Page 127 of The Pack Next Door
“Nah.” Candy’s dimples popped as she grinned at me. “You don’t choose the single life, it chooses you.” Her hand went to her chest. “I’ve seen many a mighty warrior brought down by relationships, but fear not. This little solider will continue the good fight against the tyranny of monogamy.”
“Tyranny?” Haze appeared beside Riley. “Is that a fancy word for no man or men would be crazy enough to try to get you to settle down?”
“There’s no stopping the Candy train!” she cackled, making the motion of a conductor pulling a cord for a train whistle. “Speaking of which, did I tell you about the time I was with these seven guys?—”
“No!”
People turned around at my and Riley’s sharp reply, but it was better than one of her insane stories.
“OK, fine. I won’t tell you.” Her arms crossed as she pouted. “I also won’t tell you where Mr. Knotty is in your car.”
“Are you serious?” Haze growled. “I threw that damn dildo in the bin!”
“And I give the cleaning staff fifty bucks each time they return him to me,” she countered.
As they sucked in breaths to start arguing, Gideon nudged my shoulder.
“The Harts have arrived.”
“Briar!” Damien rushed over the minute we got close and enfolded me in a hug. “Darling, this looks amazing.” He turned to his mates. “Doesn’t it look amazing?”
“Amazing,” Kieran deadpanned, then winked at me. “Shall I get you a glass of wine, my love?”
The way Damien’s alphas looked down at him–it was only now I really understood it. Before the Hart pack was just an abstract goal, but I was beginning to understand how fate might work. Perhaps not as Omega Whitlock, running Moon River, but the relationship dynamic. Gideon cradled me close, something that had Damien’s eyebrow cocking upwards.
“So…” He eyed the bite marks on my neck subtly. “Things seem to have progressed since the last time I saw you.” Without a look, he accepted the wine Kieran brought over. “Which means I need to let you know of some changes back at home.” His lips pursed and suddenly I was tensing, wondering what had happened now. “I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone, but?—”
“You had to kick my parents out of Moon River.” The flat way Gideon said that told me everything I needed to know. This was no great surprise to him. “I assume because they did something completely inappropriate.”
“Made an appointment with the new ruling pack.” Harry’s lips thinned. “Tried to have a conversation about bringing ‘traditional values’ back to the town. Wanted Damien removed from the town ‘for the sake of the town’s children.’”
“That bitch…”
The words were out of my mouth before I could think about it, but Gideon just rubbed reassuring circles on my back.
“I’d use worse words to describe her, so don’t hold back on my account.”
“Yes, well, it all backfired spectacularly,” Damien continued. “They’d burnt their bridges at home and now they don’t have one in Moon River either. I’d keep your eye out?—”
“It’s been handled.” My hand covered Gideon’s, because not many people saw it, but I did. Tiny fractures in his calm usually meant something so much more was going on beneath the surface. “They won’t bother us again.”
“Well, good.” Damien relaxed back into the circle of his alphas. “Rise above the crap you were born into. Grab happiness with both hands, that’s what I’ve always done.”
“Trust me,” Gideon replied. “I intend to. Now, Briar, I think it's time to deliver your speech.”
He steered me towards the back of the church, and when we came to a stop, I remembered the way he was when he returned from the car park. Wild eyed, chest heaving, intense.
“Something you need to tell me about?” I muttered.
“A whole lot of something,” he agreed. “But don’t worry about that now. Once we’re home, I’ll fill you in on every detail.”
“Home?” I gazed up at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you call my apartment that before.”
“Wasn’t sure if you wanted me to,” he replied. “But if you’re asking if there’s anywhere else I feel like I fit, that I can take a full breath, there isn’t. Your apartment is your space, but… I’d love it if it became ours.”
My throat threatened to close up. Gideon was always so careful. Considerate, but guarded. It was now I felt like I was seeing the real man, but only momentarily.
“Ready to get this show on the road?” Tom stumped over, his frown already in place. Honey rolled her eyes behind his shoulder, then smiled at me. “If we get this over and done with, we can be on the road back to the property in time to bring the sheep in.”
