Page 55 of Bound By Alphas 1: Bound

“Careful there, Finn,” Drew said, eyeing my aggressive approach to dinner. “That lamb’s already dead.”

“Just making sure,” I replied, forcing a smile.

Keir’s hand found my knee under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. I nearly jumped at the contact, my fork clattering against my plate.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice pitched low for my ears only.

“Fine,” I lied, acutely aware of his touch burning through my jeans.

“You don’t seem fine,” he murmured, his thumb tracing small circles on my knee that made it hard to concentrate.

“I’m just… tired,” I managed, trying to focus on my food rather than the heat spreading through my body.

“So, Logan,” Sophia called across the table, “I heard you were the one who took down the Tebb Pack’s second-in-command with a single move. Care to demonstrate sometime?”

The smile she gave him was pure invitation, and I felt another surge of that dark, possessive feeling I had no right to experience.

“It’s all about leverage,” Logan replied with a casual shrug that did interesting things to his shoulders. “And knowing your opponent’s weaknesses.”

“I’d love to learn,” Mia purred, her hand boldly resting on his forearm. “I’ve always wanted to improve my… technique.”

I choked on my water, earning concerned looks from around the table.

“Wrong pipe?” Keir asked innocently, though the gleam in his eyes suggested he knew exactly what had caused my reaction.

“Something like that,” I muttered, taking another sip to cover my discomfort.

“You should eat more,” Cade observed from across the table, his gaze sweeping over me with an intensity that made my skin tingle.

The command in his voice made something in me want to both rebel and submit simultaneously. Instead of arguing, I took a deliberate bite of the lamb, which was admittedly delicious.

“Happy?” I asked after swallowing.

“Getting there,” he replied, his eyes darkening as they tracked the movement of my throat.

The conversation shifted to other topics—pack politics, the upcoming full moon, some supernatural council meeting that Cade was apparently expected to attend. Throughout it all, I remained acutely aware of Keir beside me, of Cade’s eyes finding mine across the table despite Sophia’s constant attempts to reclaim his attention, of Logan’s gaze that seemed to focus on me even while Mia spoke to him.

It was equally impossible to ignore how the Blackwood cousins continued their flirtatious campaign. Sophia laughed at everything Cade said, touching his arm and flipping her hair in that universal female signal of interest. Mia was more subtle but no less effective, her questions to Logan perfectly designed to let him showcase his knowledge and authority.

And the worst part? They were responding. Cade smiled at Sophia in a way that made her practically glow. Logan leanedtoward Mia when she spoke, his body language open and receptive.

They were perfect matches—beautiful werewolf women from an old bloodline paired with powerful alpha males. It made sense in a way that me—the awkward fox shifter with paint perpetually under my fingernails—never would.

“Dessert?” Elena announced, appearing with a chocolate torte that momentarily distracted everyone.

“Elena, you’re a goddess,” Drew declared, earning a fond eye roll from our housekeeper.

I managed a few bites of the torte, which was objectively amazing, but the knot in my stomach made it hard to enjoy. Pixel, sensing my distress, jumped into my lap and butted her head against my hand, demanding attention.

“At least someone loves me,” I murmured, scratching under her chin.

“What was that?” Keir asked, leaning closer.

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Just talking to my cat.”

His eyes, too knowing for comfort, studied my face. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” I insisted, setting down my fork. “Actually, I think I’m going to call it a night. It’s been a long day.”

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