Page 120 of It All Started with a Bite

“Not that unlikely.” Lauren sauntered over to Marcus and pulled him to his feet. “We’re perfect for each other.”

Marcus’s ears reddened.

This explained a lot of things.

“So Samuel really isn’t your type?” I hazarded.

Samuel scowled at me. “How could you think that?!”

Lauren grimaced. “Please. Like I want to bed that beast. I like my men soft and pliable.” She gazed fondly at Marcus. “It makes it easier to tie them up and?—”

Marcus hastily pressed a hand to her mouth, his face bright red. He yelped when Lauren bit his palm.

“Now, now, Pookie Bear, there’s no need to be shy,” Lauren crooned.

Beatrice and Hugh made identical gagging noises before exchanging a startled glance. They both looked away and blushed.

I stared. I’d evidently completely misread that situation too.

Danielle looked beseechingly at the ceiling and muttered under her breath. Victoria leaned over and patted her gently on the shoulder.

Arthur was trying to calm a spluttering Priscilla.

“But—but, you can’t!” Priscilla blurted out. “Marcus is going to be the next alpha of our pack! He can’t possibly marry into the Luptons!”

“I’m not intending him to marry into the Luptons,” Lauren drawled. “I will be marrying into the Holts and I’ll support Marcus in his role as the next alpha.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “After all, I’m the strongest enforcer in Connecticut.”

Arthur watched this unfold with surprising equanimity. “Well, at least the Holt pack will be in good hands.”

Danielle frowned at her eldest daughter. “Aren’t you forgetting your own pack?”

Lauren pointed at her younger sister. “You just have to have Beatrice marry Hugh.”

“What?!” Beatrice squealed.

“I don’t know what you mean!” Hugh protested.

Bo wagged his tail. “You’ve both gone beetroot red.”

“Oh God,” Victoria mumbled. “Bernard, can you pour some whiskey into my coffee?”

“You’re drinking tea, ma’am.”

“Then give it to me neat!” Victoria snapped.

I wished I could take up drinking too, but the last time I did that, I ended up becoming a werewolf.

It was at this point that Lauren dipped Marcus dramatically and proceeded to kiss him princess style. The whole room sucked in air, Bernard almost dropping the whiskey decanter.

I recovered first and stole a look at the couch where the Holts sat.

“Quick, Priscilla is foaming at the mouth!”

38

Epilogue - The Thing about Alphas

It wasanother hour before the Holts and the Luptons finally left.

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