Page 42 of This Pack of Ours

I chewed on my fingernail nervously as I waited for him to come out.

When he finally did, he started walking toward our room.

I stiffened as he stopped just before the living room/kitchen space, right near our bedroom door.

He was alone.

I watched on the baby monitor as he ambled to the couch, flopping down and grabbing the nearest blanket. I froze as he pulled it over himself.

Uh, no.

That wasn’t allowed.

That wasmycouch blanket, and I didnotwant it smelling like a delicious alpha.

One ofKit’s delicious alphas.

He shifted, turning over and tugging the blanket up to his chin.

Shit.

What if he accidentally scent marked it? Was that even a thing?

I could wash it with Nutraleze, but then it would wash Kit’s scent off too, and Kit was leaving soon.

Ihadto rescue that blanket.

I waited until he looked like he was asleep, chewing another fingernail to a nub, and then tiptoed over to the door. I worked quietly to unlatch the three deadbolts I’d installed earlier.

Then, heart hammering in my throat, I army-crawled out into the living room. They’d hung up a lot of their stuff to dry around the apartment, and it had made their scents tangle and linger throughout the whole space. The only unaffected room so far was our nest, though I’m sure it wouldn’t stay like that for long.Iwas fighting the urge to grab some clothes and tuck them between the cushions in our nest, and I could only imagine how much stronger the temptation was for Kit.

I remained ninja quiet as I made my way over to the couch and around the side. As I approached, I smelled cinnamon and pear.

Adrian.

His breathing was even, his mouth hanging slightly open. He looked… peaceful. Cute. I glared at him. No way was he using his good looks to get out of this one.

I gritted my teeth, and slowly started tugging the blanket off him, inch by inch. It was about halfway off when it stopped coming.

Dammit. It must be stuck between the couch cushions on the other side.

I stood slowly, carefully, and reached over, slipping my hand down beside the fabric to free it.

My arm had to go lower, causing me to press closer to him. He stirred, and I froze, my back screaming in protest at the awkward angle.

His arm reached up, and my eyes widened as it wrapped around me, tugging me to his chest like some omega teddy bear.

Pressed against his chest, heart racing, I swore I heard the faintest of purrs. For a moment, I felt like I did in my nest with Kit. Warm. Cosy. Surrounded. Safe.

We’re not safe, stupid omega, he isn’t ours;I hissed at myself and wiggled a bit, trying to move his arm.

Shit, what if Kit woke up and found us like this?

Adrian’s arm was deadweight, but I finally managed to move it.

My triumph was short-lived as his arm fell and hit the floor. Adrian woke up with a sharp inhale. In a moment, he was off the couch and on his feet, and I was swept off the floor and into his arms. His head whipped around, searching for a threat, and I found myself pulled closer against his delicious-smelling chest. As he tried to… protect me?

A growl tore from his throat, summoning a broken, terrified purr in my chest. The attack yesterday mixed with my years of gold pack instincts—I needed out.Now! I sank my teeth deep into his arm, tasting blood.

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