“Stella’s finally decided to bless Florida with her personality permanently. She’s moving.” Rose practically vibrates.
Winnie’s eyes widen. “Seriously? Is that safe? Her health hasn’t been great.”
Rose rolls her eyes, and Rafe gives her a skeptical look. He told me Stella nearly took him out with her oxygen tank at Dandy Stuff. But my chest warms anyway. This is who Winnie is. Her first instinct always bends toward care. I just wish she turned that kindness inward, too.
“She’ll be fine,” Rose says. “And we won’t have to hear her complain at every festival or grouse up and down mainstreet.”
“Hey!” Cali waddles up, very pregnant and very unimpressed. Connor supports her arm carefully. “That woman is a menace,” Cali huffs, clearly having heard what they were talking about.
“Oh come on,” Winnie says. “She’s not that bad.”
Everyone, myself included, stares at her.
“Come on,” Cali says. “The alphas claimed a bonfire spot and brought s’mores and food.”
I follow them down the beach and notice Eli hanging back, shoulders tight, hands shoved deep in his pockets. I slow until I’m beside him.
“You doing okay?” I ask.
He gives a stiff nod.
“If you need to dip,” I say quietly, “Winnie’ll understand.”
His brows knit. “Sure.”
“She will,” I tell him. “She’s safe like that.”
He considers it, then nods. The bonfire is loud. Flames crackle. Music blares. Laughter and shouting cut through the air. Eli’s mask is still on, snug over his ears. Noise-reducing. I leave him be. He knows his limits.
Winnie stops near a grill, eyeing the food. I step up beside her.
“Hungry, Sweetheart?” I ask, grabbing a plate and piling it with meat.
“I can serve myself,” she says, but there’s no bite to it. Just a crooked smile.
“I know you can. I like taking care of you.”
She rolls her eyes, smiling. “Okay, daddy.”
My body goes tight. I scan our surroundings, then lean close to her ear. “If you call me that again, I won’t care who’s watching. I’ll bend you over the nearest surface and remind you exactly who your daddy is.”
Her quiet gasp makes restraint much harder. I swat her ass lightly and carry her plate to the table, adjusting myself to keep things decent.
Across from us, Sunny sits beside Cole. He nods at me. We know each other. From calls to the hotel for when someone got a little too drunk or unruly. We saw each other the night Winnie met my pack at his hotel restaurant. The implication from all of her friends' alphas was a swiftHurt her and die.
Winnie settles beside me. I slide her plate toward her and drape an arm over her shoulders. Cole watches, gears turning, then smirks. Cocky bastard.
Zeke takes the seat on her other side, placing a plate of fruit and salad in front of her. She hums, happily sampling from both plates.
Her friends and their packs gather around. Alphas sit on the sand when the table fills. I recognize them all. Clara sits with her horror-writer alpha. My stomach tightens at the memory of my former deputy. He'd been delusional and harassed her. I did everything I could then, legally. Still wish I’d done more.
Cali looks miserable. Exhausted. Her alphas hover, helpless until that baby arrives.
Rose leans into Harlan while another alpha sits on his knee, his hand rubbing her back absently. The rest of their pack lounges close.
“How’s the wedding prep?” Sunny asks.
“It’s fine,” Winnie says. “Very glittery.”
