Chapter 24
Evan
The snow was falling thick and fast by the time we passed Brodie. Hamish was with him this time, the two of them making lewd gestures as we shuttled past. Hopefully my speed was high enough for Reid to have missed it.
From the giggle he gave, I’d failed. “I take it they’re friends of yours?”
I lowered my window, shooting a middle finger behind us. Even with the distance, I could hear their ribald responses. “If by ‘friends’ you mean people who give me shit but I’d still die for, then yeah, they’re my friends.”
“Those are the best kind.”
The sad note had my wolf howling. “You can see yours too, Reid. I can protect all of you.”
That was assuming the Clarksons even bothered with him after what we’d subjected them to overnight. They were still there now, chained up in the basement of the clan house with only Logan for company.
Finn had messaged while Reid had been packing. He did intend on releasing them, but not until we were back. Behind many wards with all of our warriors on standby.
“It’s not just that,” Reid said heavily, resting his head against the window. “They might not want to see me now.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged, sinking further down in his seat. “I kind of ghosted them. I’ve been ignoring their messages and calls recently. Even got Chester to cover for me when they called at the shop.”
His sadness and exhaustion were almost palpable. I reached over to squeeze his knee. “They’ll forgive you, Reid. That’s what friends do.”
“Maybe.” I could tell he didn’t believe me.
His eyes drifting closed. It was only midafternoon, but I suspected Reid finally felt safe enough to rest. He might not have even realised it consciously, but I thought deep down he knew that.
Here, he was safer than anywhere else. It wasn’t about the clan boundaries or treaties, or even the other warriors nearby.
It was because he was with me. At my side. I could protect him up close, instead of from a distance. There was no need for me to take time off to sleep or rest—I could do those things when Reid did.
Assuming he wanted that, of course. Hopefully he would. And if he didn’t, we’d do more of the communication thing we’d discussed earlier.
Look, Ma. Your boy’s all grown up.
By the time I pulled up outside our house, Reid was fast asleep. I flicked off the engine and watched him for a minute with a small smile on my face. There was none of the fire I was used to seeing there, just a quiet peace.
I loved his fire, but I thought I could love his peace just as much.
Easing his door open carefully so as not to jostle him, I leaned over him to unclick his seat belt. Lifting him from the car, I carried him to the house and tapped on the door with my foot.
It swung open, and Pa appeared, grinning in delight. “You’re back.”
“Ssh,” I hissed, nodding down at Reid’s sleeping form.
“Sorry.” Pa tiptoed backwards, dropping his voice to a level that wouldn’t disturb Reid. “Poor wee lamb looks tuckered out.”
“He is,” I murmured back. “I’m going to take him up to bed. Can you tell Ma we’d like to eat here tonight if it’s not too much trouble? I don’t think Reid’s ready to go to the clan house yet.”
Pa smirked. “Aye, I can. I’ll take out the ‘not too much trouble’ part to save ye a lecture and possibly a clip round the ear.”
“You’re the best.” I grinned. “See you later.”
It took me forever to reach my bedroom with how slow I was moving out of fear of waking Reid, but I don’t think I needed to worry. He didn’t stir once, small snuffly snores huffing against my chest. It had me wishing I was shirtless, just so I could feel it against my skin.
Just like last night.
Laying him gently on top of the duvet, I bit my lip as I tried to decide what to do. He wouldn’t be comfortable in his clothes for long, but stripping him felt wrong.
I’d take off his boots. Then, if he woke up, I could ask him if he wanted to change. Otherwise, he’d be fine for a few hours.
I got the first one off without an issue, but an accidental tug of the second had his eyes blearily opening. “Evan?”
“I’m just taking your shoes off,” I whispered, dropping the second boot on the floor and moving closer. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart. You’re exhausted.”
“No, I should get up,” he said, his eyes widening in alarm as he saw we were inside my bedroom. “What will your parents say if they realise I didn’t even say hello before vanishing up here? Oh god, this is awful. I’m fucking up already.”
The speed at which he’d gone from completely asleep to spiralling was terrifying. It had my wolf on edge, desperate for us to comfort him.
Dropping to my knees, I cupped his face. The touch had seemed to soothe him earlier. Hopefully it’d have the same effect now.
Reid exhaled, his shoulders relaxing, and I mentally cheered.
“Reid, I can tell ye what they’ll say if you go downstairs right now with these bags under your eyes.
