Page 109 of Coco and the Misfits

Can I?

Am I able to? Willing to change my mind, my decades-long resolve not to live in a pack? Can I form a pack for her? Will that make her happy?

Make all of us happy?

Her friend nods at me, and I nod back. He’s done his part. Time for me to do mine.

“A pack.” Ryder rubs a tattooed hand over his face. “Whatever.”

“Are you opposed to the idea?” Zach asks him.

“Why, aren’t you?”

“I… thought I was. But lately I’m realizing that I’m ready for a pack. A family. Especially if it involves Coco. And you guys… You aren’t that bad.”

“High praise,” I mutter.

“Shouldn’t we get straight with her and just tell her what we want?” Zach asks. “I mean, if I’m right, we all want the same thing, right?” He glances at me. “I barely know you two. We haven’t hung out together except below her apartment…”

Ryder nods. “While saving her from thugs…”

“And taking care of her,” I say. “We have come together in all the ways that matter. But yeah, we haven’t lived together.”

“I’m not into guys,” Ryder grumbles. “Like, not seriously. I don’t mind screwing around, but I just want… her.”

“Same,” Zach admits. “Like, I don’t mind getting naked with you guys?—”

Ryder barks out a laugh.

“—but that’s as far as I want to go.” Zach licks his lips. “For now, at least.”

“Fair enough.” I scratch my beard. I don’t think I’ve ever been more unkempt in my life. My beard needs trimming, my clothes are wrinkled, and I haven’t paid attention to a single business meeting I’ve attended in the past week. “Do we have to fuck to be a pack?”

Zach grunts. “An official pack requires at least one alpha and one omega.”

“Then we’re set,” I say. “She’s an omega, and we’re alphas. If those are all the requirements…”

“But would it work? For her? For us?”

“This is stupid,” Ryder says. “I can’t be in a pack. I can’t be with anyone.”

“And why not?” I really want to know why he thinks that when it has always been my line.

“None of your business,” Ryder grunts.

“We’re in this together, asshole,” I remind him. “For her.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he whispers. “I’m not good for anyone.”

“That’s bullshit,” Zach says. “Did you commit a crime? Come out and say it now. We need to know.”

“Crime? No.” Ryder shakes his dark head. “But I’m bad luck. I destroy people’s lives.”

“Not good enough,” I say. “I rather think of you as our good luck charm, if you want to know. Anyone else who wants to object?”

“I don’t think I’m good mate material,” Zach admits. “I always thought I’d end up alone. My parents stayed together because of me for a long time and it was hell.”

“Boy,” I say, “objection overruled. If we aren’t good enough for her, well then, we should try harder to be the men she deserves. Agreed?”

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