Page 49 of Bound By Alphas 1: Bound

Keir kept glancing back at me, his eyes lingering longer than necessary. Each time our gazes met, I felt that now-familiar heat spreading through my body. Twice he slowed his pace until he was walking beside me, his arm occasionally brushing against mine in a way that seemed too deliberate to be accidental.

“You okay?” he asked quietly, his voice pitched so only I could hear.

“Fine,” I lied, acutely aware of how close he was, of the scent of him—citrus and sandalwood and that distinct alpha musk that seemed designed specifically to drive me crazy.

“You don’t look fine,” he murmured, his fingers grazing the small of my back as he guided me around a dip in the path. The touch, brief as it was, sent another wave of heat through me. “You’ve been avoiding us.”

“I’ve been busy,” I said, stepping away from his touch before I did something embarrassing like lean into it.

His eyes darkened slightly. “We miss you, Finn.”

The simple statement hit me harder than it should have. Before I could formulate a response, we reached the house, and the moment was broken.

The delicious aroma of Elena’s cooking filled the air as we entered through the back door. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud, reminding me that I’d been skipping too many meals lately.

“Perfect timing,” Elena called from the kitchen. “Wash up and come eat.”

The dining room table was already set, platters of food arranged family-style down the center. I hesitated in the doorway, scanning the room automatically for Cade and Logan.

“They had to go into town,” Keir said, reading my thoughts with unsettling accuracy. “Some issue with the shipping contracts. They’ll be back tonight.”

I tried to ignore the conflicting emotions that surged through me—relief at not having to face all three of them at once, disappointment that they weren’t here, and irritation at myself for feeling either.

“Come on,” Drew said, nudging me toward the table. “Elena made your favorite enchiladas.”

Lunch was a surprisingly relaxed affair without Cade and Logan’s intense presence. Drew’s friends turned out to be easy company, sharing stories from college that had even Elena chuckling as she refilled drinks. I laughed more than I had in weeks, the tension that had been my constant companion temporarily easing.

Keir sat at the head of the table, effortlessly charming everyone. I couldn’t help noticing how Sophia and Mia angled their bodies toward him, their attention clearly focused on the youngest alpha brother despite their conversation with the rest of us.

After lunch, Drew suggested video games in the media room, a transparent attempt to keep the easy mood going.

“I’ve got some work to finish,” I said, already planning my escape back to the studio.

“Nope,” Drew declared, grabbing my arm. “You’ve been hiding long enough. One hour of gaming won’t kill you.”

I wanted to protest, but the hopeful expressions on Jake and Tyler’s faces made me hesitate. They’d been nothing but nice, and it wasn’t their fault I was in the middle of a supernatural crisis.

“Fine.” I sighed. “One hour.”

“I’ll join you shortly,” Keir said, his phone buzzing in his pocket. “Need to take this first.”

As we headed to the media room, I glanced back to see Sophia and Mia lingering, clearly waiting for Keir to finish his call. The familiar twist of jealousy returned, sharper than before.

“They’re wasting their time,” Drew murmured, following my gaze. “Keir’s just being polite.”

“It’s none of my business,” I replied, perhaps too quickly.

Drew gave me a knowing look but mercifully changed the subject as we entered the media room.

One hour turned into two as we rotated through racing games and fighters. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed these mindless competitions, the good-natured trash talk and ridiculous victory dances. For a brief time, I wasn’t the fox shifter with three alpha mates or the struggling artist—I was just Finn, celebrating after blue-shelling Drew into last place.

I was in the middle of a heated battle with Tyler when I felt it—that familiar prickle at the back of my neck that told me I was being watched. I glanced toward the doorway to find Keir leaning against the frame, arms crossed, a small smile playing at his lips as he observed our antics.

Behind him, I could see Sophia and Mia hovering in the hallway, their attention fixed on Keir’s broad shoulders. Something possessive and entirely unwelcome flared in my chest.

“Room for one more?” Keir asked, pushing away from the doorframe.

“Always,” Drew replied, tossing him a controller. “Though fair warning—Finn’s on a winning streak.”

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