Page 74 of Pucking Feral: Part Two

Plague snorts. "Please. You'd be useless in a courtroom."

"Speak for yourself, bro. I can argue circles around you, and you know it."

They're still arguing like an old married couple as we make our way back to the loft. I was worried I'd be stressed as fuck after outing myself to Valek, but the bickering is quickly becoming a form of ASMR for me.

It's tough to feel like things aren't normal with the four alphas who have become… well.

My new normal.

I immediately gravitate toward the nest. The mattresses on the floor are covered in blankets and pillows, all of them saturated with pack scent now. It's become my favorite place in the world. Better than any luxury apartment anyone ever tried to buy my compliance with.

I sink into the soft chaos of fabric and let out a long, tired groan. Wraith settles beside me without hesitation, his massive frame making the nest dip. He doesn't crowd me, just sits close enough that I can feel his body heat. His blue eyes track my face worriedly.

"I'm okay," I tell him softly. "Really."

He doesn't look convinced. His hand lifts, hesitates, then very carefully brushes a strand of freshly darkened hair behind my ear. The gesture is so gentle it makes my throat tight. I nuzzle into his scarred palm.

Thane drops into the nest next to me. "You sure about tomorrow?" he asks. "Sitting in the crowd, I mean. We could find another way⁠—"

"I'm sure." I cut him off before he can start overthinking and planning alternatives. "I need to do this. I need to prove to myself that I can be in the same building as Wade without falling apart."

"You won't fall apart," Plague says from where he's settled near the foot of the nest.

"I won’t?" The question slips out before I can stop it. "Because most days I feel like I'm held together with duct tape."

Whiskey cheerfully flops down beside Plague with zero regard for personal space and partially crushing Plague's bent leg. Plague lets out a string of curses under his breath and yanks his foot out from under Whiskey, but that's as far as he moves.

"Hey, duct tape kicks ass," Whiskey says. "You ever try to tear that shit without getting an edge going? It's like trying to rip adamantium."

"Did you just make a Wolverine reference?" I ask with a dry laugh.

"Hell yeah I did. Wolverine's a badass. Speaking of which, the best zombie and cowboy movies ever made are on Alphlix. Might take your mind off everything."

"Sure. Why not?" I find myself saying, even though that sounds more like Whiskey's cup of tea and literally no one else's.

Plague lunges for the remote in sheer panic, but Whiskey beats him to it. I grin, watching them argue while Whiskey queues up the movie and Thane and Wraith surround me on both sides, solid and warm.

Tomorrow, I'll face my demons.

But tonight, I'm exactly where I need to be.

Chapter 13

Wraith

The shower water hits my face gaiter so fucking hard, I'm drowning myself standing up.

Still won't take it off.

Not even alone, where no one can see me.

The fabric suctions against my sharp teeth like shrink wrap on a nightmare.

Every breath is a battle.

Inhale through wet fabric.

Choke slightly.