He snorts, tucking his phone away. "Since when do you care about team spirit?"
"I'm wounded." I press a hand to my chest in mock offense. "I'm the heart and soul of this team. Just ask anyone."
"More like the asshole," he mutters, but there's less bite in it than usual. Almost like he's too distracted to properly engage in our usual verbal sparring.
Which only makes me more curious about what's on that phone.
Curious, not jealous, I tell myself.
Darren's eyes keep drifting to his pocket, his fingers twitching with the obvious desire to check it again. Whatever's happening there has him on edge. Nervous, even. Which is not a word I typically associate with Darren Malloy.
"Seriously, what's so fascinating?" I nod toward his pocket. "You've been glued to that thing all night. Candy Crush addiction? Social media drama? Or are you finally joining the modern world and setting up a dating profile?"
His reaction is immediate and telling, a flush creeping up his neck, jaw tightening in that way it does when he's caught out. Bingo.
"Holy shit," I laugh, genuine surprise cutting through my practiced nonchalance. "You're actually on a dating app? What, did you run out of groupies?"
"Drop it, Zayn." The warning in his voice should probably deter me. It doesn't.
"No chance." I lean forward, lowering my voice conspiratorially. "What are you looking for, hmm? Some alpha stud to help you through your first heat? Already shopping for knotting partners?"
The words come out before I can censor them, crude and deliberately provocative. The kind of shit I'd say to get under anyone's skin. But as soon as they leave my mouth, something hot and ugly coils in my stomach at the thought of Darren with some random alpha. Some stranger touching him,tastinghim…
No. Fuck that. Not going there.
Darren's face darkens, fury flashing in his eyes. But there's another emotion there too. A flicker of guilt that tells me I've hit closer to the mark than I intended.
"You're on a hookup app," I realize, the words flat with disbelief. "You're actually looking to meet someone."
I hate myself for feeling betrayed.
"It's none of your fucking business." His voice drops, dangerous and low.
"Like hell it isn't." The words come out harsher than I meant them to. I force a laugh to cover it. "Our newly presented omega cruising for strange in a city where nobody knows what he is? That's everyone's business."
His phone buzzes again, screen lighting up in his pocket. I move before thinking, lightning-quick across the table, snatching it before he can react.
"Zayn!" He lunges for it, but I twist away, holding it out of reach. "Give that back or I swear to God?—"
"Just checking if I need to vet your suitors," I taunt, dancing backward out of the booth. "Someone's got to look out for your virtue."
More like punch the teeth out of any asshole who tries to touch him.
The screen's still lit with a notification. Not Tinder or Grindr like I expected, but some app called Beyond Bonds. A message preview shows a text from someone simply labeled Blind Match.
Holy shit. He's actually doing this.
I don't get to see more because Darren's on his feet now, closing the distance between us with dangerous intent. "Give. It. Back."
"Problem?" Jax materializes beside us, captain's instincts kicking in at the first sign of tension.
"No problem," I say smoothly, still holding the phone above my head like we're in grade school. "Just discovered our boy Darren's secret life as a dating app Romeo."
“Zayn.” Jax's voice carries that warning tone he uses when I'm pushing limits. “Give him his phone.”
He's putting on a good act, but I can smell the way his scent sharpens. Can tell the thought of anyone else touching Darren is pissing him off as much as it is me, whether I want to admit it or not.
"After I've made sure he's not setting himself up with some alpha predator," I counter, swiping to unlock the screen. To my surprise, it opens. No password. Amateur hour. "Beyond Bonds? Sounds like a shitty movie."
