Page 62 of Impossible

I stopped looking over my shoulder around the room. All the pungent alpha scents faded away. I felt warm all over, and I was able to scent myself again. Mixed with all of them, it was exhilarating. It just madesense.If Leon hadn’t warned me, I definitely would have spiked, riding the high. In the middle of the crowded hall, I have no idea how that would have gone.

But now without them all here, the doubts creep back. Leon’s steady presence next to me keeps me tethered, but just barely.

This ease isn’t natural, right? I shouldn’t feel so comfortable. Risk practically jumped me last time I saw him and now I’m wishing he were touching me too. That’s notnormal, but the tightness in my core is begging for it, itching to be closer to him. To both of them.It’s just omega instincts,I think to myself.My inner voice is weak. Like even I don’t believe myself.

I scan the room and find Ms. O’Brien standing with her pack—she brought baby Lylah to get me from my room, but I haven’t met the rest of them. Another little girl hides behind the skirt of what must be the pack beta. Three alphas stand with them, one with his arm around the beta, another absently tracing his fingers over the back of Ms. O’Brien’s hand.

Just like Leon is doing with me, his hand still resting on top of mine. Is this allowed? He doesn’t seem concerned when people’s eyes skate over us.

“Are people staring at me or you guys?” I ask.

Risk smiles. “Me, obviously. They’ve never seen anybody so stunningly good looking.”

Leon rolls his eyes. “Probably both,” he says. “We haven’t been out in public since the incident, and you’re new and exciting.”

“Thrilling,” I deadpan.

“Every hero needs a sidekick,” Risk winks at me. “You’d look hot in tights.”

“Have any I can borrow?” I shoot back.

“Fishnets.”

“You two are going to give me grey hairs, aren’t you?” Leon sighs.

“Are you the problem child?” I ask Risk.

He nods. “You?”

“A consistent source of consternation.”

Risk laughs, a bell-like sound that fills me with warm fuzzies. He turns to Leon smugly. “Wish you had thought of that?”

Leon pinches his brow. “Don’t you have a patrol to get to? Before you turn her to the dark side completely?”

Risk grabs Leon’s wrist, looks at his watch, exclaims noiselessly, and in the same breath is on his feet. He kneels in front of my chair, takes my hand, and kisses my knuckles delicately. My skin tingles where his lips touch. “Thank you for not hating me. Come over and hang out some time?”

Leon stiffens. I turn to him and his expression is a perfectly schooled mask of pleasantry.

“Um, am I allowed to?” I ask. “Like, leave here?”

“I’ll bust you out if not,” Risk shrugs, not even pausing to think. “Rules schmules.”

“No,” Leon snaps without pausing to think, then turns to me. “Right now, probably not, blue jay. You should get a little healthier first.”

My smile fades and Risk glares at Leon. “She’s fine,” he says sharply.

“No,” Leon says again. It’s a practiced no, and Risk doesn’t pay it much mind.

“Ok, whatever,” he relents. “Get better so we can hang out, ok?” He leans up and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before he’s jogging across the hall and out the doors.

I bring my hand up to my cheek, hot where Risk’s lips touched. Again.

“Sorry about him.” Leon is quick to apologize on his packmate’s behalf. It’s a practiced apology.

“Does he know how to walk?” I ask, waving it off. “I don’t think I’ve seen him walk. Ever.”

“Risk doesn’t do anything half-speed,” Leon smiles. “But what do you think of Hollis and Joshua?”

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