Chapter 6
Evron
“Get away from the curtains, you fucking creep,” Lowie growls from behind me, almost making me jump out of my damned skin, the curtain falling from my grasp as I check for any oncoming cars for what feels like the hundredth time since Creek told us Juniper agreed to dinner.
Turning, I raise an eyebrow at the crabby twin and blurt, “What crawled up your ass? I thought you’d be more excited than you currently look.”
Lowie narrows his eyes on me, his twin saddling up to his side, and says, “You’re making me antsy with your constant checking, twitching, and fidgeting. Just sit the fuck down and have a beer or something. Get your head on straight.”
Battling the growl that I almost let loose at being told what to do, I eye the moody bastard before walking away from him, heading for the fridge to get that aforementioned beer. Over my shoulder, I call, “Looks like you could do with one, too, you miserable fuck. Lighten up a bit. We’re finally going to see Juniper again. At least act excited.”
“Shut up, Ev,” he grumbles, but I don’t miss the way he peers through the small gap in the window where I’ve disturbed the curtains .
Lips twitching, I open the fridge and retrieve two beers, handing one to Lowie when he enters the kitchen, Leylan following after him with a lost look on his face. I can relate, though I’m doing my best to keep it bottled, not that Lowie would believe as much. My anxiety is riding my ass hard enough to leave bruises, and the anticipation of seeing Blue again is making me twitchy as fuck.
Taking a hefty swallow from the chilled bottle in my hand, Lowie doing the same, I lean against the counter and eye Leylan. He’s wringing his hands, sticking close to his brother, having always done in times of stress and worry. There’s no Leylan without Lowie, no Lowie without Leylan. Those boys have always been in one another’s pockets, close by no matter what, ever since they left the womb. I used to envy the kind of relationship the pair have, always having someone to rely on, always in your corner. I didn’t envy it so much when Juno came along, because she gave me that, even as young as we were. The devastation we all felt when she was gone has echoed through the years, hanging over our heads like a dark cloud waiting to rain, but the twins never faltered in their closeness.
Lowie nudges his brother's arm, gesturing the bottle toward him. Ley shakes his head, and Lowie nods in understanding, leaning against the counter opposite me and keeping close to his brother’s side. I smile against my beer bottle, finding that lack of envy that used to trickle through my system. I can only wonder if it’s the idea of Juno coming home that has it missing.
Just as I take another swig of beer, lights flash across the windows, and my entire body turns to fucking stone where I stand. Leylan, Lowie, and I share a look, the shy twin swallowing hard with an audible gulp.
“Why are you all just standing there?” Geo wonders as he steps into the kitchen, eyeing us all like we’ve finally lost our minds. He wouldn’t be far off, I guess.
Upending the beer and finishing it quickly, I throw the empty bottle into the trash before rubbing my hands together. “It’s show time. ”
Geo sighs. “You know what Creek said. We make ourselves scarce so we don’t scare her away.”
“Why would we scare her away?” I ask, not for the first time.
“Ev, she ran from Creek the first time she saw him. He called and said she’s driving herself here. She’s clearly skittish, isn’t very trusting, and has walls as high as the Great Wall of China is long. We don’t even know what designation she is. Let’s not overwhelm the poor—” Geo tries to explain, before he’s promptly interrupted by the twisting of the door handle attached to the front door.
Wincing, I blurt, “We’d look a bit stupid if we tried to run upstairs, wouldn’t we?”
“Fuck my life,” Geo grumbles with a shake of his head.
It doesn’t matter now, though, because the door is opening, and Creek steps through with a nervous expression. I can feel nerves riddling my own body. When his eyes turn to us, they widen, and I wince once more in apology. We definitely should have stayed upstairs like we said we would.
But then he steps to the side, holding a bunch of flowers in his hand, and I see her.
A bolt of electricity runs through me the moment Juno comes into view, wintery blue eyes scanning the house with a pinched brow and a look of uncomfortable awe plastered over her beautiful features. She’s dressed in torn-up skinny jeans, a loose tank that hangs low enough to reveal a peek of round, creamy globes tucked in a lacy bra, and fuck-me heels that make those legs run a mile fucking long.
“Holy shit,” I blurt quietly, but not quiet enough, because that stunning face turns to me, pale eyes widening as her mouth parts with a gasp. Her entire body stalls in the doorway, Creek turning to look over his shoulder at the girl that stole my heart all those years ago and never gave it back.
“Blue,” I whisper before I’m suddenly moving across the floor with one goal in mind, one objective, and I won’t stop until I reach it .
