Heidi props herself up on her elbows, the sheet slipping dangerously low over her chest. Her voice is still a little hoarse from all the breathless sounds he wrung out of her earlier.
She is surprised to hear Darien mention the problem at home. "How did you even know about the situation at home?"
He’s sitting at the edge of the bed now. "I didn’t," he simply replies in that annoyingly calm tone of his. "What I’m talking about is the fact that you didn’t sleep at home which is going to get you in trouble like you mentioned. And I’m going to cover for you."
Oh, that...
How bold of her to think he knows about the issue she has at home or that he’ll even care.
She nods slowly. "Oh."
Her tone is flat, but inside, her stomach flips. He’s too casual about it and seems too sure of himself. "And what exactly did you have planned, oh master strategist?"
He smirks like her sarcasm is dessert. "I’ll tell Mrs. Castell that you’re on a mission assigned by the Alpha. You’ll be spared then."
Just that? Heidi doubts that’s enough to quench the flames of Mrs. Castell’s bitterness.
Her brows shoot up. "Will that even work?"
He lets out a short laugh. "You’re so naive. The Alpha’s word is final. If he tells even Mr. Castell who is the Beta not to punish you again even if you cut off the leg of his first son–that NAY boy rebellion trash of his..."
She can see Darien swearing under his breath. Did he mean Lucan? Is there bad blood between Darien and Lucan? Heidi’s curiosity is piqued.
"You don’t sound like you’re a fan of Lucan’s." She pokes.
Darien visibly gurgles—the most humane reaction she has ever seen on him since they met. Seeing him jut out his tongue like that, a hand on his throat makes him seem younger and... less scary.
"Me?!" He throws his hands in the air. "A fan of a NAY boy? Heidi, we only have one rival in the school and that’s them. No one dares to hate us, but you see those lowly sons of the Beta, Delta, and Gamma, they don’t want to seem to know their places!"
Heidi squints, calculating. So it’s some sort of college boys’ rivalry. She likes the thought of knowing that the Bellamy boys have a rival group. It means there are people to remind them that they are not gods.
Yet, her heart let out a sigh, making her wonder if that excites her or pisses her off on their behalf.
Hold on... why on earth would she hate the NAY boys who can actually humble the Bellamy gods? Isn’t that a good thing? Someone has to keep their egos in check.
But the way Darien is looking at her right now with his jaw locked, eyes burning like molten coals, makes her rethink opening her mouth again.
"What?" she says anyway, refusing to shrink. "I think it’s kind of funny that you finally have someone who makes you sweat."
His laugh is sharp like glass breaking. "Funny? That’s what you call it? Heidi, do you even know what those rats would do if they ever got the chance to climb above us? They’d tear everything down; our names, our bloodline, the Alpha’s order itself. And you’d be the first person they chew and spit out because you... You Heidi are our mate and that paints a target on your back as soon as word gets out."
Heidi has no idea if he’s trying to scare her into keeping their reputation intact by not admitting publicly that she’s fated to the four brothers, or because it’s an abomination that can bear harsh consequences.
However, what she knows is that it’s in everyone’s best interest that whatever this is going on between them remains hidden. Not only is she already gaining enemies because of the Alphas’ negative attention, but she’d probably lose her life if they knew that she’s fated to their little gods.
The whole thing sends chills down her spine. She can suddenly feel the temperature in the room rising. It’s better to change the subject.
Hence, she forces herself to roll her eyes in sarcasm she didn’t feel. "Whatever. You were saying something about the Alpha’s order?"
"Oh, yeah..." Darien heaves, calming down. "My point is, even if you break Lucan’s leg and the Alpha says not to punish you, no one can dare to disobey."
Argh... he must hate Lucan so much to keep using breaking the poor little gay man’s leg as an example.
Yet, relief that she will be spared from Mrs. Castell’s wrath this time washes through her so fast she almost feels dizzy. The idea of not having to go back to face whatever fresh hell Mr. Castell had lined up for her... yeah, that’s a gift she didn’t know she needed.
And this Darien... the one sitting on the bed with her now, the one who saved her—he’s different. Softer. Less of the razor-edged cruelty he usually wraps himself in like a designer coat. She finds herself wishing this version could stay.
Maybe it’s the mate bond. Maybe it’s her oxygen-deprived brain. But she’s starting to tolerate him... and it’s not just because of the sex.
Heidi twists her mouth, even as a little pulse of relief stirs in her chest. "Fine."
"Good. Now shut that mouth for once and give me the Castell’s mansion line."
His bossiness needles her pride, but she rattles off the number anyway. When he turns to grab his phone from the dresser, his nakedness comes into full view.
And oh.
Her brain knows she’s seen and felt all of him in ways she can never unsee, but somehow standing like this, in unhurried confidence, he’s... more. More height, more muscle, more heat in his skin. Her mouth goes dry, and she hates that her eyes won’t behave, tracking over the curve of his back, the lines cutting down his hips, the flex in his thighs as he shifts his weight and...
... and the big little Daddy dangling between his legs.