Page 75 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

“You got it.” Shane paused halfway to the bathroom, his hand gripping the wood molding before looking back at me. “I love you too, Jason. I’m happy to call you and this pack family.”

Before I could respond, he disappeared into the shower.

TWENTY-EIGHT

MIA

Bright light pressed against my eyelids. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut as I yanked the duvet over my head. My tongue licked across my lips, trying to swipe around the feeling of cotton batting.

An ache sliced through the spot behind my temple. I hissed, wiggling as I cocooned further in on myself with my shield.

Also known as “overly-fluffy-duvet.”

Something fuzzy shifted against my cheek. A terrified squeak rasped in my throat. I immediately imagined a tarantula had crawled into my bed, its hairy legs brushing my skin.

Unsure whether I wanted to run or hold still and play dead, hoping the vile creature would abandon my corpse, I cracked one eye open. Instead of a murderous, mountainous spider, I found Umbra curled up beside me under the blankets, her bushy tail tickling my face.

A rush of air whooshed out of my lungs, realizing I wasn’t about to end up being spider chow. I blamed Hazel. Every DnD night, there were always spiders. Why did it always have to be spiders? Why couldn’t we fight evil squirrels?

I shuddered. Second thought, squirrels might be worse. Squirrels were mean.

“How did you even get in here? Is there a secret tunnel somewhere?”

Mischief flickered in Umbra’s dark eyes. I swore she said, “maybe” with that look. I nuzzled into Umbra’s fluffy tummy, pleased when she didn’t run away.

Last night came back to me in fragments. DnD had been a blast. At least until food dye and edible glitter had gotten involved. Hazel made us something she called “Dragon Slayer.” The blood-red, glittery drink looked gorgeous and tasted delicious.

That had been the problem. They tasted too good. I had enough of those drinks to make my insides sparkle. Only after I was giggling and crawling into Lily’s lap, telling her she was the most beautiful omega, did Hazel tell me they were long island iced teas.

No wonder I felt like death.

I vaguely remembered Lily carrying me to the car. She was strong for such a tiny thing. I still had no idea how the girl got me home and into my bed.

At least I didn’t have to work today. I yanked the covers off my face, flopping my arm dramatically over my eyes. A throb—a different one than the alcohol-induced kind—grew between my thighs.

I licked my lips and rubbed my legs together. The glands on my wrists prickled. I dragged the irritated skin across the sheets, annoyed that it offered little relief.

“Come on, Umbra. I suppose we have to at least get out of bed.”

She chuffed, flopping her tail over her face.

“Apologies, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean to offend your delicate sensibilities.”

With more effort than should have been required, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet cold on the floor. I made a mental note to get rugs for my nest. My eyes widened, and I pushed that thought aside.

I refused to look in the mirror, brushing my teeth quickly before wrangling my hair into a haphazard bun. A pair of black spandex shorts sat on the vanity. I tugged them on, eyeing the hoodie I’d discarded there last night before heading out to Lily’s.

My fingers clutched the cotton. I inhaled the calming aroma of caramel and apples. My alpha. Shane. I pulled the sweater over my head, grinning as the hem hit me mid-thigh, making it look like I was naked underneath.

I purred, my eyes fluttering shut.

My alpha. Shane.

Anxiety still niggled in my stomach, but warmth flooded the spot, almost eclipsing it. My mom once said love was worth it. Worth the fear and the pain, because all the good things that came from it surpassed all the hard things.

He loved me. And I loved him. Neither of us ever stopped.

Bravery didn’t mean not being scared, it meant doing something despite it terrifying you. I could be brave for Shane. For a pack and a family I never dared to have. While I put a lot of that fear on Shane and what happened between us when we were younger, the truth was, he was only a small part of it.