Chapter 7
Hestia
Breakfast on my first day at the station is a mostly pleasant affair.
Magnus is still avoiding me as much as possible while being in the same room, always standing or sitting as far away as he can. He talks to me now at least, but not as much as he does with his packmates. Since he’s polite, I don’t push him on it.
I’d like to believe he’s just a quiet guy, but it seems like the others think he’s acting oddly too. I’ve caught them giving him looks when they think I can’t see.
I won’t let that get me down though. There are still 729 days left for me to fit in with my team. Even if we never end up being friendly, it doesn’t matter as long as they train me.
Our station is amazing, and regardless of how things turn out with my teammates, I’m excited to be here.
I had the best sleep ever last night, and when I got up this morning, the view from my bedroom window was spectacular.
I watched the fluffy snow falling down on the valley below.
Looking at the cozy little towns nestled between the mountain peaks, the winding rivers and streams, it’s hard to imagine anything bad could ever happen here.
After we finish eating, Orion says, “I’ll walk you through our routine procedures today.”
“Sure, that sounds great,” I say.
I’ve been itching to get started. I unpacked all my essentials last night, but don’t feel totally settled. I’m so focused on work, jumping in is probably the best way for me to get comfortable here.
I actually considered sneaking out of my rooms last night to start reading through their files. The only thing that stopped me was the thought of getting caught and having to explain I was wandering around in the middle of the night with my little scented candle just to read some old paperwork.
“If you want help unpacking, just let me know,” Henri says as we clean up our dishes.
The siren blaring cuts off my reply.
Everyone drops what they’re doing as Orion answers dispatch, putting it on speakerphone for us to listen. The operator rattles off the information about the emergency call, and Orion confirms we’ll accept it.
I follow close behind the others as we hurry to collect our gear.
I already brought my work bag down to the lockers last night, so I pull it out and get my boots on.
“Do you have everything you need? There are extra supplies in here if you haven’t unpacked something yet,” Charm says, opening the cabinets.
“I have everything the academy says I should carry,” I say.
Orion double-checks my bag while I put my coat on and approves it. I’m pleased by the validation, even if it’s for something so basic.
Charm hands me maps of our area along with a radio and satellite GPS. I tuck them in my bag alongside the maps I already bought of the Fossfell Mountains.
“You can ride with Magnus and me,” Orion says.
We stow our bags, and I climb in the front of the double-rowed backseat. Magnus is in the passenger seat setting up the GPS for Orion.
Charm’s voice comes through the radio, confirming they’re ready in the other car.
Orion puts it in reverse, and out of habit I turn to watch out the back window.
Except I come face to face with Cato instead. I jerk away reflexively, choking as the seatbelt hits my neck.
Magnus looks back when he hears my gurgling, and I quickly right myself.
“Are you okay?” he asks in his low, deep voice.
“I’m fine,” I say, my voice noticeably strained.
Orion glances at me in the rearview mirror, and I try to school my expression into something normal, like we’re not experimenting with breath play back here.
I slump when they finally look away.
I didn’t see Cato get in the car. How can someone so big be so sneaky?
I freeze as something touches my neck, Cato’s hand wrapping around me to massage where the seatbelt dug in. His warm fingers quickly sooth the sting, chocolate scent wafting over me despite his descenters and the car’s ventilation system trying to whisk it away.
I’m flushed, too warm with the heat blasting and my winter gear on.
Eventually Cato releases me, and there’s no more pain, only heat.
I don’t know if he intended to scare me or if moving in silence comes naturally to him. Except when I turned around, Cato was on the edge of his seat, hovering just behind me. Maybe he was going to say something as I turned around, and that’s why he was so close?
He doesn’t do anything else now, so I try to shake off the uncertainty of his motives.
On the drive, Orion gives me advice, pointing out certain areas they have to watch for rockslides or spots that frequently become impassable with heavy snow. Magnus chimes in occasionally too.
Though he remains silent, I sense the weight of Cato’s presence. Sometimes I think I feel his breath on my neck, but every time I work up the courage to peek at him, he’s lounging back in his seat nowhere near me.
Eventually I force myself to stop looking so he doesn’t think I’m strange. Cato had a sly smile every time I looked, like he knew I was peeping.
I don’t want him to think I’m into him.