Page 85 of Pit Stop

“You sure?” Maverick asks.

“Positive. Get some sleep. We have a busy two days ahead of us.”

Maverick takes our bags and we move into the room, the smell slightly musty despite the open window.

My eyes swivel to the bed as he closes the door and locks it.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” I finally whisper. “I thought we’d have a little more time.”

“Me too,” he says and then moves toward me, pulling me into a tight hug. “But it’s for the best. This is what you want.”

“And you want it too, right?” I ask, feeling something tug on my heart. It’s insistent and almost painful, but I have to ignore it.

He swallows and blinks, taking far too long to answer. “Yeah. I want what you want, Skye.”

I’m not sure I like that answer, but I let it go.

“We should get some sleep,” Maverick says, scenting me gently. His pheromones cloud around me, and I grow drunkon them. It’s different tonight. Lust is there, need, but also desperation with a tinge of sadness.

I feel it too.

But that’s normal with a mate about to break a bond.

I’ll feel better once it’s over, right?

I have to believe it or I won’t make it.

Maverick and I sleep tucked against each other all night. He wakes several times to scent me, rubbing his face against my neck, my stomach, and my groin.

It’s heavenly. I don’t want him to stop, but I do need sleep. We have such a busy next few days.

When we’re woken at six the next morning by my dad, we stumble down the stairs to the kitchen where several alphas are already wolfing down plates of eggs, bacon, and sausages.

“We have pancakes on the grill, too. You’ll need to wait for those, seeing as you’re late,” Bet says roughly.

I look at the clock on the wall and note that we’re all of two minutes past six. I guess these wolves mean business. Maybe if you actually shift, you get hungrier, and your metabolism works harder. I don’t know, but I may have to ask if I get a chance.

“Sit,” Bet says as she hands us plates full of food.

The shifters glance up at us, and one winks at me. He sniffs loudly and wets his lips. “You smell good, even through all the alpha scent. You must be the omega here to break the bond. No wonder Red is obsessed. You’re like fucking candy.”

Maverick freezes, his fingers tightening on the plate he’s holding.

I touch him gently, reassuring him, and he relaxes slightly, pulling out a chair at the end of the table for me. I lower myselfinto it, making sure to glare at all the alphas at the table. I won’t let them intimidate me.

I have alpha brothers. I know how to handle them.

“What do you mean?” I ask as I grab my fork and stab it into an egg.

The alpha who commented stops chewing and looks at me.

“Huh?”

“What do you mean that Red is obsessed?” I was hoping Red forgot all about the deal he wanted to make, since I never called him but we still got the invite.

The guy shrugs and stuffs two sausages in his mouth. “Dunno. Guess I meant it like I said it. We all heard about you. Didn’t know there were more of you, though.”

Forest and Sage take the seats next to us, creating a barrier between me and the shifters while my dad stands behind me.

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