Pack of Lies, page 45
He thought I wouldn’t want one and wouldn’t like it.
What the fuck kind of mate had I been to him? Not a good one.
“One will sound right eventually,” I said, a note of desperation in my tone that was heightened by the nerves preceding my first ever therapy session.
He laughed, kissed me again, and nodded. “I’ll figure it out. It’s a little puzzle. You’ve got to get going, though, or you’re going to be late.”
The time on the dash did glow with only ten minutes left to my appointment, and I had to find the place in this maze of lawyer’s and therapist’s offices. “Love you, sugar,” I said.
I chanced one more kiss as I got out of the SUV, and he grinned.
Thorn was leaning against the side of the vehicle, ready to take my spot up front beside Marlowe. Quentin stayed in the car. My brother and I had already talked about this, and he knew I didn’t need his comfort. I had his unwavering support, so long as I stayed on the right track, and that was all I needed.
“Have fun at Nesting Needs,” I said.
My hand rubbed nervously across the back of my neck, unsure what to do. She wasn’t getting in the car yet, offering me a smile. “If you need us to come pick you up early, call,” she said.
“I won’t ruin your trip. Take as long as you need.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion. Call, Denzel. When I did my first session with my therapist, I ended up sobbing in the fetal position on his couch. Reese was downstairs so he came to see me right away, and it was better that way. If you can’t last the hour, call. We’ll come get you and we can finish at Nesting Needs together another day.”
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to deny her.
“Fine. I’ll call.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise I’ll call if I need you.”
She stepped up to me, her smile wider now. Every time her blackberry and orange scent wrapped around me, my eyelids fluttered shut and I had to bask in it. The scent I’d almost lost forever. Well, one of two I could have lost.
Going on her toes, she kissed me. It was a more intense kiss than the pecks Marlowe had given me, making me groan into her mouth as I wrapped my arms around her.
“I’m proud of you,” she whispered, moving back as a couple other patrons wandered past where we stood.
“You shouldn’t have to be,” I muttered.
“Talk about that thought with the doctor,” she countered. “I love you, OK?”
“Love you too,” I said with a sigh. “Have a good time out.”
“We will.”
She got into the front seat, leaving me staring at the SUV. With a sigh, I turned to the elevator bank and made my way up to the office.
It was easy to find, signs declaring Dr. Lueders award-winning and industry-leading in helping people with PTSD and who were dealing with past trauma. His waitlist was two years long, but Leighton had caught wind of my search for a therapist and gotten me in faster.
I couldn’t say I trusted anything she set up.
It was well-documented how much she hated me.
All I could hope was that her love for her brother was greater than her loathing of me.
Stepping into the office, I was greeted with a well-equipped brown waiting room with only three comfortable-looking brown leather armchairs. A desk sat beside another door, an older woman with glasses perched behind it. Her gaze had caught on me the second I entered.
“I’m here to see Dr. Lueders.” I cleared my throat.
She offered me a kind smile and gestured to the armchairs. “Denzel Peirce, correct? Take a seat.”
I nodded in confirmation and collapsed down onto the worn leather. She began typing on her computer again, and I stared up at the TV playing quietly in the corner. It was on the news — typical. I almost looked away, not willing to risk seeing Thorn’s face plastered across the local station again, but then I caught a glimpse of black lips.
Not Thorn, then.
Ruin Winters, the terrorist.
She was as good a distraction as any from my impending unpacking of decade-old emotional trauma.
“Presumed terrorist Ruin Winters strikes again,” the announcer said. “The New Oxford PD are still reeling today as they rummage through the chaos left by the Alphabeta attack. For those of you who missed our initial coverage, a white van was driven into a crowd gathered for a meet and greet with the popular pop punk girl band, Perfume and the Alphabetas.”
I clenched my teeth, unable to stop my leg from bouncing.
Marlowe and Thorn were out in the world with this fucking psycho on the loose. This wasn’t the first I’d seen her on the news — she was connected to plenty of explosions, too.
Maybe I shouldn’t be watching this, because it was making me desperate to leave this stupid therapist’s office and catch a cab to Nesting Needs. I couldn’t keep them safe if I wasn’t with them.
Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes for a second.
No. Quentin is with them, and they have lives outside of you. They’re not going to be caught up in an attack.
I couldn’t stop watching. It was better to know what was going on in the city, even if I couldn’t protect them from it. This was good practice for the rest of my damn life.
“The van caused multiple deaths, including Zenith, the band’s guitarist. There are others hospitalized with their injuries, but thankfully none in critical condition. With this being only the latest of the attacks, the public is pushing the New Oxford PD and the GPRE to get her off the street. However, despite her frequent online presence, the authorities are having trouble bringing her in for questioning.”
I was strung tight, about to leave or at least call them when a balding man appeared in the doorway to the other room. “Mr. Peirce? I’m ready for you,” he said.
Exhaling this time, I stood and nodded. As I followed him into the cozy room, I glanced once more over my shoulder at the TV.
Thorn and Marlowe will be fine. They had a whole pack to protect them.
And me? I could talk to my therapist about the horrors of the world and how much trouble I had managing them.
He would help me dispel this sick feeling in my stomach so that soon, I could be the best version of myself for my mates.
Want more from Thorn and her pack?
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WHAT’S NEXT IN THE POISONVERSE?
MY NEXT POISONVERSE
Want more from me in the PoisonVerse? My next book is Lonely Alpha, out now! It features Marlowe’s alpha sister Leighton, and has both FF and MM.
RUIN WINTERS
What’s next in the PoisonVerse? Amy Nova’s book is up next
Read now
THE POISONVERSE
Resident Authors:
Havoc Killed Her Alpha - Marie Mackay
Forget Me Knot - Marie Mackay
Pack of Lies - Olivia Lewin
Lonely Alpha - Olivia Lewin
Sweetheart Duet - Marie Mackay
This Pack of Ours - Katy Black
Guest Authors:
His Gold Pack Omega - Miyo Hunter
Something Knotty, Something Blue - Lilith K Duat
Ruined Alphas - Amy Nova
AUTHOR’S NOTE
These characters will probably always live rent free in my head, because I had SUCH a great time writing this book. I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much :)
Come bug me in my Facebook group if you want to keep up date on all my new works, including my past and current projects in PNR omegaverse and fantasy monster romance <3
Thinking about that teeny tiny little plot hole? With Reese’s dad Soren and that favour Reese owes him?
Don’t worry, Thorn is going to learn about it in the bonus content for Pack of Lies, and there are plans for that favour to be called in at a later date, in a later PoisonVerse novel!
I felt it was an acceptable plot thread to leave hanging and tug at again later to bring the Peirce pack in for a cameo.
ALSO BY OLIVIA LEWIN
FRAYED SERIES
Frayed Trust
Dangerous Heat
Forged Bonds
POISONVERSE
Pack of Lies
Lonely Alpha
MAFIA OMEGAS
Toxic Revenge Part One
Toxic Revenge Part Two
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olivia Lewin is a Canadian West Coast cat mom who loves all things sex, love, and magic. She spends half her time writing smutty scenes that make her go back and question her own sanity, and the other half of her time reading books with spice.
She can be reached by email at olivia@lewinauthor.com. Whether it’s to point out a pesky typo or let her know what you want to see in her next book, she’d love to hear from you!
Or, you can come hang out in her Facebook group (she spends a lot of time interacting there!)
Olivia Lewin, Pack of Lies
