“Of course you’re not. I missed you going over there. When did she even let you in?”
“I stayed last night.”
“Damn, you work fast. Clearly, she hasn’t forgiven you yet if she’s going to bolt and blame me,” I said, laughing this time.
“Just go. We’ll meet you guys downstairs for breakfast.”
***
She emerged from her closet wearing a loose t-shirt and shorts, balancing a pile of clothes and whatever else she’d brought from the bathroom.
“Here, let me help. Are you moving in already?” I teased, reaching out to take a few bottles from her hands.
“No! Of course not. I just have a routine and like my stuff. I don’t even know what you use,” she said with a shudder.
“To be honest, neither do I. Soap is soap to me,” I laughed. We stepped into my room, and she hesitated in the doorway. I could feel her unease**last time she was here, I hadn’t been kind. I knew it was fear of losing her, but still, she had left in tears.
“Come on, I’ll show you where you can put your things,” I said softly, sliding my hand around her back to gently guide her inside.
Once we were both showered and dressed, we headed out together. We hadn’t even reached the bottom step of the entryway when Danny scooped her up in a hug and kissed her cheek. I couldn’t help but hate my delta right then**he was clearly trying to get under my skin.
“Get over it, bossman. You’ve kept our Luna away for too long. We need to get to know her too,” he said with a grin.
He set her down in front of Bennet. I watched their interaction closely, feeling a pang of jealousy. They clicked almost instantly. Bennet was able to keep her calm and safe in a way I hadn’t. I was still afraid she might have feelings for him. She leaned her forehead against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her slowly, offering comfort.
“Thank you, bossman,” he mindlinked to me.
In that moment, the atmosphere in the room shifted. A calmness settled over me**a peacefulness I hadn’t felt since my father was alpha. She was truly special.
Kennedy
“Are you joining us for breakfast today, Luna?” Danny called out, not allowing me to linger any longer with Bennet.
“I suppose so,” I replied with a slight shrug. I remembered Ryker mentioning last night that he wanted me to sit with him during meals, but I wasn’t sure if it was a gentle request, a firm command, or simply a way to get me to engage in conversation.
“Great!” Danny exclaimed, looping his arm around mine. I couldn’t help but giggle as we began walking away. Naturally, Ryker growled in protest, but Danny paid no mind.
I was certain they were exchanging words through the mindlink, but for once, it didn’t bother me. I knew Danny was teasing Ryker about me, and honestly, I didn’t mind. What intrigued me most was observing how Ryker behaved around his pack members when I was present. The man had seemed hesitant and unsure last night, but that was unlike the Alpha I knew**strong, confident, and commanding in front of his pack. So far, he had made it clear that I wasn’t significant to him, mostly ignoring me and leaving me alone. Only a handful of females shot me dirty looks, but none had taken any further action.
I felt a sudden tension as we stepped into the breakfast room. Amy sat at the table nearest the entrance, clearly waiting to pounce on Ryker. Her half-standing stance was oddly comical, but her expression was pure venom. My worries lasted only a moment before strong, warm hands wrapped around my waist from behind, and Danny’s arm slid away from my shoulder. Ryker pulled me back against his chest, and a wave of relief washed over me. Danny stayed to my right; Bennet took the left.
“You okay?” Ryker whispered softly in my ear.
I nodded, though he wasn’t satisfied.
“I need to hear it, mate,” he insisted, his voice low and urgent. A shiver ran through me, and I leaned closer into him.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I murmured. Without hesitation, Ryker slipped between Danny and me, guiding us toward his table, completely ignoring Amy’s futile attempts to speak. I smiled at the side he chose. What he didn’t realize was that the more jealous he acted, the more Danny would tease him**and I was more than willing to encourage that.
As we moved through the room, my gaze drifted to the window, and I gasped. Without thinking, I made my way toward the door that led to the back patio. Stepping outside, a cool blast of air hit my face, forcing me to squint as my eyes adjusted to the dazzling sunlight reflecting off the untouched snow.
“Oh wow,” I breathed. “It looks like millions of diamonds are scattered across the branches and the ground. Given how Silver Crescent is arranged, with the packhouse at the center, it’s rare to see fresh snow this pristine.” The scene was breathtaking.
“Please tell me you’ve seen snow before,” Ryker rumbled, his voice deep and teasing**even when he was mocking me, it sounded incredibly sexy.
“Yes, I’ve seen snow, Ryker,” I replied, amused.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.