“Yes, Daddy,” I said, my voice breathless.
“And tomorrow, Easton is coming to your store to take measurements for new shelves.”
“Wait, what?”
His eyes softened. “I love your store, baby girl, but you’ll be able to work more easily if it’s organized.”
“I know I should be better about keeping things neat…”
King grasped my hand, running his thumb across my skin. “No. You are busy running your successful business, but now you don’t have to do it alone.”
Hearing King call my store successful was almost as big of a turn-on as the way he kept full eye contact as he lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of my wrist. My skin was electrified, and my panties were damp with arousal.
“Should we clear the room, or can you two keep it in your pants for a few more minutes?”
I jolted at Leo’s voice. My eyes flicked over King’s shoulder to see the hot beta smirking at us. King huffed and stood, conveniently keeping his hand in front of his crotch. Leo snorted as he sat down, propping his cane against the table.
“Wait.” I leaned forward. “That’s new.” I hadn’t noticed it earlier, but instead of his usual beat-up black cane, he had a gorgeous wood cane with a floral pattern made from gold inlay. It looked like art, just like the man holding it.
“It was a gift.” He cocked his head toward King.
I looked between the two men, cataloging the blush on the alpha’s cheeks and the loose set of Leo’s shoulders. I’d never seen him this at ease when talking about his cane and that, more than anything, made me feel like this could work. Thatwecould work. My guys had been working together all week like a pack should. They’d done it for me, but also maybe for each other.
Also, there was clearly something between King and Leo, and I was fucking thrilled about it. Pack life for me had always meant family—one filled with unique, individual relationships but connected by deep love and care.
“Azizam, what’s wrong?” Leo cupped my face and I realized I was crying.
I let out a wet laugh. “Nothing, I’m just being sappy. I can’t believe you’ve done all these things the past couple of weeks.”
“There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you.”
“I would accuse you of exaggerating, but you volunteered for Stanley, so you must be telling the truth.”
Leo grinned. “So true. Although, it’s been pretty fun to get to know everyone in town. And pretty priceless to see those two”—he jerked his head at Wilder and King, who were currently standing next to the gong with expressions more suited for a battle than speed dating—“have to interact with people.”
“I guess we’ll have to work together on their antisocial ways.”
Leo froze, his eyes wide. “Does that mean you want to do this?”
I wrapped my fingers around his wrist. He was still cupping my face and I leaned into his touch. “I’m still scared, but yeah, I do. I’ve missed you this week. I don’t want to spend more time apart.”
“What are you scared of, darling?” The warmth in his eyes, his touch, his scent drew me in until we were wrapped in our own bubble, the chatter in the room fading away.
“What if you change your mind about me? My omega can be…a lot.Ican be a lot.”
“It’s a good thing my feelings for you aren’t small, and I would never want you to make yourself less.”
His words would be burned into my brain for the rest of my life. I wanted to embroider them onto a pillow.
“I’m scared, too,” he admitted. “It seems so stupid now, but the reason I didn’t ask you out the very first time we met was because—well, two reasons, really. The first is I’m a beta and you’re way out of my league, but the second is my knee. I was trying to get to where I didn’t have to use a cane anymore.”
My lips parted. “What? Did you think I would judge you?”
He quickly shook his head. “No, you’re too sweet for that. But I’ve always been told omegas need strong alphas. Not only am I a beta but I’m not strong. Not like I used to be.”
My heart ached at the sadness and uncertainty rolling off him, and I couldn’t stand the distance between us for a second longer. I dropped out of my chair and crawled under the table.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Leo hissed, but he scooted back to give me enough space to emerge from the table and crawl into his lap. His arms immediately banded around my waist, pulling me tight against his chest.
