Chapter 25
Silver
After spending the whole morning with Pace locked away in my nest, he finally relinquishes his hold on me, and we both venture down the stairs by lunch time, Pace carrying the tray of stale toast and jelly to the kitchen while his free hand holds mine in a warm grip.
The rest of pack Larsen are already mulling around the kitchen, Haze and Rage sitting at the island with a cup of coffee each, while Aero sits on the counter near the window and Munro stands with his back to me, a knife in one hand and a slab of butter beside the stack of bread in front of him.
“There’s our girl,” Aero drawls, announcing our arrival, as if we were sneaking in and not walking at a normal speed.
I flash him a grin, my heart filling almost to bursting, accepting that this is my life now. This is what I want, what I’ve been given, and what I plan to fully embrace starting from right now.
“Hey, handsome,” I breathe, releasing Pace’s hand to meander over to the omega, my omega, and tilt my face up to his for a kiss.
Aero groans and mutters, “Fuck, I like this, baby. What the hell did Pace do to you?”
“Made me his,” I mutter, surging up for a kiss I’m still waiting for and growing all warm and fuzzy when Aero chuckles against my mouth. When we part, I lick my lips, tasting his frosted-plum scent on my lips. Aero groans again, and I snicker, pulling back enough to smile up at the omega.
Cupping my face in his warm hands, his thumbs brushing my skin with gentle strokes, he asks, “So, it’s official, yeah? Silver Gage, the bubblegum baddie, is officially team pack Larsen? You our girl, baby?”
I sigh with contentment, a thrill rushing through me hard enough for me to shiver, and I nod easily. “I’m yours.”
“Fuck yes,” Haze explodes, and I turn my head to find him out of his seat with his arms in the air, looking at his brother with a wide, happy smile that sends my heart soaring to the moon. It goes even further when my gaze falls to Rage and I find him smiling at me softly, chin in his hand as he says, “Wasn’t any other outcome that was going to happen, Sunshine.”
And, just like that, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong. I’m with the men I belong with. And nothing has ever felt so good. Well, it would feel a whole lot better if there wasn’t a strange tension between Munro and me, now, but in the spirit of being happy, I opt not to acknowledge it. I’ve already decided I want Munro, I want to give him that second chance, I just need to figure out how I’m going to talk to him about it.
Glancing over at him as I turn in Aero’s hold, leaning into his chest as he wraps me in his arms, I accept the coffee Pace has made for me, dropping a hard kiss to my lips before pulling back with a promising wink. Munro is still slathering butter over the bread, adding fruit or chocolate filling and compiling a tower of sandwiches on a plate beside him, acting for all the world like he’s not listening in on everything around him.
I know he’s listening, though, because I can see the white-knuckle grip he has on the blunt knife. I can see the way his jaw flexes before he fights to relax.
Taking a sip of my coffee, I keep my eyes on him as I say, “I have work tonight. Are you guys doing much?”
Aero sighs into my neck, licking and nipping, while Haze grumbles, “Same. Rage and I are fixing up some guy’s bike that he wrecked last week.”
Rage nods, though he looks less than pleased about it, and I smile at him. He softens instantly, and those butterflies I would feel before explode into a flurry, more active now that I’ve accepted pack Larsen as my pack.
“Looks like we’re all working tonight,” Pace sighs, leaning against the island counter next to the twins. “I’m closing tonight at the hardware store.”
“I’m not working,” Aero protests, then I feel him flinch and sigh. “Well, not as a job, anyway. I have to see Lowie later about a game we’re working on for our assignment. Pretty sure Munro isn’t doing shit tonight, though, the lucky bastard.”
The bastard in question snorts, and he shrugs a shoulder before he bursts into a flurry of movement and starts pulling out a pan from a cupboard, along with several other things as he says, “I finished all my assignments and coursework before the charity ball so I could have the weekend free.”
I watch as the beta, dressed in a tight, black shirt, low-slung, combat pants, and a pair of scruffy boots that somehow look stylish, goes about heating the pan before placing two sandwiches into the butter that melts and bubbles with heat. It takes me a second to realize he’s making French toast, and I smile slowly. I fucking love French toast, and the only other people who know that are Alek, Meemaw, and… Juniper.
