Page 287 of Psycho Pack
I’m appreciating the show, though.
“Here comes the killjoy,” Valek says, sighing dramatically. I follow his gaze to the lake. Thane is coming up the path, looking more relaxed than usual after his meditation.
"Hey, zen bro,” Whiskey says to Thane with a nod.
"Call me that again and I'll throw you in the lake," Thane growls, but his tone is more playful than usual. He settles beside me, his presence warm and solid. "Something smells good."
"The fish Wraith caught this morning," I say, arranging them on the cooking platform. "Dinner will be ready by the time he and Plague get back."
“Plague let me know they’re on their way,” Thane replies, tapping the pager on his belt. My eyes are drawn immediately to the obvious bulge in his pants, too. “And I spotted the spare sailboat they took coming from across the lake. Should only be a few minutes now.”
Sailing is another thing Wraith took to automatically. Whiskey, who has plenty of sailing experience from his days on the coast of Columbia, started teaching him as soon as we got here. And the sight of him on a deck, his massive frame silhouetted against the setting sun as the wind whips through his choppy dark hair, does something to me.
I remember the first time he took me out on the boat with him. Just the two of us, surrounded by endless blue. The catamaran cutting through the waves, spray misting my skin.The feral alpha at the helm, his muscles flexing as he steered us through the water.
It’s a wonder I didn’t go into full blown heat right then.
I notice how all three alphas subtly shift closer, clearly affected by my strengthening scent. Thane's nostrils flare slightly, while Whiskey keeps finding excuses to brush against me as he tends the fire. Even Valek seems more focused than usual on his task, as if he's struggling not to slip and slice his fingers.
"The herbs are ready," Valek announces, passing them to me with careful movements. His fingers brush mine, and I feel him shiver slightly at the contact.
"Perfect," I murmur, sprinkling them over the fish. "Whiskey, can you grab the plates from inside?"
"On it," he says eagerly, clearly grateful for the distraction. As he heads toward the villa, I catch him adjusting his pants, trying to be subtle about it.
Not subtle enough, apparently.
Thane snorts and Valek smirks behind his scarf.
"You're all ridiculous," I tell them fondly, turning the fish to ensure even cooking. The skin crisps beautifully, releasing an amazing aroma that mingles with the woodsmoke.
"Can you blame us?" Thane asks quietly, his dark eyes intense as they meet mine. "Your scent is..."
"Alluring," Valek finishes when Thane trails off. “To say the least.”
I hide my smile, pretending to focus on the cooking. "Good things come to those who wait."
“I hope you mean that literally,” Valek says under his breath.
Thane shoots him an irritated look. It's clear he still has a bone to pick with Valek, but that’s something he’ll have to get over during his meditation sessions.
Whiskey returns with the plates, having clearly taken a moment to compose himself. "Are we still talking about dinner?" he asks, looking between us.
"What else would we be talking about?" I ask innocently, enjoying the way all three alphas tense at my tone.
The sun continues its descent toward the horizon, painting everything in soft gold and pink. The lake sparkles like diamonds, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of the herbs from the garden. The only thing that isn’t peaceful is the wound-up energy humming from the alphas surrounding me.
And I’m enjoying every moment.
Enjoying the way they orbit around me, drawn by my strengthening scent but maintaining their control. Enjoying the knowledge that they're all mine, just as I'm all theirs.
As my alphas busy themselves with the final dinner preparations, I smile to myself. Tonight is going to be interesting, to say the least. But first, we'll enjoy this meal together, as a family, in our beautiful home by the lake.
Just as it should be.
As if summoned by my thoughts, I hear footsteps approaching from the path leading up from the lake. My heart leaps as I spot them, Plague's lean frame a stark contrast to Wraith's hulking silhouette. Even from a distance, I can tell Wraith is in an unusually good mood. There’s even more of a lightness to his gait than usual, his massive shoulders relaxed.
I abandon the fire pit, trusting Valek and Whiskey to keep an eye on dinner as I hurry to greet the two returning alphas. Plague reaches me first, his pale blue eyes warming above his white scarf. Without hesitation, he tugs the fabric down and pulls me into a passionate kiss.