Page 77 of Trick Knot Treat

“Oh, you two are an embarrassment.”

Mack and Devon get us up and sitting in the booth. I’m given a glass of water that I blow bubbles in. Gian loses his mind and laughs so hard he slides under the table.

“Why are you drinking so hard, anyway?”

“Our mother!” we say at the same time.

Mack rubs his chin. “That is a problem.” He looks at Devon. “We could help them.”

“What? Get involved? Risk the wrath of Lorelei? And Auld Mother Jace?”

“And Gian! You can’t forget the black sheep. I have to be a white sheep. All with fluffy wool, but underneath, I’m just a grey sheep. Why can’t I be a grey sheep?” I start crying, sobbing loudly and banging the table, spilling what’s left in my water glass.

“Oh sweet omega heat, someone put this poor soul out of his misery.”

The doors to the empty pub open, and Clint comes in, his eyes scanning around and stopping when he finds me. He’s so pretty.

“Jace, you don’t drink!” he says as he rushes to me and pulls me up into his arms.

“I love you,” I slur. “Miss you. I have no arms!” I shout. “Where are my arms?”

Clint laughs. “I’ll be your arms.”

“You’re my arms,” I coo and snuggle closer. I catch the scent of another alpha on him, but instead of being jealous, it’s soothing.

Clint hoists me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist and snuggle in like a koala. He’s strong, my alpha.

“You don’t like being drunk. What did she say this time?”

“Nothing. I just want you, but I can’t have you, and I’m tired of it.”

I howl when the blow hits my back.

“Gian!” Clint shouts.

“Stop living for that tyrant toad. You have a pack and lots of goals.”

“Say holes, and I will throttle you!” Zaire growls.

“Ooh, you must be the firefighter that Jace has been weeping over.”

“I wasn’t weeping.”

Zaire’s frown vanishes. “He was weeping?”

“Not from your face.” Gian loses it, laughing so hard he ends up back on the floor.

“Oh, my god!” Mack says, sounding scandalized. “Get out of my bar.”

Gian giggles but walks on his own. “Remember what I said, Little Bro. She’s not going to make you happy, she’s going to ruin you. Don’t give in to her, take all the omegas and run.”

With that, he slips out of the pub and into the dark, vanishing from sight. Except…he didn’t seem drunk at all at the end.

I snuggle back into Clint’s neck, burying my face there.

“Am I taking you to your house, or are you coming back to live with me?”

“You,” I whisper without hesitation.