Ma will have you back up here in two seconds flat, complete with a hot water bottle and a telling off so terrifying you won’t dare resurface until you’ve slept for at least two hours. ”
Reid bit his lip anxiously. “What about your dad? Is he home now?”
“He is.” I smiled. “You won’t get any help from him either. He backs Ma up even if she’s in the wrong. Which, to be clear, she wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“She wouldn’t?”
“Nope.” I stroked his cheekbones. “This might be the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen, but I hate these bags under your eyes.”
Reid’s glare had me realising I’d fucked up. “Not because I’m superficial. You could break out in the pox and it wouldn’t change how I feel about you. I hate them because it shows you’re tired. Exhausted, even.”
He grunted, and I could tell I was getting through to him.
“Rest for a few hours,” I said gently. “There’s nothing and no one waiting for either of us. You can sleep knowing I’m just downstairs. No one will get past me, not even Ma or Pa. Maybe that’ll help you sleep better.”
Reid tapped his fingers together. “What if I want you to stay with me?”
“Ye don’t need to worry, Reid. I don’t need to be in the room to keep you safe.”
“I know, but…” He reached up to cup my face, his fingers following the same lines mine had traced. “You have the same bags, Ev. I hate to think how much sleep you’ve been missing to watch over me. Must be a lot considering you don’t even need that much in the first place.”
I didn’t deny it. That would mean lying to him, and I’d be damned before I’d do that. “It was worth it to keep you safe.”
“Hmm…” I could almost see him plotting. Heaven help us all if he and Logan got any closer. Carnage would be unleashed. “How fast can you shift if you’re woken from a deep sleep and think there’s danger nearby?”
I blinked, confused by his question. “Immediately. The adrenaline helps my brain process information faster. To be honest, my wolf is ready to go at all times these days, so it’d be no more than a split second. Why?”
“Perfect.” Reid beamed, not answering my question. Instead, he was scooting over to the other side of my bed. “Get in.”
Ah. “Do you want me to hold you until you’re asleep? Like we did last night?”
“Nope.” His jaw cracked as he yawned. “I mean, yes, I definitely want you to hold me. Preferably shirtless, if I get a vote, although I’ll take what I can get. But I don’t want you to leave when I’m asleep. I want you to sleep too.”
I hesitated. “Are ye sure?”
“Yes.” He patted the space beside him. “Come on, Ev. Don’t make me beg. You just said you don’t have anywhere to be. And you also said we need to find our way out of this fucking depression hole together. Who said we can’t do that by taking naps?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
“I know.” He nodded solemnly. “I’m very wisdomous.”
“Is wisdomous a word?”
He hummed, his eyes barely open now. “Remind me to put it on the list.”
I reached over my head to grab the back of my shirt. I stripped it off in one movement, something that had Reid reaching down to press on himself with a whimper.
As fun as that would be to explore, I was acutely aware that my parents and their supe hearing were only a floor away. Besides, Reid was right. We both needed the rest.
Instead, I slid in beside him, lifting my arm and motioning.
Reid didn’t hesitate before tucking in close. When his cheek hit my pec, I think we both sighed in relief.
I cuddled him, wrapping my arms tight around him as I had the night before. It was almost perfect.
Then Reid threw his leg over my waist, and perfection was achieved.
Despite what I’d said to Reid, I hadn’t actually expected to sleep. I might have been exhausted, but I hadn’t missed that much rest. Not enough to take a nap in the middle of the day, surely?
I didn’t know if it was the quiet lullaby of his heartbeat, the gentle shapes he was tracing on my chest, or just having him in my arms. Whatever it was, it had my own eyes drifting closed.
I was hovering on the edge of sleep when I heard Reid murmur a question. “Why does this feel so right?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled, pressing a sleepy kiss to the top of his head. “Maybe, instead of questioning it, we should lean into it.”
He was silent for so long that sleep swept back in. It took me under so fast that I wasn’t sure if I dreamed his reply or not.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
When I peeled my eyelids back, I felt more refreshed than I had in months.
Best of all, Reid was still in my arms.
Judging by the amused glint in his eyes, he’d been awake awhile already. “Told you you needed sleep too.”
I rolled us over onto our sides, tucking him in against me. “Should I just accept you being right all the time now or…?”
He giggled, the sound so sweet it made me ache. “It might save us a lot of conversations in future.”
My breath caught. In future. Did that mean…?
Don’t get ahead of yourself, Evan. You’ll scare him off.
My wolf grumbled. If he had his way, we’d bite Reid now to make him ours and deal with the consequences later.