Page 78 of Pack End Game

"I know you're sleepy, baby girl, but there's somewhere we really want to take you."

Well, when Daddy Zak puts it like that...

I tip my head back to look up at Spencer. He pets my head sweetly as he meets my eyes with a mischievousness despite the tired way his eyelids droop slightly after his long game day.

"Are you sure we can't wait until tomorrow?" I bite my bottom lip, wondering if the alpha might be willing to be flexible.

Instead, he studies me for a moment before shaking his head. "This shouldn't wait. Let's take the field trip, Mia."

"No one appreciates how brave I'm being on this very secretive field trip," I grumble from the backseat, where I'm lying with my head in Spencer's lap.

He laughs under his breath as he strokes my hair.

"You're being amazingly brave," Zak says solemnly from the driver's seat.

Freddie twists around from the front passenger seat. "A hero. A warrior. A very cute little hostage."

"How much further?" I pout.

Spencer glances out the window, then reassures, "We're almost there."

Intrigued, I sit up and take in the familiar street. The site of our future home is only one turn away, and seconds later, Zak takes the turn.

My pulse starts pounding.

I squeeze Zak's coat tighter around myself.

No.

No, no, no.

Dread floods my system, threatening to make my hormone-riddled brain go into full meltdown mode. My body suddenly feels ice cold as Zak turns into the parking lot of the Franklin Senior Living Center.

Spencer had the front sign removed the day after rushing to finalize the purchase of the building, but the name lives on in my heart.

My heart, which is dangerously close to breaking, as Zak stops the car by the front door.

"What are we doing here?" I ask in a whisper even though I don't actually want to know the answer.

Spencer reaches over for my hand. "There's something inside you need to see."

Inside.

My dream home.

A sick feeling rises in my throat so fast I almost choke on it.

There's something wrong with the building.

Something awful. Something impossible. Some new problem, structural issue, weird legal complication, or an unexpected squirrel infestation that means I'm never going to get to live here after all. They've brought me here in person because the situation is so bad that it can't be gently explained from a safe distance.

My eyes start burning before I can stop them.

"Mia?" Spencer unbuckles his seat belt, then mine. He drags me onto his lap and wraps his arms tightly around me...

And I immediately burst into tears.

Real tears. A full-blown ugly cry.