So fucking glad I grew it out.
Her hand slips down to my cheek, and I lean into her touch like a starved dog.
“But Idoneed to speak to you all.” She brushes my mouth with her thumb. “Can you take me to them?”
I nod. But I can’t quite believe what’s happening. That she isn’t leaving. That she hasn’t got her suitcase packed.
“Did I tell you how sorry I was?”
Both her hands are on my face, and her lips are on mine. She kisses me slowly, carefully, her fingertips grazing my cheek.
“It’s okay,” she murmurs. “I’m sorry too.”
I frown, ready to rebut, but her lips are back on mine.
I decide it isn’t worth the argument.
When she slowly steps out of my hold, she offers me her hand. Without hesitation, I take it and rise from my knees, leading her to my pack. And the ache in my chest finally eases.
***
The moment Revea steps into the bar room, our pack bond spikes, and when I follow in behind, their eyes landing on our entwined hands, it rockets.
Kaiden stands. “Revea—”
“I have something for you all,” she says with a soft smile that makes Kaiden immediately quiet.
Her hand slips from mine as she pulls what looks like black, tangled string from her skirt pocket.
She gives one to Val, then to Syl, to me, and finally to Kaiden.
I stare down at the small, braided thing. It feels kinda familiar. Looks a little like a bracelet.
“What’s this?” Kaiden asks first.
“A gift,” she replies, her smile fuller.
“Why?” Sylvan toys with it between his fingers.
Revea looks between us, gaze flitting, not able to maintain eye contact.
Then she clears her throat and squares her shoulders like all those times I’ve seen her do before.
“Pack Vale, I’d like to court you. Please.” She smiles. Fully.
And I am dumbstruck.
Her lips waver, gaze swinging to each of us. “I know it’s not the best courting gift, but I can’t exactly nip out to the shops without an entourage. So I cut up some bands and braided them. They’re all a little different. And I know they look small, but they’ll stretch, and they’re really durable, and I...”
Kaiden rises from his chair, cutting her words short. “Is this because of the headlines?”
“No.” She shakes her head, voice softening. “No. I started making these a couple of days ago.” Although Revea stands steady with Kaiden towering over her, her eyes dropdown to the bracelet in his hand. “But the headlines did make me realise I haven’t been very fair...”
“Wehaven’t been fair, Revea.” Kaiden waits for her gaze to be back on him before he continues. “You told us, each of us, that you weren’t looking for a pack, and we pursued you anyway. And tonight, we reacted poorly to what you said. That’s on us. Just, please don’t feel like you need to do this—”
“Pack alpha,” she cuts in, expression stern, brow arched, the tone doing things to my cock that shouldn’t be possible. “I’ve asked to court your pack, and you haven’t given me an answer.”
“Aren’t alphas supposed to ask?” Syl murmurs to me.
