Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 306

"This is a love emergency," Suzie says.

Onai mutters under his breath.

"Stay in your room." She gestures towards the barrier of the arched entryway.

He glances at Ethel. Ethel glances at Michael. "They're acting like we can't hear them from here."

"These aren't the ideal conditions," Suzie declares. "But if you speak a word of what you hear today, I'll-"

"What Suzie means is," Bri cuts in, "respect the barrier."

I doubt that's what Suzie meant as I stare wide-eyed at the pillow she's holding. That thing should be a licensed weapon, I swear.

"And you," Bri says to me. "We've got nothing better to do right now. So gossip away."

That's a good point. I may never get the chance to talk to them like this again, depending on how crazy things get. I sit up straighter. "Alright. Here it is..." My eyes shift around the group of girls. Suzie. Krys. Bri. Shen who's at a distance, listening to Fei. The toddler's telling a story through the teddy bears.

First we talk about how worried I am for the brothers' safety. Then we talk about my family being in the dark about all of this.

"I think you should just tell your parents," Suzie says.

Bri scoffs.

Shen's eyes fly open. She shakes her head, giving me every indication that Suzie just suggested my doom.

Suzie nods regardless, tying her hair back to apply her grapefruit face mask.

"What should she say?" Krys asks. "Here's Carson, but there's two more where that came from?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Suzie leans back on her hands. "She should tell them that the brothers are her true loves, of course."

Michael bursts out laughing.

"Stay. In. The. Kitchen." Suzie claps after every word.

He tries to mutter an apology, but fails. "It's just, if Mia tells our parents the truth..."

I imagine Mom signing me up for counseling. Dad digging four graves.

"... we won't have to worry about the other packs. She'll already be dead."

"He has a point," I mutter.

Krys gets up and sits down cross-legged in front of me. She grabs my hands and holds on tight. "If you live your whole life telling a lie, you're never going to be happy."

"But the brothers and I know the truth," I say. "They know I'm just telling my family what they need to hear."

"You'd be surprised how much sneaking around makes you feel like you're guilty of something, even if you're not."

Bri gives her a reassuring look.

Onai glances at Michael.

"Just invite all three of them to the family dinner," Michael sighs. "See what happens."

I try not to decide anything for now. I just give Krys a hug for all the support. Bri immediately joins in, eyeing me over Krys' shoulders. 'I'm watching you,' she mouths.

"Hey." Suzie inserts herself into the hug. "I was the first to suggest confessing, remember?"

Everyone looks at her.

"What?"

I sigh, shaking my head. "Shen." I turn to her. "Why don't you come do masks with us?"

"I'm fine here," she says.

"Well, I'm in a mood now, so..." Suzie fishes a mask out of the pile. "Come do this bubble one. Ethel can stay if you do." She hands Ethel a cucumber mask.

Bri and Krys nod. "Mikey, Oni, you're also invited."

"Oh now we're invited?" Michael almost falls out of his seat from the weight of his sarcasm.

Suzie rolls her eyes. "Just get over here." She fights a smile.

He fights a smirk. "Showing up to a party as the last invite?" he scoffs. "I think not."

"Don't flatter yourself. You weren't even plus one."

"Damn." Onai sips his drink at the kitchen table.

Things lighten up when we talk about relationships in general.

Who's the best kisser?

Who gives the best hugs?