Chapter 24 Back at Home #2
Knox nods, agreeing as he moves behind Tadeo, sliding up close to rest his chin on the younger alpha’s shoulder. The sight hits me harder than it should—something soft, intimate, domestic in a way I didn’t think alphas could be.
“But I don’t have to worry about that shit anymore.” Alex’s gaze slides over me, slow and deliberate, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Now you’re my job.”
Knox mutters something under his breath that sounds like lucky bastard. And Alex just flashes him that smug, shameless grin.
Knox says, “I’m excited I won’t have to listen to your music in the van anymore.”
“You wound me, old man.” Alex gasps, feigning outrage. “You’re gonna miss me and my playlists.”
Knox lets out a barking laugh. “Sure, I will,” he says dryly. “Like a fucking hemorrhoid.”
Alex rolls his eyes. “Typical pack alpha—no appreciation for art, rhythm, or the raw complexity of truly good music.”
My breath hitches when Knox steps forward, crowding the table. Without a word, he hooks a strong arm around me, lifting me effortlessly to my feet. My chair scrapes back, and before I can blink, he drops into it. Then I’m guided back down, onto Knox’s very firm thighs.
I clutch the plastic cup in my hands as I take another sip of “whiskey,” trying not to choke.
“How was your day?” Knox murmurs against my throat, lips trailing lower, dragging heat over my sensitive skin.
His mouth finds the slope of my shoulder, teeth grazing before he pulls at the collar of my T-shirt.
Cool air slips in where the fabric stretches, and then his kiss lands on bare skin, hotter, wetter.
“I—” My breath shivers out. “I feel…good.”
From across the room, Tadeo’s voice cuts through, warm and easy. “Dinner time.”
Dakota is already moving. A cabinet door squeaks open as he pulls out a stack of mismatched plates. “Don’t burn the table this time.”
Knox holds me a little tighter, his lips skimming along the hollow beneath my collarbone before he eases back just enough to speak. “We need to take you into the city to get you some clothes of your own.”
City. My brain snags on the word. What city?
Fear grips me at the thought that we might be close to my old pack, but before I can ask where exactly we are, Tadeo drops an oven mitt onto the center of the table, then places the heavy pan right on top of it.
The smell hits first—spiced tomatoes, garlic, and meat simmered down until it’s tender.
Just like yesterday, the edges of the pan are blackened, the sauce bubbled over and hardened in streaks down the sides.
It’s messy and a little burnt, but my mouth waters anyway.
“Can I ask where we are?” I ask as Alex grabs the serving spoon and piles a mountain onto his plate. “What town?”
“We’re in Wrenfield,” the red-haired alpha says.
“Wrenfield?” I frown.
“About forty minutes east of Cassville.”
My muscles relax as relief sets in. Cassville is pretty far from Westbin. Far from my old pack.
Thank goodness.
There’s a pause, long enough for my heartbeat to settle. Then Knox’s voice cuts in—low, careful. “Where are you from, sweetheart?” The way he asks makes my throat tighten. Like he’s afraid the answer might hurt.
“Westbin,” I say quietly, staring at his plate instead of his face. I don’t add anything else. I don’t need to.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alex and Knox exchange a look. They don’t ask me anything else about my old life. And I’m grateful for that small mercy.
“Here you go.” Alex sets a towering plate of food right in front of me. I blink at it, a little dumbfounded that he’d give me that much. “You didn’t eat enough yesterday,” he says, before grabbing a clean plate.
Tadeo settles into his chair on the other side of Knox, one brow lifted. “Are you planning to serve everyone, Alex?”
Alex snorts, already heaping another plate. “Alphas don’t serve other alphas. Only gorgeous omegas.”
Dakota drops into the chair across from me, one corner of his mouth quirking into a sly smile. “What about gorgeous betas?”
Without hesitation, Alex slides a steaming plate across the table toward him. “I’ll serve you,” he says with a grin. “Especially, since you were such a good boy this morning.” He winks, and Dakota’s smirk sharpens.
The beta picks up his fork, spinning it lazily between his fingers as he shoots a look at Tadeo. “Hear that? I’m a good boy. You’re not.”
Tadeo just laughs under his breath, shaking his head like he can’t be bothered to rise to the bait. His smile lingers, warm and crooked, as he finally fills his plate.
I want to ask what happened this morning, but it feels like it might be personal or naughty, or both. I hate that I slept all day. Knox woke me up a little after noon, made me a quick lunch, then we were in the car and headed to the clinic.
“Eat up, Sky,” Knox murmurs in my ear, his voice low and warm against my skin. When I look at him over my shoulder, those dark green eyes are sparkling down at me, making my heart flutter. “Open.” He lifts a fork, waiting for me to obey.
My mouth parts without thinking, and he slips the fork between my lips. Flavor bursts across my tongue, rich and savory, and I can’t stop the soft hum that escapes me.
Knox lets out a low, satisfied growl, the sound rolling through his body and into mine. “Good girl.”
Heat coils low in my belly, and suddenly, I can’t wait for dinner to be over.