Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
“Girl, you look good. Maybe a little frazzled, but good.”
After planning out my day, sending a few texts, I FaceTimed Bec as I’d promised yesterday. Her smug face fills my phone screen, her blond hair, as usual, perfectly styled in loose curls all about her face and shoulders.
With a grumble, I shift on my bed where I’m seated. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you planned for more than my stay here.”
She blinks, trying to look innocent. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
Pursing my lips, I give her the “stank-eye.” “You stayed here when you visited a few years back. Did you meet the owners’ son?”
A wicked smile stretches across her face. “Ah, young Will,” she sings. “He actually worked part-time for one of Violet’s Alphas when I stayed there. Nice kid.”
“Uh-huh.” I don’t hide my suspicion, although, really, how could she possibly know I’d be attracted to him?
I guess anyone would be, to be honest.
“So, tell me what’s going on over there,” Bec prods.
“I ran into Asher Black the second day I was here, and found out he’s staying at the same B&B.”
“No way,” she breathes. “That fine-as-hell British actor?”
I laugh and nod. “That’s the one.”
“Well, that’s fortuitous.”
“How do you mean?”
“You’re both single now.”
I wince. “And I also ran into someone else a day later. Matthew.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Matthew. That’s… unexpected. Are you okay?”
“We had a really long chat. He explained things as best he could,” I say. “I don’t feel as betrayed anymore.”
Bec frowns, and I know she’s thinking in overdrive.
I rush onward. “Actually, the four of us had a great Thanksgiving together last night.”
That gets her attention. “The four of you?”
“Me, Will, Asher, and Matthew.”
Her lips part in silence a moment. “So, the three of them get along?”
“Yeah.” My response is light as I nod.
She gives a contemplative hum, then narrows her eyes. “Well, I’m sure that everything will work out.” There’s a ping somewhere in her apartment before I can ask for clarification, and she stands from her chair with the phone in her grasp. “I’ve got to go, Izzy. Text me later.”
And she’s gone before I can even tell her my plans for later.
Shortly after my call, I talked to Will about extending my stay. He seemed really excited at the prospect.
I handed him one of my credit cards and made sure he would change the charges to it. Once he swiped the card with diligence, then handed it back to me, I waved and was out the door.
A small bit of snow had fallen overnight, and my sneakers crunch on the dusted ground as I make my way to Cuppa for a to-go mocha latte, then head over to a small park on the other side of town, close to the lake.
When I arrive, the first thing I see is a stunning man with dark hair playing on the snow-covered playground with a small girl whose matching hair pokes out of her little hat in short pigtails at her back. When she giggles, the man mock-roars and stomps toward her as she runs away, squealing.
The scene makes me grin, but that smile widens when I catch the gaze of a beautiful, very pregnant woman, sitting on a nearby bench. Her auburn hair waves around her face in the light breeze from inside her coat’s hood.
“Violet!” I call, waving as I approach.
She grins at me, evergreen eyes sparkling in the sun. She makes a move to rise to her feet, but I hustle over to her while gesturing for her to stay put.
“Izzy,” she greets as I bend to hug her gently. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too, girl.” I sit beside her. “I know I’ve already apologized, but since we’re face-to-face, let me say again that I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding.
” At the time she and her three Alphas were wed, we’d been in crunch mode for Death of an Archon, and time off was forbidden for everyone at the studio.
“Don’t apologize again,” she says with a laugh. “I completely understood. And you sent the most amazing gifts with Bec, which was so unnecessary.”
I shrug at that. I’d felt it had been very much necessary.
Her gaze falls back to the man and the little girl, warmth filling her eyes and a small smile on her face.
“They’re yours, I take it?” I ask cheekily.
Violet laughs. “Yes. The big one is Ben, the little one is Ivy.”
My laugh is a little nervous. “Kids are cute, especially when they’re someone else’s and you can just give them back.”
Oops.
Violet laughs even louder, turning back to me. “I can agree with that.” She squints. “There’s nothing wrong with not wanting children,” she adds, as though feeling the energy I’m giving off. “I was scared shitless before making the decision to start a family, but I knew it was something I wanted.”
I sigh, bite my lip. “Please don’t take this in a way that makes you look at me differently, but I’m worried I might fall for someone who wants kids.”
Violet thinks on this a moment. “First, I’d never think differently of you in a bad way,” she assures. “Second, I’m curious. Have you found any of your scent-matches?”
My body stills without me commanding it to. Scent-matches…. I mean, I know all about that now, and I even changed my medications to leave myself open to finding them, but…
“I don’t think so?” It comes out as a question. “I mean, just because a guy smells good doesn’t mean he’s my scent-match, right?”
Violet gets a faraway look in her eyes, expression fond. “I didn’t realize what a scent-match really was until my suppressants wore off. Then, bam,” she claps her mitten-clad hands. “It was so fast, my head should have spun off.” She laughs. “Maybe it did.”
Huh. “Bec had told me a bit about what you went through. I literally had my suppressants changed the following month. I haven’t gone into heat or anything, but scents have certainly changed for me.
” I shift toward her, and as if to emphasize my point, Violet’s wildflower scent rises around me.
One look at her is all it takes for me to realize it’s her Alpha who’s causing the elevation.
I let out a small laugh. “Even my ex, Matthew—he’s actually staying here in Crescent Lake—even he smells so much better now than he did when we were together and I was on my old meds.”
Violet smiles kindly at me. Her whole demeanor is so different from when she lived in L.A., and I can’t tell if it’s because of her move to Crescent Lake, because she found her pack, because of motherhood, or all of the above.
“Should you be out here in the snow in your condition?” I blurt.
She laughs at me, but it’s still kind. “There’s nothing wrong with being in the snow for a while.
Besides, they love it.” She returns her gaze to Ben and her daughter before looking back at me.
“I’d better go join them.” When she moves to stand, I’m right there with her, helping her up.
She nods in thanks, takes one step, then turns back to me.
“I’d like to send you some information about scent-matching, if that’s okay. ”
I’m nodding, yes, before she finishes speaking.
And, as I watch her join part of her family, how Ben wraps her in his arms with so much love and care, the absolute adoration in his gaze, I think I may start my own research when I get back to the B&B.