Page 16 of Pack and Forth

Kira’s face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her face. “You’re a little bit of a flirt, aren’t you?”

“Only if you like it.”

She giggled. “I do. Nash, this is so thoughtful of you. Now get inside so we can eat.”

Nash stepped into Kira’s apartment, his senses immediately assaulted by her scent, a tantalizing mixture of vanilla and cinnamon that made his heart race. He let his eyes roam over the cozy living room in the daytime light, taking in the plush couch with its colorful throw pillows and the bookshelves overflowing with mystery novels and true crime books.

“I see you’re a woman after my own heart,” he said with a grin, nodding toward the bookshelves. “Rex always teases me about my love for a good mystery.”

Kira laughed, the sound sending a shiver down Nash’s spine. “What can I say? I like to keep my mind sharp. Never know when I might need to solve a case on my own.”

They made their way to the kitchen where Kira had already cleared off the table and laid out the case files in neat stacks. Nash set down the box of pastries and the coffee, his mouth watering at the scent of freshly baked croissants and cinnamon rolls.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, opening the box with a flourish. “I might have gone a little overboard at the bakery.”

Kira’s eyes widened as she took in the assortment of sweets, her hand reaching out to snag a chocolate croissant. “Nash, this is amazing. You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

Nash shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “It was no trouble at all. I just wanted to make sure we had plenty of fuel for the long day ahead.”

They settled in at the table, their knees brushing under the table as they spread out the notes and started discussing the details. Nash found himself getting lost in the sound of Kira’s voice, the way her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over the evidence.

“So, tell me,” Kira said, looking up from a file with a curious expression. “What’s it like being Rex’s beta? I can’t imagine having that kind of responsibility on top of everything else.”

Nash leaned back in his chair, a fond smile spreading across his face. “Rex and I are birthday twins, born on the same day, down to the minute,” he explained, a fond smile on his face. “It created this incredible bond between us. As an alpha by birthright, Rex automatically became my alpha, and I became his beta. It’s a connection that runs deep, almost like we’re two halves of the same whole.”

Kira listened intently, her eyes widening with understanding. “That’s amazing, Nash. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have a bond like that with someone.”

Nash nodded, his heart swelling with pride. “It’s pretty special. But it’s not just about being his beta. Rex is my best friend, my brother in every way that matters. We’ve always had each other’s backs, no matter what.”

Kira’s expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. “That’s really special, Nash. I can tell how much you care about each other.”

Nash felt his heart swell with pride, a warmth spreading through his chest. “Rex is my best friend. I would do anything for him, and I know he would do the same for me.”

She licked her lips and met his gaze. “And you two share women?”

A grin spread over his lips. He wondered how long it would take her to ask. “We have in the past. But our mate is an automatic.”

She frowned. “What does that mean.”

“Rex and I are born of a triad pack. It means the alpha set is comprised of an alpha, a beta, and our female mate who bridges the connection to close our triad and make us the perfect unit.”

“So your mate…you’d share her?”

“Yes.”

“And you guys don’t have a problem with this? You’re not jealous of each other?”

“No. We have been raised to understand that as a triad, sharing is natural and expected. We would encourage each other to make sure our mate is satisfied in every way possible.”

She cleared her throat and her eyes widened. “Every way?”

“Every. Way. Possible.” He grinned. “But that also means I can only give her what I can and Rex can only give what he can. We’re going to make sure we give our mate the best of ourselves in our own way.”

She took a sip of her coffee. “Sounds like a great deal.”

As they talked, Nash found himself opening up to Kira in a way he rarely did with anyone else. He told her about growing up in the pack, about the mischief he and Rex used to get into as pups. He even shared some of his more embarrassing moments, like the time he got his head stuck in a fence trying to impress a girl.

Kira laughed, her hand clutching her stomach. “Oh my god, Nash. I can’t believe you did that!”