Chapter 6 Poppy
Poppy
My heart swelled. Viol followed me. He could’ve stayed in the kitchen, or gone back to his room. But the fact that he followed me proved he cared.
“W-what?” Viol asked, furrowing his brow.
I pointed at the mug. His eyes dropped to read it. Then his cheeks flushed.
“I just grabbed a random mug, I didn’t know it had words on it,” he grumbled rapidly. “I didn’t even want coffee...”
My smile widened. “For someone who didn’t want coffee, you sure spent a lot of time making it.”
Viol’s cheeks turned deeper pink. He looked like he wanted to toss the entire mug over his shoulder and be rid of it. “I was—I dunno, I was thinking, okay?” he blurted. “Anyway, what’re you doing over here? You should be in the kitchen, sitting with your friends, eating breakfast or whatever.”
He tripped over his words more than usual. Was he nervous?
It was difficult to admit why I’d left. In the moment my emotions had overwhelmed me, but now I felt like I’d overreacted. Maybe Viol had just been taking a long time. I should’ve given him the benefit of the doubt.
“I thought... you were ignoring me,” I murmured.
Viol winced. He stared into his mug. “I was. I didn’t know how to talk to you.”
I tilted my head. “But you’re doing it right now.”
He huffed, running a hand through the back of his hair. “Yeah, I know. It’s complicated.”
I frowned, guilty that I’d caused trouble for him. I hadn’t meant to.
“Should I go back to the hotel?” I offered.
“No,” Viol said urgently. “Your friends invited you and all, so don’t leave.”
Questions swirled in my mind. If Alaric and Taylor hadn’t invited me, would Viol ask me to go back? Was their request the only reason he let me stay?
I sighed. I wished we could talk without me spiralling into doubt...
Suddenly, I felt a brief, warm touch on my shoulder. Viol gave me a quick pat, then withdrew his hand as quickly as he’d made contact.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “You just surprised me, is all. It’s fine for you to be here, okay?”
His words were choppy and rough around the edges, but his intent was genuine. He wouldn’t go out of his way to reassure me if he didn’t mean it.
“Okay,” I said, a small smile tugging at my mouth.
Viol blinked, then angled his head towards the kitchen. “Come on. Let’s go eat whatever the fuck Crimson’s cooking up.”
I pulled myself off the couch and followed him. The ice-cold tension that had sealed my heart since last night slowly dissolved like spring meltwater. I could finally take a real breath.
In the few seconds it took us to reach the kitchen, I drew my gaze down Viol’s back.
His hair was long again, flowing down in dark purple tendrils that brushed his collarbones.
The old leather jacket that hugged his broad shoulders continued to age gracefully, worn but well-loved.
Even the saunter of his hips was familiar. Like we’d never been apart.
I caught myself before I got too emotional.
Taylor and Alaric brightened when they saw me walk in.
I smiled and sat between them again, comforted by their combined presence.
Nobody commented on Viol’s return, probably because he’d hate the attention.
He wordlessly hopped onto a bar stool across from me and propped his elbows on the counter, fidgeting with his mug.
He still hadn’t taken a single sip of coffee.
“Nice to see you back, Poppy,” Taylor remarked.
“You must be hungry,” Alaric stated, then called over his shoulder, “Where are those pancakes we were promised?”
Taylor snorted. “It’s always pancakes in this house.”
As Crimson slid over with a plate full of food, he playfully scolded his mate. “Excuse you. I’m also capable of making omelettes.”
Alaric nodded as he snuck a pancake onto his plate. “Yes, some protein would be nice, so our breakfast isn’t pure carbs.”
Crimson raised a brow at the odd-eyed omega. “Don’t complain about my food while demanding more.”
I chuckled at their antics. The Chromatimaeus house was so lively and fun. Even when they butted heads, it was lighthearted and merry.
“I’m glad we can entertain you,” Alaric said, neatly cutting a square out of his pancake and popping it into his mouth. “Now, eat.”
Now that my anxiety had dissipated, my appetite returned. The delectable scent of food filled the air. Crimson leaned over my shoulder and deposited three fat pancakes onto my plate, then asked Viol, “And you?”
Viol scoffed. “What? Of course I want some.”
Flashing a smirk, Crimson said, “Ask nicely, and you may receive.”
Viol’s mouth drew into a scowl. He radiated an insulting aura, like he wanted to sling barbs at Crimson, but held his tongue because a guest was present. I didn’t want him to feel stifled, or go hungry, so I intervened.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Three is too many for me. I’ll share with Viol.”
