“And we talked.”
“Tristan,” Rett growls, the alpha command slipping into his voice. “What happened?”
I sigh dramatically. “Fine. If you must know, I made her come in the gallery bathroom.”
The silence that follows is so complete you could hear a pin drop. Diego’s mouth falls open. Rett goes perfectly still, the way he does when he’s either about to explode or implode. It’s always a coin toss.
“Youwhat?” Diego finally manages.
“You heard me,” I say, examining my nails with false nonchalance. “She was wearing this ridiculous turtleneck to hide the marks, and she looked so hot and bothered. Literally, she was sweating. And one thing led to another, and...” I shrug, like it’s no big deal. Like my entire world didn’t just shift on its axis in that tiny bathroom.
“You fucked her at herworkplace?” Rett’s voice is dangerously quiet.
“No!” I sit up straighter. “Jesus, give me some credit. I just... helped her out a bit. With my hands.” I wiggle my fingers for emphasis, which is probably a step too far based on the thunderous look on Rett’s face.
“Mierda,” Diego mutters, running a hand through his hair,dislodging more flour. “Are youinsane? That’s her job, Tris. Her career.”
“It wasn’t like that,” I protest, the smug facade cracking. “It was... I don’t know how to explain it. When I got near her, the static just... stopped. Completely. And she felt it too, I could tell. It was like she couldn’t help herself any more than I could.”
Rett’s expression shifts from anger to intense focus. “The static stopped? Completely?”
I nod. “The moment I saw her. And it stayed gone the whole time I was with her. It only started coming back after I left.”
Diego and Rett exchange a look loaded with meaning.
“What?” I demand. “What are you thinking?”
“The claiming marks,” Diego says slowly. “Were they...?”
“Darker,” I confirm. “Redder. Almost purple at the edges. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Rett sinks into the chair across from me, his expression thoughtful. “And she was aware of them? Sensitive to them?”
“Very. She was wearing that turtleneck like armor. But when I touched the marks—” I break off, remembering the way she’d gasped, the way her pupils had dilated. “They’re definitely affecting her. A lot.”
“It’s happening,” Diego says softly. “The bond. It’s forming.”
The whole taboo of an entire pack bonding with a beta. Of how such large bonds don’t usually take. I mean, there arefourof us. Most omegas get nervous at the merethought. Betas steer clear.
Except apparently Zoe didn’t get the memo, because she’s bonding with us. All four of us.
“Did she say anything?” Rett asks. “About how she feels about this?”
I hesitate. “Not exactly. We didn’t do a lot of talking.”
“Tris,” Diego groans.
“Look, it happened fast, okay? One minute we were arguing about the planner, the next she was looking pale and rushing to the bathroom. I followed to make sure she was okay, and then...”I trail off, remembering the heat in her eyes when she’d pulled me to her. “It was mutual. Very mutual.”
Rett’s jaw tightens. “And then you just left?”
“She told me to! What was I supposed to do, refuse to leave the bathroom? Make a scene?” I throw my hands up in frustration. “I did leave her a note with her schedule for tomorrow, though.”
Diego’s expression softens slightly. “That was... almost thoughtful.”
“I can be thoughtful,” I mutter, crossing my arms.
“Like showing up at her workplace unannounced?” Rett counters.
