“Wait.” Crux ran to his Jeep and pulled out some blankets, tucking them under his arm. From there, my alphas followed me and soon we were a pack roaming the boardwalk, then the soft, midnight-cooled sand.
As we walked, I heard Rowan say, “so, tonight I’ll just crash on the couch?”
“What?” I balked. “Absolutely not.” Although, I had to admit I wasn’t ready to share my nest with him. The fight night was different, that was comfort and healing. Sleep was sleep and… Well, just different.
“I can spend the night in my car then,” Rowan said. “Used to it.”
Of course!
“The car mattress!” I snapped my fingers. “We can bring the mattress up into the spare room!”
“You have a mattress in the back of your car?” Severen asked, and I could feel him grow perturbed in the bond.
“Yeah,” Rowan said. “For camping and… I don’t sleep in my old bed much anymore.”
This caused Severen to ease, and the leeriness was swallowed by a feeling of dull understanding. He’d feel, and do, the same if anything happened to me, and I knew it.
“It’s settled then,” I announced. “Whoops!”
Whatever I was going to say fled from my mind as I tripped on the soft, uneven terrain, dizzy from the drinks, and giggly, giddy from the effect of the growing pack. Halo managed to catch my arm before I embarrassed myself by falling face first onto the sand. I shuffled a few steps forward and examined my shoe. The sole had torn on my ballet flat. I lifted my leg and pulled off the slipper.
“Darn, I liked this pair.”
Then, I was lifted off my feet by Severen. I yelped, cradled in his arms, my knees slung over his bicep. I snuggled against his chest. His breath smelled like the fishbowl, mixed with his usual coffee and wine. It was the greatest comfort I could imagine.
“You good to walk again?” Severen asked after what felt like a blissful quarter mile but I knew couldn’t have possibly been that long.
“Yes, thank you.”
He put me down and I slipped off my shoes, and just revelled in the feeling of my bare feet in the sand. I stood for a moment, and savoured. I inhaled the salty breeze, dropped my shoes on the beach, and walked towards the water.
I felt my pack’s eyes on me as I lifted my dress up and off, leaving it behind to drift a few feet until it fell onto the sand. Through the bond came Crux’s worry, and Halo’s reassurances and encouragement. I needed this moment.
The dusty, silky sand gave way to the soft squish of wet shore for several steps before the cool tide kissed my feet. I closed myeyes and focused only on the soothing rush and recession of the tide flowing over my toes. Finally, I felt the ocean.
I walked in further.
This, standing up to my hips in the ocean in only my underwear, well past midnight, with an entire beach to myself and my pack, fingertips skimming the very tops of the water, the gentle breeze dancing against my skin, my heart beating strong in my chest. This was living.
Chapter 46
SKYE
WhenIreturnedtothe others, my four alphas were all sitting on the blanket and picking at the contents of the leftover containers. I scooped up my dress and shook off the sand, then put it back on and settled between Halo and Rowan.
Halo pointed to the clear sky. “A shooting star.”
Among the twinkling stars, tiny comets streaked along the cosmos. We watched, anticipating each one with quiet excitement. Gradually I leaned into Rowan’s chest, his warmth.
I reached for the back of my neck, feeling the faint hints of the bites running down my nape. Severen’s shield, Crux’s arch, and Halo’s concise dash. How would Rowan bite me? Where? When?
Did he even want to?
Maybe he wasn’t ready yet.
Was I even ready?
I continued to ponder these things until Rowan broke the comfortable silence.
