Crush narrowed his eyes. “Don’t describe busy siblings as ‘deadbeat’.”
The alpha scoffed. Come to think of it, he looked a little feral, just like Crush, with slightly elongated canines and a layer offuzz covering his skin. “Yeah, and you’ve been away building car tracks again instead of checking in. Dad’s asking if you’ve built yourself into an impenetrable tower of toy cars and jizz. Get it? The cars are the bricks, and jizz is your mortar.”
“Ugh!” Crush’s ears turned pink; he glanced at Killian and looked away just as quickly. “Shut up,” he hissed. “Maybe if you put more meat intoyourbuns—”
Killian choked.
“I thinkyouneed to put your meat into some buns,” Crush’s brother said with an eyebrow waggle. “Who’s the cutie?”
Crush narrowed his eyes and turned toward Killian. “Killian, this is Titan. My accursed older brother.”
Titan leered, his nose twitching as he sniffed. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. Looks like no one’s claimed you yet—”
Crushgrowled,a full-bodied, throaty rumble that went all the way to Killian’s core.
Killian shuddered, fine hairs rising in pleasure.
Both alphas turned at the same time, their eyes locking onto Killian, noses twitching.
Killian froze. What the hell had they smelled?
“Not yours,” Crush hissed at Titan.
Titan smirked. He gestured at the case of baked goods. “Go on, pick out something before the hordes of hungry souls come charging in.”
“Actually.” Crush’s tone shifted. Titan’s smugness fell away the next second. “We’re on the run from some jerks. Best if wedon’t stick around for too long. I don’t want them thrashing this place.”
Titan’s eyes flashed gold. “Yeah, that would suck.”
“Killian.” Crush met his gaze. “Does anything in here sound good to you?”
“The donuts and croissants,” Killian said immediately. “And the cakes.”
“Two of each,” Crush said to his brother. “Throw in some cookies too.”
Titan grabbed his largest box and began filling it. “Make the payment yourself. You know how to work the register.”
Crush counted out a few large notes and stuffed them into the tip jar.
“That’s so much money,” Killian yelped.
Crush shrugged and ducked behind the counter, grabbing two paper cups. “Sugar with your coffee, Kil?”
“All the sugar,” Killian said. “Milk too.”
Crush grabbed a handful of sugar packets and emptied them all into one cup. Then he added milk and coffee, popped a travel lid on it, and slid it over the counter to Killian. He poured himself a cup of black coffee.
Before Crush left the counter, he reached over, squeezing the back of Titan’s neck. Titan leaned into his touch.
“You should visit more often so you smell like pack,” Titan said. “Can’t be good for you to spend all that time alone.”
Crush shrugged and joined Killian in front of the counter. “I’ll try. Thanks, T. C’mon, let’s get going.”
The donut box was bulging when Titan handed it over. He pushed a tall cake box at them, too. “Shoo, scram. Text me so I know you’re still alive.”
“Will do,” Crush said. He wrapped his arm around Killian’s shoulders and all but dragged him out of the bakery.
They got Naddie and the bakery boxes strapped into the back seat. Scarcely had they turned back onto the highway, when Crush jerked his head to the side.