Creek doesn’t even step in my way, one look at my face telling him to back the fuck off. Juno only manages to take a single, unsteady step back before I’m on her like white on rice, tearing her off those heeled boots, and wrapping her in a bone-crushing hug that tears a grunt out of her. My face goes right for her neck, where it always went when she was near, and I inhale deeply. A strange rumble echoes around us as I drink in the heady but mute scent of pineapples, coconut, and vanilla, getting drunk off of a scent that reminds me of pina coladas in the sun. Sweet, sugary, and strong enough that the weird rumble grows louder and smoother. It’s enough to almost have me crashing to my knees, everything inside me lighting up at one single whiff of her, and it takes everything inside me to keep walking towards her instead of collapsing at her feet with want.
“Bro, is he purring?” I hear over my shoulder, and it takes me an embarrassingly long moment to realize the rumble is coming from me, my chest vibrating with an undeniable purr that I can’t seem to stop as I hold Juno close enough that I can feel the thundering of her heart which matches my own.
For a long moment, Juno remains frozen, arms lying limp at her side, feet hovering above the ground. It’s just as I’m about to release her, to take a step back, and run away like an embarrassed idiot that should have thought before he acted, when she finally moves.
Thin, but toned, arms wrapped in leather band around my shoulders, effectively trapping my face against her warm neck, keeping me exactly where I want to be. She hugs me gently at first, right before a shaky sigh leaves her lips, and those arms tighten until her hold on me is as tight as mine on her. She’s still as thin as she used to be, only now she’s filled out with a few subtle curves and soft, but toned, muscles. She’s certainly not the little tomboy we were all obsessed with, but now a beautiful woman pressed against me. I heave her higher in my arms, and those jean-encased legs find their way around my waist, one of my hands cupping the back of her head, while the other finds purchase on her lower back to keep her in place .
Through my rumbling purr, one I’ve never heard before, I murmur against her neck, “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Ev,” she whispers back, her forehead dropping to my shoulder with a tremble, one I try to fight off with a rub of my hand over her back.
Groaning low in my throat, my purr finally cutting short, I blurt, “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”
A whimper slips past her lips, and her scent becomes only slightly thicker, and I swallow hard as my mouth waters. She smells so fucking good. She’s always smelt a little sweet, but this is something else entirely, creating a little niggle in the back of my mind. It’s faint, noticeably so, but she still smells so good that I could drown in her scent and die happy. It only makes me wonder briefly about what designation she’s in, her scent too faint to be anything but beta, but so sweet that that niggle of a thought blooms only a little with the idea that she could be an omega. But then I hear her inhale deeply, and everything else is forgotten as those trembles wracking her small body settles slightly.
“Want to let her go, bro? You’re not the only one who wants a fucking hug,” Geo snickers from behind me, and it pops whatever bubble surrounds us.
I could growl at Geo when Juno tenses around me, but I nuzzle her neck and she relaxes a fraction more, satisfaction unfurling in my chest with a pleased purr. Slowly, I unlatch myself from Juno, lowering her carefully to her feet. I’m beyond reluctant to pull away, already missing her warmth as I step back, smiling down at the stunned, purple-haired beauty as she rapidly blinks at me. No longer is her hair that dirty-blonde filled with knots and sticks from running around the forest with us, but I find this suits her more, the shoulder-length waves brushing her shoulders, a deep, rich purple color that makes her piercing blue eyes stand out that much more. She’s fucking stunning.
Before I can utter another word, though, she’s stolen from me, Geo’s meaty form wrapping around her, arms banding around her head and shoulders to pull her into his chest. She’s quicker on the uptake this time, her arms finding purchase around his waist.
“Hey, Firecracker,” he damn near croons, pushing the boat out by pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. For fuck’s sake. Why didn’t I think of that?
Juno huffs a strange semblance of a laugh and groan, hints of disbelief in her slightly raspy voice, yet another change from the girl we remember.
“Hi, Rocky,” she breathes, splaying her hands over his back as she presses her cheek against the guy’s meaty chest. Man is built like a fucking house, muscle for days, and gives the appearance of a stereotypical alpha despite being a beta. The only beta of us all, much to everyone’s surprise when our designations came in at ages sixteen. Not that we give a shit. Designation means nothing to us, because we’re family. Geo means as much to me as the others, and we all feel the same. He’s no different just because of his designation.
When she finally pulls back, Juno eyes the guy with raised eyebrows and a slight shake of her head. Whistling, she stuns me when she jokes, “Effing hell, what have they been feeding you? You’re built like a tank.”
Geo beams down at her, flexing his muscles, and teases back, “What can I say? Good genes, Firecracker.”
She hums under her breath, a small sound of amusement, before creating more space between them. I watch as she subtly inhales, and I see the moment she recognizes his fresh air and sea-salt scent, faint as it may be. It’s a clear indicator of his designation, though, as much as mine paints me as an alpha. She doesn’t mention anything though, simply stepping back a little further, until she accidentally bumps into Creek, who’s lingered behind her.
“Let’s get you inside, beautiful. The heat’s getting out,” he says, nudging her carefully, forcing her a step forward so he can close the door.
