Page 89 of Pit Stop

Suddenly, twenty-four hours doesn’t seem like nearly enough.

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

SKYE

While initially lookingaround the property, I thought there wasn’t much to see besides the dilapidated buildings and the rickety fences, but after lingering too long on the porch, Bet finally told us to go explore. She was tired of us looming.

“The potion Atherton gave you won’t hurt you at all. It just prepares you for tomorrow. Dulls things a bit. You can go about life like you normally do,” she says before narrowing her gaze. When we don’t move, she whistles, and Jex appears around a corner, his shirt off, his hair slightly damp. “Jex, take them out of here. They’re driving me nuts.”

Jex eyes us, his stare landing on my dad, and his lips curl. “Can do.”

“We should wait for Forest,” my dad interjects, but Jex just waves him off.

“Trust me. He’s fine. He’s in good hands with Ten.”

“And how do we know this?”

“Because I saw them. Forest is just fine.”

Jex leaps off the porch and saunters toward the edge of the woods, cocky as fuck. So much like Red. I can see a resemblance, too. I bet they’re related.

As Jex stands on the forest’s edge, the trees looming above him, he looks almost feral.

“Come on. Don’t be afraid,” he says with a dark laugh.

I don’t trust this guy at all. He’s wild. Dangerous.

Maverick’s arm tightens around me, and I lean into him. For comfort and reassurance, but it doesn’t work like it used to. His strength doesn’t move through me like before.

I can’t quite make out how he’s feeling with the potion hindering the bond. Blocking it.

I don’t like it. Not at all. It feels…lonely somehow. I feel numb.

“Lots to see out here, but don’t worry, Daddio. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

My dad arches an eyebrow as Sage moves up to Jex, poking him in his chest.

“Don’t hit on my dad. It’s weird.”

“Should I hit on you instead?” Jex asks, leering at my brother. He snaps his teeth, and Sage glowers back at him.

“I’d prefer you kept your smarmy eyeballs off all of us, but if you have to leer, pick me. I’ll take one for the team. I’ve done worse than you.”

Jex lets his gaze slide up and down Sage before shaking his head. “Nah. No thanks. Prefer the older ones. You’re too pretty to be an alpha anyway. You sure you’re not an omega?”

“Fuck no. I’m an alpha and I have the knot to prove it.”

“Maybe I should check and see?—”

“Maybe you should?—”

“No one is doing anything of the sort,” my dad growls, and Jex peers over at him, his cheeks flaring with heat, his eyes darkening.

“Mm, that’s what I like to hear. Give it to me. Boss me around before I fuck you.”

My dad ignores him again, which only makes Jex lurch into the tree line.

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