Chapter 45

Author Dodie didn’t wait. She pinched Alpha Zavier’s arm and gave him a pointed look. Her throat cleared, her eyes narrowing in that familiar way that said she was two seconds from losing patience. “So,” she said, voice a little shaky beneath her tough tone, “do you want to keep it or not?” The question dropped like a stone into the room. Heavy. Direct. And impossible to ignore. Alpha Zavier didn’t hesitate. “Of course,” he said, low and sure. Dodie let out a breath she’d clearly been holding. “Okay.” Her shoulders relaxed, and for the first time in minutes, the tension in her frame softened. Weslee and Nicole exchanged a glance,knowing it was Dodie's bluff. Despite Dodie's condescension, she had been afraid of how Xavier would react. Around them, the others chuckled softly, the mood finally starting to shift. “Okay, they’re serious,” Alpha Damien said under his breath, his voice warm against Nicole’s ear. Before anyone could respond,Alpha Zavier stood and scooped Dodie into his arms .