The dark veil lifted from Viol’s face. He blinked at me, surprised and grateful, then returned to a neutral expression. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
He inched his plate forward and I dropped two pancakes on it.
“This is too many,” Viol complained. “You gave me two, and you only have one.”
“It’s all right,” I told him.
“Take one back.”
“Really, it’s okay, I can’t eat that much.”
“Neither can I,” he lied.
He stabbed a fork through the top pancake, readying to drop it on my plate, so I pulled it closer to my chest, safely out of his reach. He looked baffled.
Alaric let out a one-note laugh. “You two bicker like an old married couple.”
Viol’s face flushed. Instead of arguing, he cut the fork-stabbed pancake aggressively into four giant slices, then stuffed one in his mouth. He spent the next minute chewing in sullen silence.
He was so cute.
Everyone else began to eat, so I joined in, too. The soft, buttery flavor melted on my tongue. The food was so delicious, and the household so generous, that I was almost moved to tears again.
“Crimson, this is wonderful,” I said. “Thank you.”
The alpha grinned. “Glad you like it, Poppy. I’ll make them for you anytime.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Viol freeze. He paused for a few beats, then slowly chewed again, focused and deliberate.
He couldn’t possibly be jealous, could he?
Jade and Crimson casually slid into the seats flanking Viol. The purple-haired alpha looked cramped and uncomfortable, but he kept eating in flustered silence.
“Ah. Lovely, isn’t it?” Jade remarked, taking a sip of his drink. “A nice quiet morning.”
Alaric frowned, glancing at Crimson. “What happened to that omelette I was promised?”
Crimson raised a brow. “I don’t recall promising anything. If you want it that badly, why don’t you ask your mate to make it?”
Alaric sighed dramatically. “No, it’s all right. I’d rather him sit where I can see him.”
Jade’s reply was a sly smile.
Their love was beautiful. I could practically see a tangible connection between them, vibrating in the air. They were obviously meant for each other. I felt grateful that fate had brought them together.
Thinking back, I remembered Alaric’s distress on his winning season, and each season leading up to it. He was frazzled and stressed he’d never find his fated mate. When it finally happened, it was a huge relief for both of us. I was so happy for him.
I felt the same way with Taylor on the very first season.
Although I was nervous when Muzo signed us up for the show, it ended up being for the best. Taylor found his mate in Crimson, and a whole new world opened up for all of us.
Muzo eventually matched with Cobalt, whose calm demeanour was a great match for his sprightly energy.
One by one, I’d watched my friends—new and old—discover their fated mates. I watched their love blossom in real time, and supported them every step of the way. I didn’t do it out of any obligation, or secret purpose. I really did just want them to be happy.
I’d always insisted that one day, I’d find my fated mate, too. That was the reason I kept returning to the island, season after season. But the truth was more complicated than that.
My gaze drifted to Viol, sitting across from me.
He felt at once so familiar, and so distant.
He was close enough that I could reach out and touch him—but if I did, would he pull away?
I couldn’t gauge his feelings, and that frightened me.
I stood at the precipice of our relationship, frozen with uncertainty, terrified of being rejected.
“Here.”
Viol’s curt comment pulled me out of my thoughts. Before I could refuse, he’d plopped half an uneaten pancake on my plate. It was cut down the middle.
“Now we’re even,” he said.
Something wavered in his eyes. It was cautiously optimistic. Almost warm. A compromise.
He didn’t return half the pancake because he was rejecting it. He returned it because he wanted to share with me. A perfect fifty-fifty split.
I smiled at Viol. Even in his crankiest moments, he was kind. I’d always admired that about him.
“Thank you,” I said.
His eyes flashed before he stared down into his mug. The forgotten coffee must’ve been lukewarm by now. “It’s nothing,” he muttered.
We all continued to eat until not a single crumb or drop of syrup remained on our plates.
The atmosphere in the kitchen was uplifting.
It was a far cry from my mornings spent alone in my apartment, chewing on plain toast while raucous street noise floated up to my window.
Even though I was technically surrounded by people, it was always lonely.
But here, in a kitchen full of familiar shifters, my heart swelled with gratitude and peace. They’d welcomed me into their home, fed me, and most importantly, gave me an opportunity to connect with Viol. They had no idea how much that meant to me.
“Oh man, what smells amazing?”
I perked up at the sound of Muzo’s voice. He bounced into the kitchen like a wound-up toy, followed by his huge mate Cobalt. Their daughter Lazuli was balanced on Cobalt’s shoulder in dragonet form.
“You guys ate already?” Muzo complained. “Are there any leftover—POPPY!”