Page 61 of Plus-Size Sold Mate
“Of course,” I murmur, glancing down at our connected hands. “It’s my pack and my father, but I care more about this, and knowing you’re all right. I won’t keep sacrificing us to make them comfortable.”
Sera doesn’t say anything for a beat, expression softening just enough for me to see. Then, she asks quietly, “You don’t regret it?”
“Regret what?”
“Bonding with me,” she says, almost like she’s nervous to.
Everything in me stills at once, then I turn to look at her fully, expression entirely serious. “Not even remotely.”
The answer comes so immediately and unequivocally that she looks surprised by it, but schools her expression right after.
I bring her hand up to my mouth, and I just barely press my lips against the back of it while keeping my gaze locked on her. “I regret that you had to fight just to be here, and I regret that I didn’t shut some of it down sooner.”
Sera’s throat moves subtly as she swallows hard, and while the doubt in her gaze doesn’t leave entirely, it morphs into something more bearable. Not needing to say anything, she pulls our hands back down and returns to her position, leaning into me fully now with her head against my chest.
A gentle smile spreads on my lips at the sight, and I wrap an arm around her this time, keeping her close. Resting my chin on her head, I watch the waves and pull in a steadying breath.
I know I should be planning strategies and monitoring the Wraith Peak situation closer, but right here, right now, I don’t feel guilty about pushing it all aside.
With her, the chaos fades, and the constant weight of expectation eases away. Instead, I just feel certain of this, and certain that she is worth every argument and every challenge.
While the pack is still incredibly important to me, so is Sera, and if indulging in this upsets the others, then so be it.
She’s the one I want.
Chapter 21 - Sera
A knock at the door comes mid-afternoon, a few days later, sharp and impatient like whoever’s behind the door can’t wait.
Luke sighs and gets up from his place on the couch, leaving his paperback behind. “If that’s Dominic again, so help me…”
Before he can reach for the handle, Eve’s voice travels through the wood. “Not Dominic.”
Once the door is pushed open, she strolls in, and Isaac follows closely behind while carrying a brown bag that smells suspiciously sugary.
“Never thought I’d live to see my brother become a hermit,” he says with a grin.
Luke exhales slowly, but the faint twitch of his lips betrays him. “We’re not hermits, we live here.”
“You haven’t come by the house in a few days. Dad’s brooding harder than usual,” Isaac continues as he drops himself into one of the armchairs casually.
“And he’s overcompensating by spending more time at the wharf,” Eve adds. “Like that will bring the tourist crowd around faster.”
“Good,” Luke says, despite the way his jaw tightens. “It wouldn’t be the first time he paid more attention to his businesses than anything, or anyone, else.”
The words sound far more loaded than I have context for, and given how both of his siblings vaguely wince at the mention, I know there’s something else to it.
Eve takes a breath and rolls her eyes, breaking the brief but mutual discomfort. “See? You’re brooding too. We can’t have that,” she says, smile brightening as she looks between us. “Which is why we’ve decided to hang out here instead. You’re welcome.”
Luke lifts his brows. “You decided?”
“Yes,” she confirms cheerfully with the kind of knowing smugness I imagine only a sister could ever get away with as she slips her shoes off and makes herself at home next to me. She gestures vaguely to Isaac, who lightly waves the bag around before setting it on the coffee table. “And we brought bribes.”
“Always invading my house…” Luke mutters under his breath, lacking any real heat as he gives Isaac’s shoulder a halfhearted shove in passing, to which his brother only laughs.
Eve grabs a pastry and makes a deliberate show of inspecting the living room. “You rearranged.”
Luke scoffs dryly. “I moved a chair.”
