Pack Darling Part Two

by Lola Rock

“Car.” Lilah shudders. “The back seat. The crash. Shit.” Her fingers wring my shirt. “I can’t fall apart over something that small.” “Small?” Orion snorts. “You crashed a car and saved my fucking life.” “It’s not every time,” she says in the tiniest voice. “I was fine when you took me to the police station.”

“You’d do that?” She tilts her head, all cute baby bird and it feels like she just pecked my soul. Are my intentions not clear? Shit. Gotta fix it, stat.

I don’t ever have to be alone again.

Jett’s waiting for me in those shadows. One word, one touch I don’t like, and he’ll stomp throats. My favorite kind of promise.

“You’re armed?” “Always.” “Ah…” He adjusts his glasses. “You don’t carry a weapon?”

I seriously wonder what it’s like to get to just be, never for a second worrying about being attacked. Can’t imagine.

Max Wyvern is the jolly bearded dad-bod version of Hunter, who’s creepily obsessed with having grandkids.

All I can see is the ring. “This is for you,” Orion whispers. “For us.”

“Face punch was a mistake. You had me on the ropes, kid.”

When Hunter and Max are both pulped and exhausted, Hunter finally taps out of a headlock.

“I challenge Kieran Wyvern.” No one asks his reason.

Atlas had a point to make, and Hunter took us to the rodeo. Finn just wants to fuck around.

Thought I was okay with a knife. This is a dance. Have to have him teach me.

Kieran’s first to lower his knife. A long slice scores his shoulder, and his grin is the weirdest display of paternal pride. “Good hit.”

I dismiss his dismissal.

It’s not the way Finn goes empty, where he’s still and silent and plotting mass murder. Jett looks like he’s been erased.

Because when you hurt and you hurt and you hurt, disappearing is better than feeling.

“Fuck her up.” I blink. “What if I go to prison?” “How?” Atlas softly strokes my ear, wearing a fond smile that doesn’t match his crazy talk. “Police will never find her body.” Good to fucking know.

“You do what the fuck you want, Star.” Finn drops next to Jett, not caring that his brother’s having a moment, just worming in so I’ll pet his head too.

Lilac never changed.

“Daddy Hunter wants us back.”

Adrenaline has me shaking. Not from killing my rapist. Not from all the other havoc I just played.

Orion tugs me into his lap to whisper. “He’s making you homemade fries.” Fucking shit. Just mate me now.

I wonder if he even knows he’s making the sound. Wonder if he knows he can. It’s just for me. Only for me. So fuck it.

I wanna see what JJ looks like wearing my collar.

Empty. Gone. I suck in a hard breath, and my hands start to shake. Don’t panic. Do not panic.

Knew this was coming. Knew this would happen. I’m not sure how long I rock.

Because for the first time in forever, I walked out of my room without a blade. Thought I was safe.

But my fears are my fears, and when the hormones are driving, I’m a wreck.

“Wanted them to know what happens when you touch her.” “He brought me their ponytails,” I say on a happy sigh. Who needs flowers and chocolates? I like revenge.

This pack is fucking chaos.

Have a tracker in her bracelet.”

“Finn.” I drop into the seat next to him. He gives a dead-eyed look that mirrors mine, petting his grenade like a rabbit. “Deal?” “Deal.” I nod. Orion’s eyes widen.

If we can’t save Lilah, we’ll end it for each other.

Orion gave up his pack. Hunter took the lead. Finn inked my name on his skin. JJ handed me his collar. Atlas quit his job. And fuck. He was gonna make me french fries.

I’ll breathe for us both. I pinch her nose, take her lips, and give her my air. She can even take my life force.

And finally. Star opens her eyes. My heart bumps—fucking golden retriever tail thumps. Lilah took my air. Next up? Get her home. Nest her hard. Give her my bite, my knot, my leash, my soul.

My alphas. My Wyverns. They’re warm and solid and safe, and for the first time in my life, I let go. This is my pack.

“Are you okay? Your bro—” “Is dead.” He twines our fingers, jaw clenching. “You don’t need to think about him. Ever. What else do you want to know?” I sigh, but let it go. Not all family is created equal. “Noelle?” “Dead. Dom’s missing but—” “Nope. Also dead.”

“Yes, Daddy.” “Dude. No.” Hunter swats him.

Oh god. Need it. Need him.

“Lilah.” He thrusts. “Make me insane. Fuck. Rut. Can’t…”

Desperate madness bleeds through eyes so always in control.

“Give me everything.”

I smile around my new favorite words. “Show me.”

Then JJ pulls me close and starts to roll his body. That little bitty knot? It starts to fill. Then it fills and fills and fucking fills until I’m so full I cling to him like I’m falling off a cliff. The hell? Is that thing a freaking softball? JJ smooths my sweaty brow. “Does it hurt?”

When I bite him back, the final circuit clicks. My world flares five times brighter. Hunter. Finn. Atlas. Orion. JJ. My pack. They’re with me and always will be.

I want it all. And finally. It’s all mine.

“Shhhhhh.” Orion pats Atlas’s bare, vibrating thigh. “Don’t interrupt my lesson.”

But we’ve been milking this shtick—and Atlas—for weeks.