“God, yes!” Callum exclaimed. “Not that I’ve ever had a real job, but I’m great with people. And I can work literally any time you need me to. I have, like, zero other responsibilities.”
Dante grinned, handing Callum a business card. “Why don’t you call me after you and Bianca are done today, and we can talk about it?”
Callum’s entire face lit up, and Daniel felt something stir in his chest. He liked seeing the omega so happy and really liked the idea of him working at King’s Guard, where they could see and smell and talk to him more.
“Deal, but first, I have to know what Pack Saggy Balls sent for Queenie,” Callum replied, turning back to Daniel. “Open it, Dan the Van. I’m dying of suspense.”
Daniel chuckled again, carefully opening the gift Pack Willoughby had sent. It turned out to be a very expensive looking watch, with a handwritten note on thick, embossed cardstock.
Dearest Bianca,
We’ve had to return to London to address some business and will unfortunately have to reschedule our planned date next week. This issue will take some time to resolve, but we don’t want you to think our abrupt departure and lengthy absence indicate any diminishedinterest. We expect to return to Smyrna City this summer, at which time we’d like to speak with you and your fathers more seriously about our relationship. We’ll be counting the minutes until then and hope you will too.
Best, Pack Willoughby
When Daniel looked up from reading the note aloud, both Callum and Dante were frowning. Daniel knew his expression mirrored theirs. It was obvious that Pack Willoughby would make their intentions clear when they returned, and Pack Bonnycastle would heartily agree to the match. That meant Pack King didn’t have much time to make it clear to Bianca that she belonged with them.
“I guess it was a bomb after all,” Callum mused. “Tick tock, boys.”
He winked and slipped from the room, leaving the delicious scent of French toast and maple syrup lingering in his wake. Dante and Daniel exchanged a troubled glance. Things had suddenly gotten very real.
Tick tock, indeed.
Chapter fourteen
Bianca
“Surely it’s not sustainable for the three of you to be with me constantly,” Bianca said incredulously. She wasn’t sure why she’d never thought about it before, but since they’d become her bodyguards, at least one member of Pack King was with her at all times. “You clearly don’t have lives outside of work, and you’re certainly never home. How can you grow your business if you’re all tied up with this job?”
Dante looked up from his computer and smirked at her. Bianca’s toes curled inside her slippers. Now that she knew how well he could back up those scorching looks, she was even more helpless to control her body’s reactions to him.
The suave bastard knew it, too. He sat back in his chair and gave her a slow once over that made her stomach flutter. Bianca tried to look annoyed.
“Why do we need lives outside of work when you’ve made work so much more fun?” he asked, dark eyes lingering on her lips. “If you’re tired of us, just say so, snake lady.”
Bianca’s core clenched. Dante Walker knew damn well that she couldn’t seem to get enough of them. In the three weeks since their arrangement had begun, Pack King had been true to their word, takingher whenever and however they wanted, and making her come until she saw stars. It was convenient Pack Willoughby had left when they did, since Bianca couldn’t imagine feigning interest in them while dripping with Pack King’s cum, as she always seemed to be doing lately. Luckily, she had a few more months to get this out of her system. The thought made her even less willing to waste the time she had left.
“This is stupid,” Bianca replied, rolling her eyes. “I can do nothing all day at your place just as well as mine. You’re taking today off, and I’ll spend it at yours since I know you won’t agree to this otherwise. I’ll entertain myself and invade your privacy for a change. It’ll amuse me to see what you call home. And when I get too bored with your probably disgusting bachelor pad, I’ll invite Callum over to entertain me and join me in judging you.”
“Our business is doing just fine, and your spider isn’t working today. You want him to have to come to the office on a weekend just so I can have some work-life balance? That doesn’t seem fair,” Dante teased, but he was already shutting down his laptop. “You better text King first.”
Bianca smiled triumphantly, pulling out her phone. “Callum won’t mind, and neither will King. I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”
The industrial office building Pack King called home was a perfectly serviceable modern structure in an up-and-coming area, far enough from downtown to boast greener views, while still being an easy distance to all the action. Bianca listened attentively while Dante laid out their plans for additional renovations to the basement and first floor, countering his ideas with her own, surprised when he nodded thoughtfully and agreed with several of her suggestions.
Aside from the bottom floors, he gave her a brief look at a floor of nondescript offices, then took her upstairs. Bianca liked that the pack had claimed the top story for their packhouse. It felt familiar, like herpenthouse, even if it was only the sixth floor. She doubted they could’ve afforded such a spacious home in the city if they hadn’t decided to live in the same location as their business.
The packhouse was full of natural light, thanks to the walls of windows and high ceilings, and had plenty of room for the pack to grow. (Bianca didn’t know why she’d thought about that.) The whole place was surprisingly neat and orderly, with some beautiful handmade pieces of furniture that must’ve cost a fortune. It could use more art and some soft touches, but overall, Bianca was impressed.
The pack bedroom was another surprise. The entire back end of the floor had been converted into a primary suite, complete with huge walk-in closets and an expansive bathroom. The bedroom itself was big and bright, and Bianca’s omega instincts might’ve thought it was too open, until Dante showed her how the massive bed converted into a cozy nest. Hidden wooden panels slid from the bedframe and snapped into place, forming a low wall with attachments for pillow cushions. The bed’s huge posts concealed rigs for curtains that could completely enclose it.
“Van built it,” Dante told her proudly. “When he was rehabbing from his neck injury, he really got into woodworking. He learned a bunch from his dad growing up but found his true talent for it when he suddenly had all that time on his hands. He made most of our furniture. I gave him shit for making the bed omega-friendly, but I guess he was right for once.”
Bianca’s heart stuttered in her chest, but she kept her voice dry. “Even a broken clock is right twice a day. It is beautiful craftsmanship, though. He could sell his work. You said the entire fifth floor is reserved for your business, so surely there’s space for a showroom. With proper soundproofing, he could have a workshop right there as well.”
Bianca’s mind was already spinning with the possibilities. Private sales, by appointment, of course. With her connections, he’d never keep up with the demand, and the exclusivity of the work would drive up the price. Hadn’t she just been talking to Dawn and Alicia about bespoke nests? The bed design alone would be enough to launch his shop.
“I can see your wheels turning. You’ve already drafted an entire business plan, haven’t you?” Dante smiled at her, and it didn’t contain any of his usual teasing. He seemed genuinely awed. “You could take over the damn world if you put your mind to it.”
