Page 130 of Rogue & Her Hunters
“Hmm, ideas for later.” I grab Joker by the neck and shove him down onto the wooden bench next to me.
Phantom drops cutlery with a clatter onto the table. Then Bird, more gently, slides steaming bowls of garlic and tomato pasta in front of us.
“Ta da!” Bird smiles, rocking on his heels. “I added olives, as well as some random herbs. This kitchen is not well stocked, but we did our best. Enjoy, yeah?”
“It looks amazing.” I’m not lying; it does.
Joker eagerly dives into his portion, moaning on the first mouthful in a way that should be illegal outside porn. “This is better than how we have been living. I’m impressed that you could create something like this. My skipper will tell you that I burn toast, fuck it, I burn water when I make tea.”
Phantom grunts his agreement as he sits on the opposite side of the table, pulling Bird to sit on his knee.
Bird is careful not to jostle Phantom’s injured shoulder.
I had thought that I may be jealous of seeing Bird with another Alpha.
I am possessive.
Yet watching Phantom spear a strand of pasta and handfeed it to Bird, as my pretty Omega curls on his knee, only fills me with a sense of safety that I have never known before in my life.
Phantom is my Chief Alpha now, but he isn’t one like Fiorella, who expected me to fear her.
Phantom hasn’t issued a single Alpha Command.
He hasn’t hit Joker once or beaten any of us for backtalk.
It is hard to adjust after what I have been used to, growing up in the Adonis pack.
Phantom has spent the day watching over us with a silent care for our needs, whether it is to make sure that we have warm clothes, drink, food, or a nest.
He is uber dominant like I am.
But he hasn’t needed to dominate his pack through brutality or by imposing a strict hierarchy.
Is that what it’s like in liberal packs?
Warily, I watch Phantom. I’m not prepared to fully allow my guard down yet. I have too many questions.
When Phantom leans to reach for something that is tucked into his belt, I stiffen.
I knew that I shouldn’t have relaxed too early.
My mistake.
I glance at the bag of weapons that is tucked beside the table.
Can I reach it in time?
Phantom tosses two beautiful silver daggers with curved wolf hilts onto the table. I startle at the clank.
“I thought that I said no murder weapons at the table.” Bird sighs.
With a snarl, I leap to my feet.
Surprised, Phantom raises his beautiful green eyes to meet mine in question.
“Courting gifts.” Joker gestures at the daggers.
Phantom nods, encouragingly.
