Page 176 of The Ashpaw: Part One

She gasped. That’s right. That vicious, nasty woman had ruined everything.

“Just for me?”

Eidan kissed her along her hairline. “Just for you. But you have to get ready to leave. Quickly.”

Reinn dug out one of her gowns, and Eidan helped her stand. “Arms up.”

She did as instructed, and Reinn pulled it over her.

The fabric felt awful against her skin, and she let out a pitiful whine.

“Shh…” Reinn whispered. “We’ll take it off as soon as we can. We promise.”

Promise…

At least these two kept theirs. Unlike her other alpha.

Because he wasn’t here.

A twinge of a cramp had her wincing.

“Where’s Darion?”

They looked at each other, and then Eidan answered. “He’s not coming.”

Reinn growled behind her as Fern began to cry, the cramp worsening.

“He doesn’t want me…”

“He does,” Eidan replied quickly, taking her into his arms. He held her tightly, breathing her in. “He does. He just can’t come. I’m sorry.”

Fern nodded, but the tears didn’t stop. It wasn’t fair that despite everything, she could still want him. Still miss him. Still feel disappointed when disappointing her was all he ever did.

She buried her face into Eidan’s tunic, the smell of incense and roasted meat clinging to the fibers.

And the scent of him.

Fern rubbed herself against him, and his cock hardened between them.

She rubbed harder.

“Fern,” he warned, although there was no bite to his tone. “We need to go. Is there anything else you need to take?”

Reinn was at her feet, tapping each one so he could help her into her shoes.

Shoes… a gift from Eidan. But did she have a gift from Reinn, too?

She shook her head, then remembered. “My rocks!”

Reinn looked up immediately, grinning widely. “You still want your rocks?”

Fern pressed her lips together and nodded. “They’re beautiful.”

“Rocks?” Eidan asked, amused and confused.

They sat in their little row by the window, thankfully overlooked by that awful woman who had come in and ripped her nest to shreds.

“One, two, three, four…” she counted carefully, putting them in her pocket. Then she turned around, the alphas watching her with soft eyes.