Page 23 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

Dark, messy curls framed Mia’s adorably sleep-rumpled face. My brow lifted, eyeing the huge hoodie—that I was ninety percent sure belonged to Ty—swallowing her frame. A steaming mug of coffee sat clutched in her hands, the vapor curling around her face like a shroud.

The tip of her pretty pink tongue trailed along her lower lip. My alpha preened, basking in the undivided attention of our mate. The air crackled, now thick with maple, vanilla, and woodsmoke.

A thread tugged in my gut, urging me forward, demanding that I mark my omega for the whole world to see.

“Come here, baby girl,” I called out, my voice dropping an octave, the rumble vibrating in my chest. “I don’t bite. Unless you ask for it.”

How I wished that she would ask for it. Beg for it. Images of lush curls fanning behind our omega as she ran through the woods, dousing the maple fields in her delicious scent while I hunted her sent my alpha into an uproar.

Shane and I chased our beta many times. Maybe someday, Mia would run from us, her omega taunting our alphas to give chase.

Mia squeaked, the delightful, high-pitched tinkling sound carrying toward me. Crimson flush bloomed on her cheeks, making her freckles twinkle. Teeth dug into her lower lip. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then slowly descended onto the lawn.

Grass crunched under her booted feet as she made her way toward the woodpile.

Each step she took made the lump in my throat thicken a little more. She floated like a goddess across the lawn.

Unable to stop myself, I curled my hand around her waist, tucking her into my side. She fit so perfectly there, her head barely reaching my shoulder. I leaned down, dragging my nose through her lush curls before pressing a firm kiss to the top of her head.

A quiet sigh fell from her lips, and it felt like a small victory when she didn’t retreat.

She smelled like home.

“You’re up early,” I murmured, my hand splayed across the small of her back.

My palm trailed to the span of her ribs. Her pulse thrummed beneath my fingertips. My omega hummed with desire, and it took all my willpower not to back her up against the thick oak tree and kiss her until her lips were bruised.

“I wanted a lazy morning before my first shift at the bookshop.”

A noncommittal noise rolled past my lips as my thumb gently stroked the jut of her hip. This was the first time she’d talked to any of us since the Shane incident.

“I need to apologize, Mi. I should have told you about Shane sooner. I’d planned on telling you that night over dinner, but then he came home earlier than usual and it all imploded.”

“You shouldn’t have kept that from me,” she murmured, shifting her mug to one hand while her other traced an old scar on my stomach.

Gooseflesh rippled at her touch. This woman had no idea what she did to me. Now was not the time to unravel at the seams.

“You’re right,” I said, tipping her chin up with my knuckle. “I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”

“I’m not weak, Jason. You can tell me things, even if you think it will upset me.”

“No, you’re not. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever known, Mi.”

I refused to release her, my thumb so close to feathering over her lip. My omega had been through hell and back and survived. She’d been bathed in flames and risen like a phoenix.

That day, at her parents’ funeral, I watched her standing proud, holding it together while her world crumbled. At seventeen, she gave the most touching, heartfelt eulogy, and she did it all without shedding a single tear.

She spoke of her parents’ love and devotion to each other, and to her. How happy she was that they were together. This girl was a powerhouse, and I had no doubt that she and Shane would figure things out.

But that wasn’t for me to stick my nose in. It was between them, and all I could do was support them along the way. Shane had a lot to atone for. Even so, there was so much more to it than Mia realized. He had to get his shit together long enough to open up to her.

Still, this moment was about us. Me and Mia. I never wanted her to doubt how much I cherished her again. My hand slid along her jaw, and I tucked a stray curl behind her ear. A shiver skated down her spine.

“After you’re done with work, will you join me on a courting date, Mi?”

The mug in her hands wobbled, her lips parting. “What?!”

I couldn’t help releasing an amused huff.