Page 33 of Pack End Game

Sea salt. Eucalyptus. Sandalwood.

My mates are here in real life. Their existence is no longer a dream that feels just out of reach. Their soft, sleepy breathing fills my living room.

We dragged my mattress into the living room last night. All four of us weren't going to be able to sleep in my bed normally without risking someone falling out and having a serious injury. Considering the two alphas are pro athletes, we sure as hell weren't going to risk that.

And as Freddie quickly reminded us all, he's irreplaceable as Simon the Sloth. Privately, Spencer told me the backup quit because he claimed Freddie was bullying him.

Apparently, that detail has become something no one talks about. Freddie is both an outrageous lunatic and a delicate flower.

Hilarious.

A sleepy smile tugs at my lips.

Spencer and Freddie sleep pressed against either side of me. Zak, in a moment of noble self-sacrifice last night, folded himself onto my too-small couch so the others could have spots on the bed. He's such a sweetheart. He gives me serious caretaker vibes. He's going to be a great father someday, that's for sure.

Even after only one night together, their dynamic feels clear to me. Spencer is the head of the pack, the most serious and critical-thinking, the one who ultimately has final say. Keeper of the logistics. Zak is the pack's parent. Fussing over everyone, putting the others before himself, and making sure everyone's needs are met in the moment. Protector of feelings. And Freddie is a goofy cheerleader, adding comedic relief while somehow also managing to seemingly see everyone for who they truly are. He's the one who seems to refill everyone's cup when everything is too serious and heavy. A balancing act.

I can't wait to see where I'll fit in: the fiercely loyal social butterfly with a creative streak.

The idea to make breakfast strikes me. There's not a lot of distance from here to my kitchen, but if I work quietly, maybe the guys will be deep enough asleep not to be woken up right away.

The guys were so great last night about the fact that I hated their house–I'm embarrassed just remembering how awful my reaction was–and even slept here with me despite the sleeping arrangements not exactly being ideal for four people. I want to do something nice for them, even if it's making pancakes.

Before I can manage to wiggle away from between Spencer and Freddie, Spencer catches me around the waist and presses his face against the back of my neck. His breath tickles my skin, giving me goosebumps all down my arms.

"Where do you think you're going?" he mumbles in a sleepy voice.

Well, when he asks like that... "I'm not going anywhere." I settle against him with a happy sigh. Breakfast isn't going anywhere. Within seconds, I feel myself dozing off, falling back into a comfortable sleep.

I admire Spencer's tight butt in his jeans as he walks ahead of me on the sidewalk. Zak follows my gaze and chuckles, nodding his own appreciation. I'm thrilled that all three guys seem to find each other just as hot as I think they are.

Spencer nearly drooled on himself earlier when Zak walked out of my bathroom with no shirt on. And Freddie grabbed a handful of Zak's ass when he thought no one was looking in the grocery store.

Years together, and they haven't gotten sick of each other. That bodes well for my future, too.

There's a skip in my step as the four of us stroll back toward my apartment building from the grocery down the block. We all have our arms full of shopping bags–these guys require far more food than I would have guessed, though of course they made sure to give me all the lightest bags while Spencer and Zak took the heaviest.

"You seem happy to be out walking," Zak notes.

Spencer glances back and asks, "Do you enjoy exercise?"

I bark out a laugh so abruptly that a woman walking her dog across the street glares at us for disturbing her peace.

"No," I answer, still laughing. "Not even a little bit." I pause for a second before adding, "Unless sex counts. I like sex."

Freddie trips over his own feet at my proclamation.

Spencer shakes his head, slowing his steps as he shoots me an amused smile. "So, you hate most exercise, but you were fine sprinting across half of a football field yesterday."

"That was an emergency."

Freddie gasps. "Was I the emergency?"

"You were a menace," I correct.

"Are we saying the same thing? I don't hear the difference." He's so solemn that I laugh again, earning a grin from Freddie and Zak, and a full-on smirk from Spencer.

The more time I spend with these guys, the more I feel like my face is in danger of getting stuck in a permanent smile. Things are so great since I managed to get away from their hell-house. That house really is their pack's only true flaw, as far as I can tell.