Addie (Pack of Misfits #1) - Raven Kennedy Page 0,66

chuckles, and then the three of us just stand awkwardly around the counter, trying to figure out how to navigate from here. She’s self-conscious from our attention, and I hate that she feels like that. I know it’s because of me.

Addie tugs on her braid and blows out a breath. “Look, guys, I’m glad you came down here and all, but I’m at work, and honestly? You had all week to contact me, but you didn’t. Maybe our mate bond is strong, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right. Maybe we should just...let it break.”

All three of us stare at her, and I feel like I’ve just been sucker punched in the gut.

“No,” Lafe says, shaking his head adamantly. “We’re not doing that.”

She sighs, and the sound breaks my fucking heart. “As much as the bond hurts when we’re apart, I don’t actually think it’ll kill me, so—”

“Wait a fucking minute,” Penn cuts in. “You’ve been in pain?”

She stops short and bites her lip, and it’s obvious she hadn’t meant to say that. “No. I mean, yes, but I can handle it.”

“You should’ve told me,” Lafe says, looking gutted. “Fuck, if I would’ve known…”

“Exactly,” she cuts in. “I didn’t want you to come to me because of that, or out of some hero complex. I won’t have mates that are only with me out of a sense of duty.”

“We don’t—” Lafe begins.

“Stop! just stop,” she says desperately, holding up her hands. “Please.”

Color has bloomed on her cheeks and I can tell how hard she’s trying to stay strong. My whole body is tense, because all I want to do is move the three steps forward it would take to stand in front of her and tug her against me. I want to fix this, but I don’t know how. My coyote is clawing at me, hating her distress that he can sense.

“I’m glad that you all realize what kind of pack Rockhead really is, but that doesn’t change anything. I’m a duck. You’re coyotes. It would never work. Let’s just let the bond break and you can forget all about me.”

“Addie—”

“No, Lafe,” she says, shaking her head and letting her hands tangle in front of her. “Can you guys please just go?” she asks, her face pointed at her feet. I know she’s about two seconds away from crying, and I can’t fucking stand it.

“We aren’t leaving you. Not ever again.”

Her blue eyes snap up to me, and for the second time, she’s stunned into silence by my words. She studies my face like she’s trying to burrow into my head and flip through the truth of my words. I let her see all of it. Every expression I have and how serious I am.

“Our animals answered your mate-call for a reason. It surprised the hell out of us, that’s true. Predators hardly ever mate with prey. It took us off guard. Plus, the pack where we grew up...well, it just wasn’t done there. But we realized what a huge mistake we made. Lafe knew all along, but Penn and I are stupid fucks apparently, because we couldn’t see what was right in front of our eyes.”

“Yeah? And what’s that?” she asks.

“Our perfect mate.”

She swallows hard and blinks faster, trying to hide the fact that her eyes are glossy. I can see that she’s breathing faster, and she probably doesn’t even know she’s doing it, but her feet are inching closer to us as she comes back from around the counter.

“We’re sorry, Addie,” I tell her. “I’m so fucking sorry. Please give us another chance.”

She takes a shaky breath and drags her eyes over all three of us. “You’re...you’re serious? You really want me as your mate?”

“If you’ll have us,” Lafe replies. “Although, these two are grumpy sons of bitches, I think you can take them.”

She laughs, letting a quiet sob come out right alongside it. She swipes her hand under her eye and fidgets on her feet like she doesn’t know what to do with herself. The guys and I exchange a look, communicating with each other silently. Lafe saunters over to the door and flicks the lock with a smirk.

“Hey, we aren’t closed!” Addie hisses. “You can’t just lock the doors.”

“I’ll make it up to the customers,” Lafe promises. “Besides, this is more important.”

“And what is this, exactly?”

Penn moves forward. “We might be doing things a little backwards here since we’re already mated, but we want to date you. Get to know you,” Penn says. “Let us make