“Yes,” I say reluctantly and with great surprise. “I really am. I won’t ever forget this night.”
A flash goes off.
This time, Lorelei herself hands me the Polaroid. And there’s a pleased, knowing smile on her lips as she bids us goodnight.
And when I look down at the photo…I think I can see why she’s smiling. Because all three alphas are staring at me, and we look happy.
Chapter 10
Cordelia
I’m brushing Gale when I hear a familiar tread and groan. Three days of dodging alphas, townsfolk, and family. Licking my wounds and hiding from everyone. I should have known it was not going to last.
Calling a rain check on Katsu was stupid, I realise that now, but panic prevailed. Alphas never give up the chase; they just give you a reprieve, and I’ve been waiting since the moment I ran.
“Why are we up this early?” Sofia mumbles. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Your self-inflicted pain gets no sympathy,” Asher says. “You need a sock or something; the scent pouring out of the lighthouse last night nearly knocked me into a heat.”
I turn in time to see Sofia blush bright red and swat at Asher.
“Morning, was there a text? Did I forget we had a meeting?” In other words, go away; I’m sulking.
“A meeting? Is that what we call this?” Asher grumbles. “This is an intervention planning assembly. Someone needs to do something about our mother.”
I turn back to Gale and continue working in long, smooth strokes while he munches contentedly on his breakfast.
“So, how did the date go, since you’ve been hiding from the whole town ever since?” Sofia asks with a cruel giggle. I want to smack her.
“It was terrible.”
Asher and Sofia pull out their phones and hold up the photo of us on the love seat. We are clearly having a good time.
“So, so terrible,” Asher says, mocking me.
I roll my eyes, trying hard to ignore them.
“How was your date with Devon?”
“Oh,” Asher grumbles. “He ditched me. Sofia walked past, and he couldn’t contain himself, his-”
Sofia wraps a hand around Asher’s mouth. Asher gestures to her groin and then makes finger motions like they are walking away from her, then she stabs a finger into Sofia’s forehead.
“Ow!”
“So, Devon was on a date with you, saw Sofia, and his dick ran after her, and she got a knot to the face?” I ask innocently.
“What? No!” Sofia shouts. “No, it wasn’t like…oh, you two are dead to me!”
Asher and I crack up. I hold out my fist, and she bumps it.
“That alpha smelled-”
“Asher,” Felix says softly, interrupting Asher before she can say something she may well regret.
Asher subsides. “I’m just saying, don’t do me anymore favours, Sofa. That was really embarrassing. Worse, because it was the second time that night. And tell Devon to stay away from me for a few days.”
Sofia ducks her head. “We’re sorry.”
