Total pages in book: 9
Estimated words: 8854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 44(@200wpm)___ 35(@250wpm)___ 30(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 8854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 44(@200wpm)___ 35(@250wpm)___ 30(@300wpm)
“Let’s not talk about wielding egos, Ward,” I fire back. “You’re a pro.”
He recoils, outrage springing into his eyes.
“You decide,” Dec says, ever the reasonable one. My glorious, green flag man.
I smile my appreciation. “I can’t choose between you all,” I admit. “You all own a piece of my heart.”
Dec nods his understanding. Jesse snorts his displeasure. “I owned the Manor,” he says, confident. “A manor that made London blush. If alpha has a name, it’s mine.”
“And yet,” I reply thoughtfully, “you’re still wildly irrational.”
A swell of low amusement rises in the room again, and I fight with all my might not to smile too. Be serious, Jodi. Maintain control.
Danny’s mouth tips further, deepening his scar even more. “Accurate.”
Jesse glances his way. “You volunteering for top, Black?”
Danny doesn’t look at him. Doesn’t need to. “Maybe,” he says, his face straight as he studies my tree rather than his competition. “But I don’t climb. I remove obstacles.”
Brad lets out a short laugh. “He means people, by the way.”
“Brad,” I murmur in warning. Now’s not the time for his sense of humour and backward threats.
He straightens instantly. “Sorry, boss.”
I nod, happy. Alphas, take note.
Josh grins. “See? That’s influence.” He strolls closer to the tree, hands in his pockets, Hollywood easy. “If we’re talking global appeal, I’ve got the accent, the awards, and the stamina.”
I roll my eyes and grab the string lights, starting to drape them across the branches, concentrating, hearing a scoff. I know that scoff. “You also cry at acceptance speeches,” Ty mutters.
“Only the good ones,” Josh fires back. “Tell me, Mummy’s Boy, fallen into any honey traps lately?”
“Fuck you. That was my partner.”
“My mistake.” Josh murmurs. I can’t see him, my focus set forward, focused on my lights, but I know he’ll be smirking.
Oh God, this is getting out of hand much faster than I anticipated. “Sit down, Josh,” I order over my shoulder, my thoughts confirmed—big, fat smirk—and he does. Immediately. Still smiling.
The ladder creaks from beside me as Becker hops onto it. “Allow me,” he says, already half-way up. “I steal priceless things for fun. Top spot? Child’s play.”
“You’re not insured,” Jack says flatly.
Becker pauses. “You sound like my accountant.”
“You sound like a risk,” Jack takes a seat on the couch and gets comfortable. I meet his eyes for a beat. He doesn’t look away. Calm. Steady. Dangerous in his restraint.
“Get down, Becker,” I order, carrying on arranging my lights under the watchful, intense gazes of eighteen alphas. And they let me. One might think they’re being respectfully quiet while I concentrate and think about this predicament. But I know them. They’re actually formulating their plans to secure a win.
When I’m done, I flick the string lights on and step back. Pretty.
Becker’s still on the ladder. My eyebrows curve, and he sighs, stomping down the steps. “Fine,” he mutters.
Drew clears his throat, soft and deliberate, redirecting all eyes from the tree to him. “This is inefficient,” he announces. “The lights aren’t evenly distributed.”
I frown, insulted, and check. “They’re perfect.”
“You’re worried about symmetry?” Theo asks flatly.
“I’m worried about control,” Drew replies as I reach for the bottom row, tweaking the lights.
“Funny.” Theo’s jaw tightens. “So am I.” He still hasn’t moved. Rigid, hands loose at his sides, eyes tracking every movement like someone might reach out and grab him.
Jake shifts closer to him without comment. Protective. Instinctive. “You okay?” he asks quietly.
Theo nods once. Doesn’t look at him. “Don’t touch me.”
I watch as Becker starts creeping back up the ladder.
“You’re all missing the point,” Ty’s lounging on the sofa like the world bends for him.
Jack, unimpressed, gets up from the other end and wanders to my bookcase. “What’s the point?” he asks, browsing my titles.
“The top belongs to the man women want most.”
I tilt my head. “And that would be?”
He smiles. It flickers, just for a second. “Me.”
Luke snorts. “No.”
The word lands heavier than expected, and Ty looks at him, half smiling, half maddened. “Excuse me?”
Luke steps forward, relaxed, unthreatening, entirely unbothered. “The top isn’t about wanting,” he says self-assuredly. “It’s about trust.”
Silence.
Everyone’s absorbing that. Considering it. I’m not hopeful it’ll land as Luke’s intended.
Ryan finally speaks from where he’s been quietly fixing a loose branch. “Tree’s leaning,” he says. “Needs grounding before it falls.”
I watch him work, capable, steady, unshowy, as Dec moves in beside me. Close. Solid. “He’s right.” He speaks quietly. “Everything needs balance.”
Jude exhales a laugh. “Christ, this got wholesome fast.” He pushes off the doorframe with his shoulder, arms still folded as he slips past my regency men. “I dare anyone to tell me it shouldn’t be me. I fucking dare you.” Johnny and Frank follow his path, silent but observing.
“It shouldn’t be you,” every single man in the room says, and Jude exhales, muttering something under his breath.
The ladder suddenly wobbles, and Becker swears as Jesse reaches out instinctively and Danny steps forward at the same time. James moves toward the tree and slips his hand between the branches, holding the trunk. Jake shields Theo without touching him.