Page 45 of Trick Knot Treat

The rage pouring off the omega is thick and heavy. I remember the look he gave me in their house. That sad, vulnerable expression.

“Because,” I say loudly. “I like seeing you paint on the beach on Wednesday mornings, and I find that the way you smile when you are with your family is interesting, and I want to know what it is that makes you smile like that. And it’s the way you look at me. I would like to stop this skirting-around-each-other game and get to know you. So, I’m asking you to please come to dinner with me. Ignore Clint. Jace has assured me that food will fix his stupid.”

“Hey!” Clint snaps.

Felix’s shoulders loosen. “Okay.”

I didn’t realise how much I was hoping he would come until he agrees.

“Shall we, then?” I suggest.

I step back, almost laughing as the three alphas and the omega follow me.

“We’re going to need a car,” Clint snaps, touching his jaw gingerly.

“We are? Where do you live?”

“Oh, if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.”

Jace indicates his car that is parked on the side of the road. I squeeze in the back, between Felix and Zaire. Spectre gets in the very back and rests his head over the seat, drooling on Felix’s shoulder.

The drive takes about ten minutes, but we’re almost on the outskirts of town, up in the hills. Jace drives us up a long driveway to one of the most beautiful houses I’ve ever seen.

“NO WAY! This is yours?”

“Yep. What do you think of me now?” Clint says with a devastating wink.

“Oh, you just got points. Lots of points. This place is gorgeous! How did you afford it?”

“I work a lot and save a lot of money.”

Jace parks the car, and I almost vibrate in the seat I’m so anxious to get out of the car. As soon as Felix is out, I’m sliding past him, racing up the stairs onto the porch and peering through the window.

“Oooh.”

“You like?” Clint asks, peering through the window beside me.

“I love.”

“Turn around, then; that’s the best part.”

I turn and let out a scream when I see the view.

“You can see all of Sunshine Cove. Oh, my, would you look at that? It’s perfect, Clint. This is incredible.”

Clint takes my hand, threading our fingers together. I don’t fight him, ignoring the others as he takes me into the house and starts enthusiastically giving me a tour of all the things he loves that he’s collected.

He’s got a thing about shells. They are everywhere, and if they aren’t actually shells, they are drawings or paintings or etchings of shells. I trace over a shell that has been painted onto the splashback in the kitchen.

It’s so damn pretty.

There are four bedrooms, but the master is massive, obviously built for a pack. But most of it is open plan with huge vaulted ceilings. It’s been restored, but not just restored. I mean, you can see the love and skill that has gone into setting this place up.

“Clint, you are amazing!”

I turn and find the others looking about curiously, but Jace is looking at a photo. When I creep closer to see what he’s looking at, it’s a photo of him and Clint, who has his arms around Jace, and they are both smiling so happily.

I stare at it, wondering what reasons they have for fighting this.