Pack Darling Part Two

by Lola Rock

Because my life is a war-zone.

My pheromones are a billboard flashing BREED ME NOW in screaming neon.

It’s a beta’s fault I’m here. Fucking Craig.

Nobody’s coming to save us.

Rumor’s out. I’m awakened, unmated, and a total slut for anything sweet.

Even if I’m reading him wrong and the guy’s here to assassinate me, if I have to die, I choose death by chocolate.

“Your debt’s not a problem. Wyvern Pack only owns half the city. Who do you think owns the other half?” Weird flex, but okay.

Because who needs mates? Screw destiny, fate, and all things meant-to-be. I take care of myself. And I’m done hurting.

Boozy aunt energy.

What would I even do with a baby? Teach it to stab the other kids?

The other half, the horny, just-awakened, needs-sex-yesterday half wonders if they’d let me call them daddy. Oh shit. I need brain bleach. Fucking hormones.

I’ve earned the right to be psycho.

“We’d like to apologize. Face-to-face.” Scorpio’s voice is calm, even, and commanding. I perk up. “Apologize for what?” There are so many things. “Because our sons are fucktarts.” Max shakes his head. “There aren’t words to say sorry for what they did to you.”

He’s losing his sanity. I’m losing my control. I’m a weapons-grade idiot.

So we’re working on destroying ourselves.

Jett and Finn make a killer team. Not good cop, bad cop but the cold sociopath and the crazy sociopath. They’ll get the info.

“Your omega’s home alone and probably tearing out his hair. That’s where you should be. Not here.” “You’re ours,” Finn growls. “Mine.”

It’s like the sky opens, turning Lilah gold with angel-blessed sunlight. Somewhere, a heavenly choir bursts into song.

“You can’t even take care of yourselves!” It’s official. Love her. Want her forever.

“Learn to take care of the omega you already have.” “We’re sorry.” Atlas rumbles. “Don’t do this to us.” Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Way to make it selfish, asshole. I know what Lilah’s going to do before she twitches. “You’re not sorry. You want to see me? Back of the line.”

Go to them go-to-them gotothem!

She’s going to hate their plan. And if they piss her off even more? I need to distance myself. Because if I have to choose between the pack or her… I choose Lilah. Every time.

“Your room’s listed as a suite in the A dormitory.” “Then someone’s seriously screwing with your books, because I’ve been living in A dorm’s former laundry nook for like fifteen years.” And holy shit. “Were you charging me for a suite this whole time? I want receipts.”

Am I that desperate for touch? Thankfully, weighted blankets are a thing.

my full-time address is still in anxiety city,

“I have standards.”

My father patched us into the OCC’s network, so I can follow Lilah everywhere.

Lilah bit a student. Was sent home without dinner. Hikaru’s compact notes reveal the truth in stinging red ink. Attacked by three, bit one in self-defense, and was punished with no food for 48 hours. Six years old.

I need to run so fast my demons can’t follow.

I feel like I’m replaying my nightmares. But I survived that time. I’ll survive this one too.

Orion steps in front of me. It screams his position. He just shielded me from his own pack.

Watching me the same way I watch lava cakes, Finn offers me a shard of green pottery. “Killed it for you.” “What…” I suck in a breath because holy shit. The toe-breaking toad is dead. The perfect gift. He pushes it into my palm before I can react.

“You are not swimming,” Atlas snarls. I fume, but before I can hit back, Orion growls. “Don’t fucking use that tone with her.” Atlas rocks like he just took a punch. “Shit. I didn’t mean… Her cuts…”

“If you can fix the pack, you can have it. I’ll stand down. Just…tell me how to stop hurting everyone.”

“Can I kill her?” Finn’s hand hovers at his hip, a half-second away from drawing a blade, he could’ve already pulled if he weren’t waiting for my permission. Good boy.

But can’t risk myself on jokers. I need kings.

Bodyguarding Lilah Darling is the career path they never told me about at the academy. I would’ve gone to class. I text Hunter.

They’re fucking idiots with the push and the pull. You love each other and the sex is bananas. Get over yourselves.

Fucker probably has snake scales. I’ll pop them off one-by-one and use ‘em to make Lilah a little clutch. She needs somewhere to keep my leash.

“Not leaving.” Lilah’s the only thing holding me together. Fucking hate having her out of sight, and I don’t know what happens if I go farther away. “You can do donuts in the golf cart.” “Fine.”

Things that keep Finnegan Wyvern from cliff-diving into the abyss: Lilah Saunas Mating Lilah Shopping for Lilah Saunas with Lilah? Bar fights

Gonna keep my Star forever. And she’s gonna have to keep me.

And then, the most intrusive of thoughts. I like to be on top.

“I know.” Hunter squeezes my fingers. “All you have to do is follow your dreams. It’s our job to convince you we’re part of them.”

I brought my own from home, but every time I stab a guy, I lose the blade. More knives is always better.

Wow. He’s totally making a sex arrangement sound like an appointment to do my taxes.

Oh no. They’re opera people.

I limit my hobby list to reading and dancing because I don’t think they’ll be impressed with my ability to craft shivs from household objects.

Communication. It’s a new concept.

He trained me to give orders, not take care of a family. But I can learn.