Jenny’s eyes flick between the two of us again, and though her smile stays plastered on her face, there’s a crack in it. “Well,” she says, her tone still sweet but with a slight edge, “I suppose I’ll see you around, Chad. Don’t be a stranger.”
She gives a final glance at Lakelyn—still dismissive, still pretending she’s not bothered—before turning and walking back toward her group, her heels clicking against the pavement.
Once she’s out of earshot, Lakelyn lets out a low whistle. “Well, that was… something.”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling a little embarrassed. “She’s my mother’s friend. I met her, like, two weeks ago. She’s… persistent.”
Lakelyn raises an eyebrow. “Persistent? She’s practically drooling over you.”
I force a laugh, though it feels more awkward than anything. “Yeah, I kind of flirted with her the first time we met. Just messing around. Didn’t think she’d take it seriously.”
Lakelyn’s eyes narrow slightly, her attention shifting toward Jenny, who’s pretending to chat with her group but is clearly watching us. There’s something sharp in the way Lakelyn’s lips curl, a quiet confidence that makes me stand a little taller. She steps closer, slipping her hand into mine, her fingers warm and steady against my skin.
Without breaking eye contact with Jenny, Lakelyn leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. It’s not rushed or hurried, just a gentle, sure statement of what we are. I kiss her back without hesitation, the familiarity of it grounding me in the moment. When she pulls away, her eyes flick to Jenny, the message unmistakable:
He’s mine.
I love it. Warmth blooms inside my chest, and I let out a low purr just for her, before I capture her lips in another soft kiss that has nothing to do with our audience.
Jenny’s smile freezes, her eyes narrowing just enough for someone paying attention to notice. There’s a flicker of something in her expression—annoyance, jealousy—but she quickly recovers, masking it with an overly bright smile as she turns back to her group. She’s good at pretending, but Lakelyn’s subtle move has rattled her.
Lakelyn’s fingers remain laced with mine as we head toward the entrance, a soft hum of satisfaction vibrating in the air between us. I glance down at her, my heart swelling withhappiness, knowing she wasn’t just trying to stake a claim—she was making sure Jenny knew exactly where things stood.
“Maybe that will get the message across,” she says under her breath, her voice tinged with quiet pride.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“No, but I wanted to. She’s an alpha who underestimated a beta.” Lakelyn’s voice is calm but firm, her eyes flicking toward the country club where Jenny disappeared. “She probably thinks being an alpha means she automatically has the upper hand.”
I smirk, the tension in my chest loosening. “I doubt she’s used to being put in her place.”
Lakelyn shrugs, her lips quirking into a grin. “Well, she just got a little reminder that I’m not so easy to push aside. Betas might not have the same presence as alphas, but we don’t have to.”
I glance at her, my heart swelling with something warm and unshakeable. The way she handled Jenny—calm, sure, and completely in control—reminds me why I’m drawn to her. She doesn’t play games or let anyone make her feel less than she is.
“You’re incredible, you know that?” I murmur, pulling her a little closer as we near the doors.
Lakelyn’s smile softens, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand. “I know what I want. And I don’t let anyone, alpha or not, get in the way of that.”
I nod, the corners of my mouth lifting into a genuine smile. "Good, because I’m all in."
“I’m all in, too,” she whispers, squeezing my hand as we push through the doors and step inside.
I’ll never get sick of the reassurance she gives me. My whole body vibrates with an overwhelming love, and I squeeze her hand back. Whatever happens with Dean or Mason doesn’t really matter if she’s standing next to me.
CHAPTER 29
Dean
I focuson prepping the launcher, my mind racing with thoughts I can't seem to quiet. I’m not even sure if Chad will show up for his lesson today—not after everything that went down yesterday. Just the thought of it makes the blood race through my veins.
Things are different today. Chad’s not only my scent match. Because that would be too simple. A snort catches in my throat, and I laugh to myself. A scent-bound pack is more than just a connection based on scent; it embodies a bond that transcends everything else. And the fact he’s part of it, with Lakelyn and Mason is almost too much.
How did I not sense it before?
I’m not sure, but it explains why I’ve felt so incomplete, why I’ve struggled to move on after discovering he was meant to be mine. Why there was that instant connection with Lakelyn and the thought that maybe I could find something with her, before I rejected the idea of making her miserable with me. Because that’s all I thought I could ever be.
Scent-bound packs can never truly find happiness apart. No matter how hard they try, there’s always that gnawing emptiness, that feeling that something vital’s missing.
