Page 82 of Sweetheart: Part One

Thank the fucking universe I hadn’t whined.

I tried to temper my breathing.

Even now his caramel brandy scent soothed me when it shouldn’t, whispering ‘mate’in my ear.

Safety.

Which he both was, and wasn’t, and I hated him for that.

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but I finally clocked it as a little too long. His touch was on my back, strangely comforting, as if he wanted to hold me as close as I wanted to be held.

With all the courage I had, I pulled back, swallowing my pride and daring myself to look up at him. He looked… soft.

Unfamiliar.

And as his warm eyes found mine, I swear his pupils were blown.

“So?” he asked, after we’d stared at each other for an uncomfortable stretch.

“I’ll do what you want if that email doesn’t get out.” My voice was as fragile as dead leaves.

“Cross my heart, little beta,” he replied, touch dropping to my waist as he kept holding me close. He was quickly recovering his arrogance. “This is going to be fun. You’ll come to my room tonight?”

I shook my head. “If you wanted me tonight, you should have fought harder. Love signed me. Tonight is his.”

Rook chewed on his lip as he regarded me with the edge of a smile. “Tomorrow night, then.”

TWENTY-THREE

LOVE

“So. We have a Sweetheart.”

I was seated on one of the couches, examining my pack mates. I’d called a meeting in the theatre.

Drake looked sullen and Ebony was pissed. Rook was the only one who seemed chill, lounging in one of the armchairs with a blossoming bruise on his face. Since Drake matched, I had to assume they’d both gone at it last night. Now I was looking, Ebony’s face even looked scratched up, as if he’d lost a fight with a rose bush.

It had been a busy night, apparently. I’d gone downstairs after feeling Ebony’s thrill through the bond, signed the contract, and then headed to bed so I didn’t have time to overthink it.

Whatever drama had gone down, had happened later in the evening, and they’d all kept their bonds locked down. None of it had woken me.

I didn’t care.

I was sure about this choice.

“All of you are expected to participate in what she’s offering,” I said. “Two months before we’re in Germany for Dragon Hunters.”

All of them straightened at the mention of Dragon Hunters. That was it. The movie franchise that was taking us from domestic to global. And out of all of us, no one cared more than Rook and Ebony.

“We’ve never had less leverage than we will on that set,” I said. “I need you all on your best behaviour. We’re not going to push each other into ruts, start pack feuds, or have tantrums of any kind. I want to see a change before then.”

“Wait,” Rook said. “Is she coming?”

“Her contract is up for renewal the week before we leave,” I replied.

That was deliberate. We couldn’t be left dealing with a Sweetheart we weren’t compatible with in addition to the stress of being on set. But that wasn’t the tack I was going for here. “If I don’t see change, I’ll be renewing it and she’ll be coming.” I supposed if she did well and had settled in by then, I’d renew her anyway. “And she’s definitely attending the Diamond Tide Gala in two weeks.”

“She is?” Rook asked, surprised. Predictable, since he was set to get an award in the end ceremonies. “You want her causing issues while we’re working?”

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