Biting back my smile, I wonder briefly if Munro has been talking to Juno about me. Maybe seeking information that could soften me toward him. I won’t lie and say it doesn’t have my heart skipping a beat knowing he’s trying that hard.
So, while he makes my favorite breakfast food despite it being lunch time, I clear my throat and take another sip of my sweet coffee before asking, “Think you’d want to hang out at work with me tonight?”
Everything stills, the silence deafeningly loud in the suddenly quiet kitchen. The only thing audible is the frying of bread and the clock ticking on the wall. And my heartbeat, which suddenly starts furiously beating loud enough that I can hear every frantic pound.
Munro’s eyes snap to mine so suddenly I would have been startled if Aero didn’t have a snug hold on me, my coffee sloshing slightly in my mug. With his eyes like midnight and an expression of shock that would usually amuse me but has my pulse skittering under my skin, Munro looks at me for a long time. His gaze is searching, hope sparking in those dark orbs, before he finally relaxes and clears his throat with a nod. “I’m… yeah, I’ll go. What time?”
My whole fucking body deflates like a popped balloon, and Aero snickers against my neck like a jackass as I blow out a steady breath. “I’m on at seven, but I need to set up since it’s just me playing tonight, so we’ll leave at six?”
Munro nods again. “I’ll drive.”
And with that, the atmosphere morphs into one of contentment. The guys all chat around me or to me, even Munro joining in on occasion, while I remain in the warm embrace of my omega.
After that, the day goes pretty quickly. We eat the lunch Munro prepares, my surprise at how good it was showing on my face and making Munro roll his eyes with a smirk, before we all go about our usual routines. I spend most of the day in the studio, preparing for work, with the twins for company. They truck through their schoolwork while I compile my setlist for the night, before I mess around with more songs I’ve been working on. They watch and listen as I add a guitar riff to one song, play the melody for another with the keyboard, looping, cutting, and perfecting another.
Before I know it, they have to leave for work, and I realize I need to get ready before I’m late. With two different mind-shattering, spine-tingling kisses from both twins, they leave me to get ready.
“See you later, Sunshine,” Rage mutters against my mouth before kissing me one more time before they both leave with waves and winks.
I’m grinning like a lovesick fool as I rush through my routine. Twisting my hair into two messy space buns, the pastel colors entwined throughout, and applying the bare minimum of makeup, I reach for a short, baby-pink dress made of latex, wriggling my body into it and feeling like I’m stuffing a sausage through a damned straw for my efforts. The dress is so tight that there’s absolutely no way I could get away with wearing underwear in this thing, the outlines ridiculously visible, so I’m left to bare it all beneath the dress. I slip off my panties and wriggle out of my bra before setting everything straight within the confines of the dress that barely covers my ass.
Throwing on a pair of platform sneakers in white with pink laces, and snatching my white denim jacket that looks as haggard as the blue one I usually wear to work, I check out my reflection before leaving, ensuring I don’t look a mess. Sure enough, the dress is molded around every dip of my body, my hip bones, nipples and divot of my belly button outlined in the damned thing, but I dig it. It makes me feel kinda of sexy, and a thought pops into my head as I eye the outfit.
I wonder what the guys would think?
I grab my cell and snap a photo with a peace sign pose and a facial expression that looks like I’m blowing my guys a kiss, before forming a group chat with them all, typing a message quickly and attaching the photo when I press send.
SILVER: Tonight’s vibe. What do we think?
Replies come in quickly, and I’m left walking on cloud nine and perfuming slightly when I read them.
AERO: I’m going to need more sexy photos of you in that dress, baby.
RAGE: You got an attachment to that thing, because I want to tear it the fuck off you. Damn, Sunshine.
HAZE: Nice. I’m sporting a raging hardon at work. Thanks, gorgeous.
PACE: We shouldn’t have left the nest this morning. I’m going to have that image in my head all night.
Laughing, I’m about to put my phone away with my ego expanded and my chest warm, when another message comes through. It’s an individual text, and it simply reads:
MUNRO : Ready when you are.
Biting my lip and suddenly feeling a flurry of nerves in my stomach, I straighten my dress before taking a deep, steadying breath, and leaving the nest. I’m walking through the hallways and rushing down the stairs quickly, looking for Munro. It takes a moment, finding him sitting in his beat-up car that looks like it could do with a fresh lick of paint just outside the garage. I add it to a new list I form in my head of the things to do for pack Larsen, a sudden urge in my chest that wants to spoil them now that they’re mine.
