“As you wish.” Warren winks at Beck then turns toward the kitchen. He takes exactly two steps when his phone buzzes on the coffee table.
Beck reaches for it automatically. “Please be Cass,” he says, hopefully. Then he frowns at the screen. “Ugh. It’s Jimmy.” He looks up at Warren.
The alpha’s expression tightens instantly. He moves back to us and takes the phone from Beck, annoyance flashing across his face. He taps the screen a few times, fast and decisive.
“Blocked,” he says, tossing the phone back onto the table like it’s nothing. “I’m done with that.”
“When will Cass and Gray be home?” I glance toward the front door. “It’s getting really late.”
Warren’s gaze flickers to the clock over the fireplace, then back to me. “Soon,” he says. “Go ahead and start the movie, and I’ll get those snacks.”
I nod and shift closer to Beck as the opening credits roll, tucking myself into his side. The beta adjusts automatically, an arm coming around my shoulders. I settle there, warmand comfortable, and then—almost absentmindedly—I search my bond with Cass.
But nothing answers.
There’s no resistance, no pain or happiness. Just…blank. I know I felt him this morning. In fact, I felt a brief flicker of anger from the alpha at one point.
He must be blocking me for some reason.
My stomach tightens a little even as I tell myself it’s fine. After all, he’s simply running a few errands with Gray.The pair probably got distracted,I think to myself.It’s not like he’s starting a turf war or bleeding out in an alley.
“It started!” Beck yells as the image of a child’s bedroom flashes on screen.
I exhale and let it go, snuggling deeper into Beck’s side.
Forty-five minutes later,I’ve eaten half a dozen cookies, and Beck has demolished almost a pound of gummy bears. We’re glued to the TV, watching Westley and Buttercup argue their way through the fire swamp, when the front door opens.
I turn on the couch just as Grason steps through the doorway.
“Alpha!” Beck practically yells, fumbling for the remote and pausing the movie.
“Sorry, we were gone so long,” he says as he crosses the room.
Cass steps inside a second later and shuts the door behind him. That’s when I realize that they're in different clothes than this morning. And the ends of Grason’s curls are damp, darker than the rest of his hair, like he rinsed off in a hurry…and he smells faintly of soap. They both do.
“How was your day?” Grason leans over the back of the couch and kisses Beck’s lips, then mine.
“It was amazing,” I say, then I look back at Cass, and my heart seizes.
There’s a dark bruise blooming along his jaw, just under his cheekbone. It’s deep purple and angry, the skin already swelling around it.
Beck is instantly on his feet. “What the hell happened?” He crosses the room, rushing to Cass. He cups the alpha’s face with both hands, thumbs gentle as they frame his jaw.
Cass barely reacts. “It’s nothing.” He gives a small shrug, like Beck just pointed out a smudge of dirt.
“It’s notnothing,” Beck snaps back, eyes wide and worried. “It looks like you got punched with a brick.”
Behind them, I see Warren and Grason share a look, then I swear I hear Grason murmur under his breath, “I’ll fill you in later.” Warren gives a curt nod.
I push myself off the couch, my heart thudding as I give all three alphas a sweeping look. My mind scrambles, rifling through everything I felt through my bond today. There was that brief flash of anger this morning, but that was it. I felt no pain or violence at all.
I look up at Grason. “What happened?”
Gray gives a little snort like he’s about to tell a funny story, but before he can say a word, Beck yelps, “Cassian!”
Cass has Beck in his arms, the beta’s legs dangling on either side of his hips.
“Put me down before you hurt your knee,” Beck demands as he holds onto Cass’s shoulders for dear life.
