a hearty mouthful of beer. Looks like I’m going to need it if I plan on surviving today. When I pull the bottle away from my mouth, I glare at Silver and ask, “Did you go over budget?”

“Only a little. It’s worth it, though,” she answers easily, and I groan, because now I know it’s going to be way too much. How the hell will I top it for her birthday? Fuck my life. “Anyway, enough about presents. There’s a big, gruff guy over there. Looks like he’s looking for you.”

Sure enough, when I peer over my shoulder, I find a burly biker with a killer beard and a scowl standing on the top step of the patio with a gift bag in one hand and a toddler on his waist.

Grinning at the sight of Mack holding a kid, I shake my head and tell Silver, “I’ll be back to chew you out over your present giving.”

“Whatever. You’ll be kissing me when you see it,” she snickers, leaning in for another hug and a kiss to the cheek, whispering sweetly in my ear, “Love you, bestie.”

“Love you,” I reciprocate, the word coming much easier than it used to.

Flashing me a grin, she shoos me away and I head toward Mack and the kid who looks just like his mother. As soon as I’m close enough, Gabby’s son reaches his chubby little hands toward me, and Mack hands him over reluctantly with a smile so soft it still shocks me.

“Hey, you. Where’s Gabby and the gang?” I ask, leaning in for a side hug, squeezing Mack tight like I usually do now.

Ever since my accident, Mack made the decision to move here since he couldn’t handle the thought of being so far away when I was in trouble. Phone calls and check-ins simply weren’t enough, and the closet softie decided to open a bar here and move his entire life so he could be near. I’ve teased him endlessly about it, his gruff biker exterior a front for the soft-hearted man beneath. What I didn’t expect in the slightest was him finding his pack and place with Gabby. It was instant, love at first sight, and the rest of her pack welcomed Mack with open arms. He’s slotted himself perfectly into being a family man, and I have to say, it suits him.

“Morning sickness got the better of her, but she should be here with Aaron shortly. The others are parking the car. I took that monster with me so they didn’t have to listen to Baby Shark for the billionth time,” Mack informs, grinning at me at the mere mention of his pregnant alpha. I’m confident the baby is his, but we’ll never know, since they’re all content to leave DNA out of their family dynamic. I love it for them, for Mack. He deserves the happiness a pack brings.

“The only monster here is that beard,” I banter, tugging on the long hair and making the kiddo on my hip giggle and clap his hands. When Mack swats my hands away and shoves the gift at me,I roll my eyes and accept it, glaring down at the pretty bag. “So, no one listened at all, I guess.”

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