Heading over to the passenger side, I slide into the seat with a squeak of leather, smiling awkwardly over to Munro, “All set.”
Munro nods, dark eyes roaming over every inch of me before he faces the road ahead with his hands tightening on the wheel. We’re pulling out without another word, and the whole ride to work is done with an intense atmosphere that has the tension in my body growing at rapid speed.
By the time we park in the employee lot, I’m flushed and antsy and ready to dive from the car so I can heave in a fresh breath of air. The silence has been too charged between us, I’ve been inhaling pine and citrus all through the drive, and I’m pretty sure I’m perfuming enough that there’s no way Munro doesn’t notice. Pretty sure he stopped breathing at one point, and I worry that maybe this isn’t what the beta wants after all.
I can’t ponder on it, because the next thing I know, he’s out of the car and holding the door to my side open. I climb out with a hard swallow, accidentally brushing against the beta and inhaling sharply when I feel him. Every hard inch.
“You’ve got work to do, princess. I’m hanging on by a thread. Go do your thing, and then we’ll talk,” he grunts as I look up at him, finding his dark eyes practically molten with a desire he’s kept hidden until right now. I mean, it would be pointless to hide it after I rubbed against the evidence of his feelings.
Nodding rapidly, knowing he’s right even as I perfume a little more, hoping like fuck that the slick pooling between my legs doesn’t start dripping down my bare thighs, I step back and breathe, “Talk later.”
Before either of us can utter another word, the back door to Raverz opens and Tanner bursts through in all of his chaotic glory. “Oh my god, Silver. Thank fuck you’re here. The crowd is already crazy after we announced you’d be playing all night, and they’re turning feral waiting. I know you’re not due to start yet, but I would owe you my life if you could possibly get that small tushy of yours inside and start blowing minds with your gift of music.”
Biting my lip as I continue staring at Munro, he jerks his head toward Tanner and teases, “Better get going, princess. A life is on the line.”
Rolling my eyes, I do as I’m told, and Tanner grabs my hand and drags me to his office before I can do anything else. He’s taking a mile a minute, and I’m barely able to keep up, but finally catch his words when he says, “I’ve put everything together on the stage for you, because I thought there was going to be a damned riot. You just need to grab your mask and go.”
So, I do. I’m in my bunny mask and standing on stage in a matter of minutes, my work laptop open at the ready. The room is dark, but I can feel the number of people in the room. It’s madness, a wave of palpable energy reaching me from where I stand on the raised platform. I can hear the chatter of patrons, can hear the scuffing of feet that mingles with the low beat of a song playing through a speaker nearby.
As soon as I’ve set up my new setlist, I press the button for the speaker that silences the music, and the crowd instantly cheers. It’s so loud that the hairs all over my body stand on end, and my breath catches in my chest as a flood of adrenaline fills every limb of my body. Holy shit, this is crazy.
Adjusting the mic so it brushes my lips, my face from my nose up covered with a neon bunny mask that covers only half of my face, I take a breath that has the crowd buzzing before I breathe, “Are we ready to have a good time?”
The crowd roars, and I grin into the darkness, now seeing several phones coming to life with their torches lit or cameras recording.
“I said, are we ready to have a good fucking time?” I ask, a little louder to get the hype notched higher.
Sure enough, the crowd turns near deafening, and I chuckle into the mic right before my fingers start flicking switches, twisting dials and starting a steady beat of a song I’ve been working on. I let it play for a stretch, a steady thump of a bass blaring through my speakers on either side of the DJ deck, before I drawl, “Then let’s do this, Raverz.”
And then I blast the song loudly just as the strobe lights flash on and the crowd goes fucking wild. Bodies start jumping with the beat of the song, boisterous screams and hollering breaking through the crowd, and I grin into the sea of faces as I throw my hand in the air while I nod to the beat, knowing there’s a sick drop coming that turns the crowd electric.
Strobe lights are flying everywhere as the song builds and builds, patrons jumping and gyrating with the beat, and I start to lose myself to the thrill of performing for a crowd as big as this.
I’m grinning widely just as the song hits the peak and, like they’re paid actors, the crowd turns silent all of a sudden, right as the beat drops and the song blasts through the speakers with a catchy tune that has everyone raving wildly.
