23
Zephyr
The sun had just started to set by the time we got to the cabin Parker had booked for the night. The day had been perfect—better than I could’ve imagined. We’d spent hours out on the river, battling the rapids and laughing like we hadn’t in what felt like years. There were no distractions, no booze, no drugs. Just us. The way it used to be before all the fame.
It felt like a weight had lifted, one I hadn’t realized had been pressing down on me for so long. Being with my packmates, my brothers, without any of the usual vices clouding the day—it was exactly what we all needed. And Phoenix… she slotted right in, like she was always meant to be with us. She laughed with us, teased us, and didn’t hold back, even when Parker and Kage got a little too competitive.
I found myself watching her more than I should’ve, caught in the way she smiled, the way she fit with us so naturally. Like she’d known us for years instead of just a few months. It wasn’t just me who felt it either. I could see it in Parker’s lingering glances, in the way Kage couldn’t stop himself from nudging her playfully every chance he got.
She wasn’t just a pretty Beta who happened to join the band. She was becoming part of us—part of the pack—and I didn’t know how to feel about it. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. I knew how I felt, and I could tell my packmates felt the same. The question was whether Phoenix would ever be open to more than just friendship.
That thought had been bouncing around my mind all day. I wanted to talk to her about it, wanted to see if there was any chance she might give us—give me—a shot. But she was hesitant, I could sense that much. She was always careful to keep some distance, not too close, but not too far either.
I couldn’t really blame her. We had tried to get her fired and she’d made it clear she had her own baggage. We all did. But damn, she fit so well with us, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this—us—was right.
By the time dinner was ready, the cabin felt warm and lived in. We’d settled into the space easily, Parker lighting a fire while Kage cooked up something in the small kitchen. Phoenix was helping set the table, her face still flushed from the day’s adrenaline, her red hair slightly damp from the shower she’d just taken. Fuck she was beautiful like this. Relaxed and carefree.
“Smells good in here,”
I said, sliding into one of the wooden chairs at the table.
Phoenix glanced over her shoulder, giving me a small smile. “Kage’s been showing off his cooking skills.”
“About time,”
I teased, giving Kage a nod. “I was starting to think you only knew how to microwave meals.”
“Don’t underestimate me,”
Kage shot back, but his voice was lighter, more relaxed than usual.
We all were. The vibe was different tonight—calmer, more grounded.
Dinner was casual, full of easy conversation and laughter. The food was great, but what really made it was the company.
Phoenix was in the middle of telling some story about a prank she pulled on one of her sisters when Kage stood up from the table, a mischievous grin on his face. “You know what this night needs?”
“Oh no,”
Parker groaned, already sensing what was coming. “What have you found now?”
Kage didn’t answer right away. Instead, he ducked into the living room, rummaging around for a minute before reemerging with a dusty old box in his hands.
“No way,”
I said, recognizing the game immediately. “You found Monopoly?”
Kage dropped the box on the table, the corners worn from years of use. “It was in one of the cupboards. Thought it might make things interesting.”
Phoenix raised an eyebrow. “Monopoly? Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Kage grinned. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
Parker and I exchanged a look before I shrugged. “Why not? We’ve got the time.”
Phoenix hesitated for a second before finally nodding. “Alright, but don’t blame me when I wipe the floor with all of you.”
That got a laugh out of Parker. “Oh, it’s on.”
We cleared the table and set up the game, and soon enough, we were all gathered around, dice in hand, plotting our strategies.
What started out as a lighthearted game quickly turned into a full-blown competition.
Kage, of course, took it way too seriously, strategizing every move, while Parker tried to undercut him with some sneaky trades.
Phoenix played it cool, but I could see the fire in her eyes, the same determination that she brought to everything.
As I watched Phoenix laugh at one of Kage’s jokes, I knew that this was what I wanted.
Not just tonight, not just for a weekend.
I wanted more nights like this.
More moments where we could be together, where Phoenix didn’t have to hold back, and where we could stop pretending that this was just about work or friendship.
◆◆◆
We were packing away the Monopoly board after what had been one of the best nights I could remember.
Parker and Kage had gone off to find bedding in one of the cabin’s cupboards, leaving me alone with Phoenix.
The room fell suddenly quiet, aside from the soft rustling of the game pieces and the crackling of the fire in the corner.
I glanced over at her, watching how effortlessly she moved, how natural she seemed now compared to the stiff, polished version of herself we usually saw.
This weekend had been good for her.
Phoenix had let her guard down, more than I’d ever seen before.
There was something about the way she laughed today, a kind of freedom that I hadn’t seen in her.
I’d caught myself staring a few times, not just because she was gorgeous but because I could see the real her starting to shine through.
She was dressed in distressed jeans and one of those worn, faded band tees she liked to wear when she thought no one was paying attention.
This was the real Phoenix.
A far cry from the sharp pencil skirts and businesslike button-downs she normally wore.
Not that I didn’t appreciate her in those outfits, too.
God, I was starting to get used to the way her skirts hugged her curves, how her heels gave her an extra inch or two of power when she strode into a room.
But this… this was different. It felt more intimate. Like she was finally letting us in, bit by bit.
As we packed the game away, her fingers brushed mine a couple of times, sending little sparks through me.
She didn’t pull away, and I didn’t either.
I couldn’t stop myself anymore. I decided to take my shot.
“You did good today,” I said.
Phoenix looked up from where she was stacking the game pieces into the box. “Did good? You mean I kicked your ass at Monopoly?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Yeah, yeah, rub it in.”
She grinned, and for a second, I just stood there, watching her smile. I took a breath and made my move.
As she leaned over the table to close the box, I stepped closer, just enough to brush her arm with mine.
She glanced up, our eyes locking, and I felt the tension rise between us, the kind that had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks now.
Without thinking too much about it, I tilted my head down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
For a second, she froze, but then—thank God—she leaned in, kissing me back.
It wasn’t a deep kiss, nothing urgent, but it was enough to feel the soft press of her lips against mine, the warmth of her breath mingling with mine.
Just as quickly as it had begun, I felt her hesitate.
It was subtle, barely noticeable, but I felt it in the way her body tensed ever so slightly.
I pulled back before she could push me away. I didn’t want to rush her and ruin what we were building here.
Phoenix’s eyes were wide, her fingers lingering near her lips as if she were trying to process what just happened.
I gave her a wink, trying to keep it casual, even though my heart was still pounding in my chest.
“See you in the morning, Princess.”
She didn’t say anything at first, just stood there.
I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
Yeah, I’d caught her off guard, but I’d also made my point. I wasn’t just some job to her, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to be content with just friendship.
Without waiting for her to respond, I turned and headed for the back of the cabin.
She didn’t know it yet, but I wasn’t going to let this thing between us fizzle out.
I wanted her, and I could tell she wanted me too, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it yet.
Kage and Parker were waiting for me in the hallway, both giving me knowing looks as soon as I approached them.
Kage raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
“Didn’t take you long.”
I shrugged, trying to play it off.
“What can I say? I’m not one for waiting around.”
Parker smirked but didn’t push further.
He knew better than to ask too many questions, especially when it came to Phoenix.
We were all on the same page about her. And with a little more time, I knew we could convince her that we were worth the risk.