Page 13 of Pack Down Bad

“I’ve edited several times for this author. I really don’t think she would plagiarize anything.” He furrows his brows as he stares intently down at the screen of his e-reader, making me think he’s not so sure about that. I’m more focused on what he’s just revealed about being an editor.

“I love books,” I blurt out, my eyes going wide as I surprise myself with the ferocity of my words.

“Me too.” His arm squeezes me even tighter. “Something we have in common.”

My chest feels all warm and fuzzy. I like the idea of having something in common with Percy. He’s being so sweet, feeding and reading to me. An omega could really get used to this, so long as the three alphas prove to want the same thing.

A cozy cabin in the woods wouldn’t be such a bad place to nest. After all, I love the outdoors.

Wait!

I straighten on Percy’s lap with excitement as I realize I’m starting to recall more of my interests. I like reading and the outdoors andreading outdoors. Bits of my memory are coming back, which seems like reassurance that my identity isn’t lost forever.

Percy tilts his head, his lips pursing to question my sudden change, but Rhys interrupts before he can.

“If you’re sure you don’t want any more snacks tonight, we should get you to bed, Belle.” Rhys wanders closer while Knox stays back near the kitchen island, hands buried deep in his pockets and a scowl fixed on his face.

“She’s definitely sleepy.” Percy nods his agreement with a teasing smile.

“You can stay in my bed tonight,” Rhys offers.

“No fucking way!” Knox roars, crossing the floor quickly to edge Rhys out of the way. His tone is the commanding voice of a pack leader, leaving no room to argue as he barks, “You’ll sleep in my bed tonight.”

ChapterEight

Knox

Belle pretends I’m not here, standing in the doorway, as she fusses over making my bed since I didn’t bother to this morning. The air in my bedroom is thick with tension as she studiously ignores my presence. I know I didn’t give her the best first impression of me, but dammit, why did Rhys have to lie?

My chest is tight with guilt. I could simply tell her the truth right now, Rhys’s request for me to play along for a day or two be damned.

He shouldn’t have lied. No good can come from trying to add an omega to our pack based on a lie.

Once Belle’s memory returns, she’s going to realize she isn’t as far from town as Rhys told her. She’s going to think the three of us are creeps holding her hostage, and I’m not sure if a scent-match will be enough to persuade her to look past the lies.

Rhys really made a mess of things this time.

And Percy isn’t much better, going along with the lies so easily. He’s usually the most pragmatic of the three of us. He has to realize that lying to Belle won’t work long-term. Rhys told me while we carried groceries in that he anticipates her memory will return quickly within the next couple of days, since the accident wasn’t severe enough to even leave her with a concussion.

We’re desperate. That’s the only excuse we have for none of us telling her the truth immediately.

I could just tell her now while we’re alone... but what if I jog something in her memory? She might remember she isn’t single at home. Maybe she’s already settled down with someone else, resigned to never finding her scent-match.

The thought of some other alpha or alphas sharing a home with her, surrounding themselves with her sweet cinnamon scent that they can never properly appreciate, makes me sick.

We need more time.

Time that Rhys bought us by lying.

“The other guys sleep downstairs, so the bathroom in the hall is all yours for tonight. Washcloths are in the linen closet behind the door, and there’s an extra toothbrush and toiletries in the drawers on the right.” I keep my stuff in the left-side drawers since I’m left-handed. If I could encourage her to use my soaps without coming off like a freak, I would. I already convinced her to dress in one of my t-shirts and a pair of sweats.

I’m desperate for our scents to mingle in some way, even if only from her wearing my clothes and using my face wash. A desperate man will take whatever he can get.

“Thank you.” Belle stops fussing over the covers and wrings her hands together.

“Do you need anything else?”

Like maybe for me to stay and watch you sleep so that I know you’re safe in my bed and not going anywhere?

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