“She’s coming!” Devon shouts, and the crowd falls silent at the roar of an alpha refusing to accept what they all believe to be true.
We wait in strained silence.
“Wait!”
My breath expels from my lungs in relief that has me almost collapsing.
“Secret,” I whisper.
She shoves through the crowd, her auburn hair a mess, wearing jean shorts, flip-flops, and an off the shoulder top, with her dachshund in her arms.
“Wait!”
She looks more beautiful than I remember. She’s here!
Sofia rushes up to us and slams to a stop a foot from Devon.
“I’m sorry. I want this. I want us.”
She stops and sucks in air.
“Did you run the whole way?” Lorelei asks in concern.
“Yes. I ran, sprinted. Had to get here.”
She thrusts the stone at me. That stupid, prettily painted rock with the heart and the paw inside it. The one we stole from Asher.
“You are my match. I am smitten. I am yours.”
I don’t even know if she realises what she’s doing or saying or the people here; she hasn’t taken her eyes off us. She’s just spitting words out with typical Sofia urgency.
“Devon,” I prompt.
He steps towards her and gives her his stone, taking hers, making it official.
“A match!” The Pack Makers shout. “Pack Hart, everyone!”
“Go over to your table,” Lorelei says. “So I can finish this up.”
I pull her close and guide her to the tables.
“Oh, god, I am so sorry. I slept in.”
I stop dead. “What?”
Of all the things I went through, stressing out this morning. I slept in was not on the list.
“I was up all night, thinking, and,” her cheeks turn red, “dreaming about our future together, and I forgot to set my alarm clock. Sorry, I’m really sorry. I slept in.”
I grab the back of her neck and bring her in, kissing her. “You crazy, Sunshine Omega. You are going to keep us all on our toes.”
“Danger hasn’t even been to the toilet yet.”
“Well, let’s get him toileted and then go sit at our table and enjoy this very incredibly stressful date,” Devon says.
We march down to the beach, ignoring the glares from Lorelei and the Pack Makers.
Elijah grabs her in a hug. I snag the little dog out of her hands and let him go, holding onto the leash.
