Page 11 of Desired By Eros

Psyche just shrugged, her gaze shifting to the twins. “I got what I needed,” she replied simply.

The muffled sounds of the twins’ laughter and Goat-zilla’s occasional bleats were manageable now, giving her the reprieve she needed. She stayed at the edge of the huddle, content to observe from a comfortable distance. Liam, however, had other ideas. He plopped himself onto her lap and looked up at her with expectant eyes. Psyche instinctively held him, her arm wrapping around him, and she found herself smiling softly.

Just when the hour she had set on her alarm was up, Artemis and Cade strolled into the backyard, their faces flushed from the run but glowing with satisfaction. Psyche stood carefully, balancing Liam before setting him down, and greeted them with a nod.

“I got an email,” she announced. “I can leave for Denali tomorrow.”

Artemis’s face lit up. “That’s amazing! Congratulations, Psyche. I knew it would work out.”

Cade nodded, his expression warm. “Good news. It’ll be an adventure.”

As the twins clamored for their mother’s attention, Artemis added, “Eros will help you get there. It’ll be an easy trip.”

Eros straightened from where he’d been lounging by the pen’s fence and then strolled over. “What now?” he asked lazily.

Artemis repeated herself, but Eros’s face twisted into a look of theatrical dismay. “Me? Why me? I’m not some commuter airline.”

Cade’s expression darkened slightly, and Psyche noticed his posture shift, exuding the quiet authority of an Alpha. “Because it’s a long drive, and you can get her there faster. You’re not doing anything else.”

“I could be doing something else,” Eros rolled his eyes, unfazed by Cade’s growing annoyance. “Like, literally anything. Why not have one of the pack’s scouts do it?”

Psyche blinked at his audacity. Talking back to the Alpha was unheard of in her pack—it was the kind of thing that could lead to swift consequences. Yet, Eros didn’t seem the least bit concerned. His tone was casual, bordering on disrespectful, and she couldn’t understand how he thought this was acceptable.

Cade’s jaw tightened, his gaze locking onto Eros. “Because I said so. And because Artemis and I trust you to handle it.”

“Oh, trust. How touching. I feel so honored. But how am I supposed to leave when you’ve set boundaries for me?”

“I’ll expand it. You’re free to move between here and Psyche’s dig site, plus any place she needs to be.”

“Great.”

“Starting tomorrow,” the Alpha quickly added. “In case you had any bright ideas about making a run for it.”

Eros huffed. “Fine.”

Artemis sighed, placing a hand on Cade’s arm before addressing Eros. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. It’s one trip. Help Psyche out and stop acting like it’s a life sentence.”

Eros’s smirk wavered, and for a moment, Psyche thought he might actually push back. Instead, with a dramatic sigh, he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine. But I’m charging overtime.”

“Good luck with that,” Artemis laughed, shaking her head.

Cade’s voice dropped, low and authoritative. “You can charge whatever you want in your head, Eros. Just make sure you’re ready to leave on time.”

The tension between them was palpable, and Psyche felt her heart beat faster as she tried to decipher the subtle cues in their body language. Cade’s frustration was obvious—his stance firm, his shoulders squared—but Eros seemed almost amused by it, as though pushing boundaries was his favorite pastime.

Finally, Eros shrugged. “Alright, alright. I’ll be there. Relax, Alpha.” His tone seemed teasing, almost mocking, and Psyche couldn’t believe her ears.

Artemis sighed. “That’s enough, Eros. Don’t push your luck.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied smoothly, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

She gestured to Cade and the babies. “Come on, they’ll need to eat soon.”

Psyche stayed back, stunned by what she had just witnessed. When Eros turned his gaze back to her, she couldn’t hold her tongue.

“Why are you like that?” she asked, her voice sharp. “You don’t follow acceptable social norms, and you’re rude to the Alpha. That’s a big deal.”

He chuckled. “Maybe in your pack. I do things my way.”

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