Page 36 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

Fern’s determined voice echoed through the phone and on the other side of my door. My mouth fell open as I stared at my cell, my gaze darting between it and the thin piece of wood separating me and the Maple Queen.

“Come on, let us in, I’m cold out here,” Lily whinged, and I snorted.

“Fine. Fine. Should I assume Hazel is there as well?”

I disconnected the call, tossing my phone onto the bed with a thud.

“Present,” Hazel rasped, sounding as if Fern had dragged her out of bed.

An exasperated sound rattled behind my sternum as I opened the door. Fern beamed at me while Lily maneuvered an armful of clothes. Hazel yawned, carrying an oversized makeup bag and saluting me with a thermos of what I assumed was coffee.

“I see Fern convinced you all to come and help the pathetic omega.”

“Technically, I’ve been bribed with coffee. And cut it out, you’re not pathetic.”

Hazel raised a brow at me, putting her goodies on the bed before plopping down beside it.

“Ignore her. She’s grouchy cause she was up late playing a new RPG that just released,” Fern chuckled.

“Can you blame me?! I’ve waited ten years for the sequel. And I couldn’t have foreseen Mia panicking when Ty offered to take her on a fancy courting date.”

“I’m not panicking!” I insisted.

“You are,” Lily said, her kind voice lowering my defenses.

It had been an odd sensation. My omega purred, preening like a peacock at the idea of being courted by Ty. Me on the other hand, I unraveled, unspooling like a fraying thread at the seams.

Too many emotions warred for dominance, and it made my stomach churn.

My chin dropped as I sighed. I glanced at the other omegas, relenting.

“Okay. Maybe a little. It’s just… I’ve never gone out on a courting date until recently. Jason made me a bonfire and fed me. I don’t know how to do this whole courtship thing.” The last few words came out in a mumbled mess as I flailed my arms. “You guys don’t need to be here. I can figure this out on my own.”

“Nope. They’re your scent-matched pack, we’re here to help. I know there’s the whole Shane”—Fern waved her hand dramatically—“situation, that will take some time to work through. But that doesn’t mean you can just shut out Jason and Ty in the meantime.”

The “Shane situation” had fizzled since I chucked a plate at his head. I had barely caught a glimpse or a whiff of the alpha. While I wanted to be relieved by his disappearance, it had the opposite effect, sending me and my omega into a barely restrained panic.

My wrists itched, and my scent took on this burnt tinge whenever I thought about him for too long.

I didn’t want to shut out Jason and Ty. And despite the uneasiness pitting in my stomach, I couldn’t ignore Shane. Not forever.

That, however, didn’t mean I had to forgive him now. I remembered what Ty had said about Shane, about the man he loved. I struggled to believe it. But if someone like Ty could fall in love and bond with Shane, there had to be more to him.

“I know. Let’s just get this over with.”

After the girls left, I stared at the mirror, my hands running over the front of the emerald cocktail dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places, and for the first time in a long time, I saw myself as a pretty omega.

For the last few weeks—years really—I muddled through each day, feeling as though I was dragging my feet through layers of mud.

I had no idea where Ty planned to take me, but I headed down the stairs, not wanting to be late.

My hand glided along the smooth oak railing. The last step creaked under my feet as I froze. A figure shifted on the couch in the living room, the glow from the fireplace casting a shadow along his drawn face.

The hard lines around Shane’s eyes made him look older. I hadn’t seen him in days, and there he lay, sprawled out on the sofa. Dust covered his jeans, a thick layer of grime muting his porcelain complexion.

My throat thickened with each swallow as I took a tentative step. Shane lumbered upright, stifling a yawn. His tired eyes raked over me, his pupils dilating a little more the further north he traveled.

His gaze made my nipples tighten, the tight fabric doing nothing to hide it. My fingers twitched as I tried to stamp the feelings down. Stupid omega. Why did she have to be so attracted to Shane Hemlock?