43. Cassidy #4
Isaac glances at the box. “You forgot you ordered over three kilograms of dessert?”
“I’ve had a difficult evening,” I say, and he nods. “I ordered it for you all this afternoon. When everything was… when I thought we were going to celebrate.”
“We still can celebrate,” Silas says softly. “I know things are a bit… shit, but that doesn’t erase the hard work you’ve done.”
The happiness I felt when I placed the order seems so far away now.
“The work you’ve all done,” I say. “You guys have been incredible these last few weeks. I wanted to do something to show how proud I am of all of you.”
Evander leans over and lifts the lid of the box. The scent of chocolate and caramel fills the room, and I catch the edge of his smile.
“Did you get the triple fudge brownie?” he asks, already reaching into the box to rifle through it.
“Fuck me, you’re a fat cunt,” Harlan mutters.
Silas reaches for the gold-wrapped envelope, undoing the pretty ribbon.
“Congratulations. I’m so proud of all of you. Love, Cassie,” Silas says, giving me a warm smile. “I love you, too, little moon. This was so sweet.”
“Again, though, that is a lot of dessert,” Harlan says, peering into the box.
“And you didn’t include yourself in that,” Isaac says, frowning at me. “You worked just as hard, shortcake. Why not be proud of your work?”
Silas takes the card from Isaac, studies it for a moment, then reaches for a pen sitting on the coffee table.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He places the card down against the box and writes something beneath my message. When he’s finished, he turns it around.
And we’re so proud of you, too.
Love, Harlan, Silas, Evander, and Isaac
xxx
My vision blurs again, warmth filling my chest.
“Oh, no,” Evander says, making a ‘stop’ sign with his hands. “Absolutely not. We’ve reached our crying quota for the evening, and happy tears count within that.”
I laugh, but it comes out broken and watery. “I don’t think you get to set a quota on crying.”
“I’m an alpha. We love arbitrary rules.”
“You especially,” Isaac mutters.
Evander points at him. “You’re not getting the best brownie.”
Isaac grins at Evander, but I notice how he keeps one hand on my knee, a gentle reminder that he’s still here.
“Well, let’s get back to doing something celebratory,” I offer, and Silas raises a brow.
“Are you sure? We’re more than happy to eat dessert and go into your nest.”
I shake my head. “I’d like blankets, but maybe watch a movie? Hibernate in here together?”
“Perfect plan, little daisy,” Evander agrees.
He’s unpacking the box, separating some of the pieces from the others. I think they’re his picks.
“How much did you spend on this?” Isaac asks, nudging me.
I shrug. “I was excited. Plus, my heat is due next week. I figured we could blame that.”
Harlan’s gaze snaps towards me. For one brief second, every alpha scent in the room deepens, richer and warmer before they’re all clearly reining themselves back in.
I blink at them, my heart racing.
“Not now.”
Silas clears his throat, the sound dry, and I laugh. “Nobody said anything.”
“You didn’t have to,” I say, feeling my cheeks flush. “Your scents did all the talking for you.”
Isaac chuckles, reaching for the box. “All right, let’s focus on the important things. Who gets first pick?”
“Me,” Evander says without hesitation. He gestures to his pile. “This is my first pick.”
“We’re all getting first pick,” Harlan corrects him, reaching for the box.
He grabs a strawberry and cream brownie as Silas lifts the box over so I can pick something out. My fingers brush against a chocolate-covered brownie, and I pull it out, breaking off a piece.
The rich cocoa scent fills the air as I pop a piece into my mouth, letting the sweetness melt on my tongue.
Delicious.
Silas settles it back on the coffee table, taking a coffee caramel swirl blondie. Isaac takes the salted caramel brownie.
“Movie?” Silas asks, grabbing the remote. “I’ll find something.”
“Nothing sad,” I say quickly. “And nothing that requires thinking.”
“I think I know just the thing,” he promises. “Although, it might still be too much for Evander.”
“Don’t be rude,” Evander snaps. “I’m not stupid.”
“Debatable,” Isaac teases.
I settle into the armchair, smiling as Harlan disappears briefly into the nesting room before returning with blanket after blanket, tucking them carefully around me until only my hands are left peeking out.
The weight of the blankets feels like a warm hug, and I sink deeper into the chair, my instincts settling as familiar scents cling to the fabric around me.
Silas flicks through the channels, eventually settling on a movie we all agree looks good. I’m not going to lie, it could be anything, and I’d have agreed if they wanted to watch it.
Today was perfect, and although tonight has been… hard, I’m really glad I have them.
I’m not over the betrayal. It’s not something I’m going to be able to get over quickly. Frankie was my friend. My first real friend. And he used me. Betrayed me. Lied to me.
I look around at my mates.
No matter what we have to face, we’ll never do it alone again.
They’re my pack.
They’re my family.