“I feel like I’m giving blood,” I said.

I’d held my forearm, carefully covered in Cascade’s final batch of highlighters, across the table for what felt like an eternity. She continued to snap photos mercilessly, my snarky remarks and pleas for freedom falling upon deaf ears.

“Zara handles this with far more grace than you do,” Cascade said.

“That’s because she’s your girlfriend and therefore obligated to put up with any torment you throw at her,” I retorted. “As your best friend, I should be exempt from such maltreatment.”

Zara laughed from across the room. “Don’t worry, Nick. I’m willing to share my maltreatment with you.”

She walked into the kitchen and leaned over the table, inches away from my poor forearm. I didn’t even really know why Zara was here in the apartment I shared with Cascade. Ever since they’d started dating, it seemed like Zara practically lived here, which was—admittedly—not a bad thing in the slightest. While she was interested in biomedical science and I was invested in astrophysics, we found enough common ground in our love for science and math to make decent conversation. Plus, she made Cascade very happy.

And since Alex had declared my bed was now his bed, and the sofa was now his second bed, I didn’t really have any standing to complain about anyone coming over too often. Still, it was fun to tease Cascade about it.

“Is that a gift? If so, I’d like to return it, Zara.”

“You’ve muscled up some since I saw you last,” Zara said.

“That’s because my archery and weight-lifting instructors are both brutal. The only plus side is that they don’t require much pay.”

“Oh?” Zara asked. “What are their rates?”

“Mind-blowing sex and math tutoring,” I answered.

“Impressive,” Zara replied. “How strange, though. I have a similar arrangement with my stylist.”

I couldn’t see whether Zara put her hand on Cascade’s back or her ass, but it was somewhere in that general area. “You’re distracting me,” Cascade said.

“Does that mean I’m free?” I asked.

“She isn’t distracting me that much.”

Cascade snapped a couple more photos. Then she leaned across the table and tapped my nose. “Okay, you’ve paid your penance. You’re free to go, Nick.”

It was three days until the official launch of Cascade’s makeup line, but she’d already racked up an impressive number of preorders. Part of it was because of Zara’s fierce viral marketing; evidently, she was somewhat famous on Instagram and had used her powers to help her girlfriend achieve her dreams.

They were really adorable, although I never told them that aloud.

The door burst open. “Honey, I’m home!” Alex declared at the top of his lungs.

“I’m being tortured, dear,” I replied.

Alex strode into the kitchen with Starbucks. “Did Cascade’s makeup attack you again?” he asked, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

I grabbed Cascade’s makeup wipes and began scrubbing viciously. I’d probably lost layers of skin from the number of times I’d been chosen for this project, but considering how well this highlighter stayed on, it was likely to be a colossal hit in the beauty world. And she’d finally gotten the colors just perfect.

“Want me to kiss it and make it better?” Alex asked.

“What? Like I’m a two year old with a bruised knee?” I asked.

Alex ruffled my hair and leaned over to kiss me anyway. It was soft and full of sparks. “Much better,” I said.

Alex seated himself on the chair beside me. “So now that everyone’s here,” he said, “Should we tell them the news, Zara?”

“I think so,” Zara replied. “Cascade, Nick, I’ve decided that our pack needs a…partnership.”

“A partnership?” I asked.

“Yes. I think ruling the pack is too much work for one person. That is the tradition, but I feel sometimes, it’s good for traditions to change. I’ve appointed Alex my co-alpha, and we’re going to run the pack together. I’m sure we’ll have to work out disagreements every now and then, especially starting out, but I think he’s up for the challenge,” Zara said.

“Are you?” Alex asked.

Zara’s lips curved into a smile. “Always.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said.

Alex leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Yes,” he said. “It is.”

He wrapped an arm around me, and I settled against him. The big surprise revealed, Zara offered her arm to the highlighter and Cascade’s camera. For the first time in a very long time, I was absolutely, completely happy with how everything had turned out.