Aspen shook her head. “No.”
“No,” agreed Havana. “He did the opposite. He’s wide open when it comes to you. Maybe it’s not love, but it’s fucking significant.” She leaned forward. “If you don’t take a chance, you’ll spend your life wondering what could have been. Every time you look in the mirror and see that mark, you’ll chew over whether you made the right choice by staying silent instead of telling him what you want.
“In a roundabout way, he made the first move by branding you like that. He has all but declared what he wants, whether he consciously realizes it or not. What happens next is up to you.”
Aspen would have pointed out the potential pitfalls of taking such a risk—more particularly that she’d lose the ease they had now if it turned out he didn’t want what she wanted—but then she noticed he and Bailey heading their way.
Arriving at the table, he looked from Aspen to Havana. Narrowing his eyes at the devil shifter, he took a seat and set the tray of baguettes on the table. “I don’t know what you said to put that look on her face, but no more. Drop whatever it is.”
Havana raised her hands. “I’ve said all I need to say anyway.”
Thank God. Noticing that his own expression was a little weird, Aspen squinted. “What’s wrong with you?” Her gaze darted to Bailey. “What did you say to him?”
The mamba’s eyes went wide. “I only tried convincing him that zombie movies have a certain appeal, but there’s no making him see the light here.”
“Don’t I know it,” grumbled Aspen.
“Speaking of movies,” began Havana, “you girls still on for movie night at my place later?”
Her mouth full of baguette, Bailey only nodded.
“Of course,” said Aspen. “I’ll come bearing gifts. As in munchies.”
“Edible gifts are always welcome.” Havana cut her gaze to Camden. “I’m guessing you’re also coming, since you’re kind of Aspen’s designated guard at the moment.”
Camden finished chewing his food before replying, “You guessed right.”
“Tate, Luke, and Deke are planning to have some beers on the back deck,” Havana told him. “You can join them.” She looked at Bailey. “You won’t mind Deke being there, will you?”
Staring at the door, the mamba didn’t respond.
Aspen nudged her with her elbow. “Hey.”
Bailey turned to face her and blinked. “What?”
“Will you mind?”
“Mind what?”
Aspen sighed. “Were you even listening?”
“Not really. I was wondering what the first person who milked an animal was actually attempting to do.”
Havana let out a heavy exhale. “I’ll just take that as a ‘no.’”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Leaning back in the rattan patio chair, Camden took a long swig from his beer can. There was nothing pretty about the Alpha pair’s backyard. It was messy and untamed with its overgrown grass, disheveled shrubs, and chaotic rockeries. Which made it perfect for any pallas cat to play in. The pond was clean and well-maintained, though. And there were enough claw marks on the mossy trees to suggest that the Alpha pair’s inner animals made good use of them.
If Aspen didn’t currently have a threat looming over her, Camden wouldn’t have accompanied her to the movie night she was having with her girls. He liked Tate, Luke, and Deke well enough. Sort of. But Camden wasn’t one to socialize. So he was content to let the conversation flow around him and just drink his beer while waiting for Aspen to declare she was ready to leave. Which would hopefully be soon.
At the moment, she was in the living area with Havana and Bailey watching a horror movie. Well, laughing at it. The three females found the strangest shit amusing.
He’d checked on Aspen a few times because, well, he felt like it. She’d denied it black and blue, but she was tipsy from the amount of wine she’d consumed. That suited him fine. He was thinking that drunk sex with her would be intriguing. They hadn’t explored that yet.
Noticing a “Beware of the Tasmanian Devil” sign pinned to the wall, he inwardly snickered. Camden didn’t realize just how lacking his apartment was in personal touches until he’d walked around the Alphas’ living area. There were photos and knickknacks everywhere.
He’d never really understood sentimentality. He couldn’t recall ever forming an attachment to an object, not even as a child—he hadn’t had a favorite plush animal or blanket. Things were just that. Things. Hence why he hadn’t bothered to rummage through the bag of Dirk’s old possessions.
Aspen had put it in Camden’s closet “just in case” he changed his mind. It wasn’t so much that Camden had no interest in the contents, it was that he wasn’t sure if any of them would spark memories that would enrage his beast. It didn’t seem worth risking it right now, while the tiger was already a mass of dark emotion. Maybe later on, when the danger to Aspen had passed, Camden would look through the bag.