The rest of the set goes very much the same, everyone having a riot of a time while I play song after song for their enjoyment. I’m sweating beneath the lights, my mask sticking to my face, but I can’t find it in me to care. Adrenaline is coursing through my body enough that I’m lost to the vibe, jumping up and down and dancing goofily on the stage while my own songs turn the patrons of Raverz into a sea of frenzied bodies having a good time.
I have no idea where Munro is in the club, finding my eyes scanning for him in between songs, but eventually, I focus on finishing my set, playing until the club is closing. As soon as the last song ends with a long note of the guitar, I call into the crowd, “It’s been a riot, Raverz! Don't forget to tip your bar staff, and I’ll see you on the flip side!”
The strobe lights cut out there and then, and I finally take a shaky breath as the crowd begins to disperse for the evening. I waste no time in packing everything away while Tanner clears the club out, wanting out of this tight dress that has my body slick with sweat.
I’ve just placed everything back into Tanner’s office, my mask tucked away neatly with my gear, and am leaving the hallway that leads into the club in search of Munro when a hard body interrupts my journey.
Flinching back when the scent of liquorice hits me, I look up and find a broad-shouldered alpha grinning down at me. He’s at least a foot taller than me, his scent as cloying and thick as the muscle straining against his t-shirt that looks to be a size too small for the guy.
“You looked hot up there, Pixie Dust,” the guy slurs, leaning in and forcing me to take a step.
Attempting to be polite, I smile and mutter, “Thanks, dude. Glad you enjoyed it.”
“Oh, absolutely,” the guy laughs drunkenly, and I have to make a conscious effort not to roll my eyes. “You want to feel how much I enjoyed it? Seeing you up there got me real hard. Got my knot swollen already.”
Okay, ew, what the fuck? What a creep.
All politeness evaporates and my face falls into a bland expression that borders on disgust. “Ain’t happening, buddy. I have a pack, and am very happy with my guys.”
“Guys, huh? Got more than one? What’s one more?” he pushes, taking a step closer, forcing me back further. “You want my knot, I know you do. I can smell it on you.”
Great. A delusional creep, because I am absolutely not perfuming right now. I’m grossed out, sweaty, and spent as the adrenaline bleeds from my veins quickly now, and ready to get out of these platform shoes. There’s nothing about this alpha that has me even remotely turned on and wanting any of his body parts in or around me.
“No chance, dude. Back off,” I try, attempting to step past him.
His hand slams against the wall before I can go, blocking my escape route. I could turn and run back to Tanner’s office, though I worry with his long legs that I won’t make it before he catches me. The last thing I want to do is run from a horny and drunk alpha who thinks I’m starting a chase.
I’m about to call for someone, beyond uncomfortable with this situation when Munro appears like an avenging angel from behind the drunk asshole.
Gripping the back of his collar, Munro yanks the alpha back, the act so sudden the alpha loses his balance and stumbles away from me. He steps between me and the alpha, sneers down at the drunk bastard, and announces, “This one is mine. Keep your fucking dick to yourself.”
The alpha frowns, probably confused how he ended up on the floor, and blurts, “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“Her beta, asshole,” Munro snaps, reaching back for my hand that I gladly offer.
The drunk dude laughs, before he slurs, “A beta? As if a beta could keep a thing like that satisfied.”
Huffing a breath, fed up with this bullshit and wanting to go home already, I lean around Munro and inform, “He keeps me plenty satisfied, jack-off. More than I’d get from the likes of you.”
I feel Munro’s hand tighten in mine before he snarls at the alpha, “Get the fuck out of here, go sober up, and get your head checked when you remember how embarrassing you’re being right now.”
Without waiting for an answer, Munro starts dragging me back down the hallway. We pass Tanner, and I blurt, “See you next week!”
We’re outside, the cool night air wafting all over me, before I know it. Munro’s hand is still in mine and he tugs me along behind him as we walk to his car in silence. My heart starts beating quickly, speeding up the closer we get to his car, and I have to quicken my pace to keep up with the angry beta.
I’m panting by the time we reach the car and, just as I’m about to reach for the handle of the passenger side, Munro yanks me away. He turns me until I’m facing him, grabs my face with trembling hands, and slams his mouth on mine with a graveled groan that sets me on fire from the inside out.