“So sassy. The dads have no clue what they’re in for,” Liam teases.
Cici stills, and her expression turns vulnerable as she peers up at her big brother. “What if they decide they don’t want me?”
“Hey, hey, no.” Liam drops to his knees before his little sister and pulls her into a tight hug. “I was only joking, C. The dads have always wanted you.Willalways want you. They love you so much, and I know they’ll do whatever they have to do to prove it. You’re going to have so much fun and be so happy. And if, for some unfathomable reason, you’re not, then you tell me. I’ll come and get you, no questions asked.”
“Really? You promise?”
“Pinkie promise.” Liam holds out his hand, fingers fisted save for his pinkie. Cici looks between the finger and Liam’s eyes before hooking her own pinkie around his, and they shake on it.
There’s a knock on the door downstairs, and Sawyer excuses himself to get it. Me? I’m stuck in place as I watch one of the men I love comfort a scared little girl who was never treated the way she should have been.
My love for him grows.
“Love you, Li,” she whispers.
“Love you more, C,” he responds. “Are you ready?”
Lalo’s and Josh’s voices filter up from downstairs, where they talk with Sawyer.
“I’m ready,” she murmurs.
“Are you sure you have to go?” Sawyer holds me tight to his chest. His fingers tangle with my hair as he nuzzles the crown of my head, scent marking me.
“I promised Verity we’d get lunch, and I really want to get to know her better.”
One after the other, the guys pass me around to hug, kiss, and mark me with their scents. They’re so possessive. I find I don’t mind at all. In fact, it has me practically preening.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow, okay?”
“You’d better,” Hayes says against my lips, the last to kiss me goodbye.
“I promise.”
It takes me another five minutes to get out the door and into my car. I smile like a lovesick fool the whole way to the little cafe in Lincoln Park where Verity and I decided to meet. The only time my smile falters is when my mother’s name flashes across my phone screen. I decide that today is going to be a good day, and ignore the call. And the four others after that.
“Liv, it’s so good to see you,” she says, pulling me into a hug. She inhales and grins as she pulls away. “When Henry told me he found you with the whole pack, I was thrilled. I’ve never met a nicer pack.”
We follow the hostess to a table in the back corner near an expansive window, where we take our seats.
“I wanted to tell you everything, but I didn’t know what Henry would say.”
“It took him a minute to get used to the idea, but he’s happy for you. He loves you so much, you know. He just wants you to find a pack who treasures you the way you deserve to be treasured.”
We only pause our conversation when the server arrives at our table and introduces himself before taking our drink orders.
“Tell me everything,” she demands playfully when he walks away.
“Everything?” I’ve had so few close friends in my life, I realize I don’t know how literally to take her request. Surely she doesn’t actually meaneverything, right? Although, I must admit, a part of me is desperate to talk about all the new experiences I’ve been having. I’ve done different things with each of my men, but I’ve yet to take them all. Of course, I understand the mechanics of taking all four of them, but logistically... Well, it’s a bit overwhelming to consider.
Verity must see my panic because she laughs as our server returns with our drinks and takes our lunch order.
“You can tell me as much or as little as you want. I’m your sister and your friend, and being with a pack for the first time can be overwhelming. I want you to know that I’m here for you.” She takes a sip of her coffee and grins. “But I also want the juicy details, so spill.”
“It started when I asked Sawyer to help me learn how to be a good omega for a pack,” I blurt out.
Verity’s dark eyes widen. “When you say help you learn...”
“Sex lessons,” I say a little too loudly. An old lady a few tables away looks scandalized, and I slump in my seat, trying to become invisible. “Too loud.”