Swallowing hard, Juno looks back at the door, her shoulders tense as she eyes the handle like she’s contemplating running again. My body tenses before hers relaxes, a flash of something crossing her features too fast for me to name, but then she turns with a grimace for a smile and stands awkwardly by the door.
“Come on, sweetheart,” I offer, hating the uncertainty that pulses from her in waves. It sets me on edge, and a sudden urge to comfort, to soothe, washes over me. I don’t even question it, reaching my hand out for her. “Let’s get you settled, huh? Food should be here shortly. How about a drink?”
Blowing out a breath, she nods, slipping her dainty hand in mine with only a small moment of hesitation. It’s like a wave of victory roars through me, and I roll my eyes at myself as I tug her gently to the living room, where Leylan and Lowie have migrated.
Juno stumbles over her feet as the twins stand, and a small, thready whine crawls from her parted lips. When I look down at her, I find the first drops of tears threatening to spill, and my heart seizes in my chest, an ache forming at the look of desolate heartbreak in those icy, blue eyes.
My girl is swarmed before I can take a breath that doesn’t hurt, Leylan coaxing her into an embrace that she melts into, softly crying against his chest. Lowie stands behind her, unsure and pained, before her cries get the better of him. He’s pressing against her back the next moment, his forehead dropping to her shoulder as his arms wrap around her waist. They fit between her and Leylan, whose one arm bands around her and his brother, while his other arm strokes Juno’s hair as she cries. I can barely hear Lowie as he whispers, “Ssh, it’s okay. It’s alright, Angel.”
Jaw clenched as I watch the heart-breaking scene, I swallow and decide to leave them have their moment, feeling very much like I’m intruding on something that doesn’t need spectators. As quietly as I can, I leave the room, meandering back to the kitchen where Geo and Creek already wait, the former battling tears in his own eyes. I grunt, before muttering, “Fucking hell.”
Then I’m pulling Geo into a hard hug, slapping his shoulder as he tries to shake off his emotions. Emotions I’m sure match mine, intense and overwhelming, especially knowing the girl we’ve all dreamed of for years and years is currently sobbing her heart out in the next room.
When we pull apart, Geo’s eyes are red rimmed, and I feel like I’m on the verge of sobbing like a baby, my emotions all over the fucking place. Blowing out a harsh breath, I turn to Creek and say, “That was heavy.”
He snorts humorlessly, nodding in agreement. “No, shit. Got a better reaction than I did, though. I should have hugged her tighter the moment I saw her.”
My lips twitch, because his thoughts echo my own when I watched Geo kiss her head. “You got her here, bro. That’s fucking huge.”
Creek’s whole body sags and his eyes shudder closed, his jaw clenching tightly before he whispers, “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we found her. That she’s literally standing under our roof, just a room away. It doesn’t feel real.”
“You’re telling me. I’m fighting the urge to go back out there and hug her again, just to make sure she’s real,” Geo agrees, heading to the fridge to retrieve three beers, handing one each to Creek and me.
I huff a laugh. “Preach, brother. Didn’t want to let her go.”
They both nod, understanding perfectly what I mean, and I find myself downing half of the bottle in my hand before I realize I’ve done it. I then finish the damned thing when the fierce urge to get back to Juno makes me it’s bitch, my body almost jerking with the force I have to put behind keeping my feet planted where they are.
I can hear quiet chatter coming from the living room, a faint cry and several sniffles, before it all turns silent. I don’t like that. We’ve spent enough time over the years sitting in silence, lost in our thoughts, wondering what life would have been like if Juno stayed with us.
“You fuckheads actually order food, or did you plan on standing around gazing into one another’s eyes all night?” Lowie asks from behind us, and I whirl around, eyes darting as I search for the purple-haired beauty.
I only find Leylan stepping into the kitchen behind his brother, and my eyebrows furrow in confusion. Creek must feel it, too, because he asks, “Where’s Juniper?”
Leylan answers as Lowie rolls his eyes and reaches for his cell, ignoring us all as he fucks around on the small device. “She’ll be back in a moment. She just went to use the restroom.”
“Is everything okay?” Geo asks, just as worried as me, by the sounds of things.
“Pretty sure we all managed to overwhelm her, so she’s taking a breather for a minute. She’s having a moment to herself,” Lowie answers without looking up from his cell, tapping away before he peers over at Creek. “Did you actually order food, or do I have to do it?”
“I ordered it, man. Pizzas are on—” Sure enough, there’s a knock at the door, interrupting Creek effectively. He gives Lowie a look and finishes his sentence, “their way. I’ll get the door.”
Leaving the kitchen, I watch as he leans in the direction of the downstairs bathroom, the one I assume Juniper is currently occupying, before he heads to the front door. He comes back a few minutes later, arms bogged down with enough boxes of pizza to feed a small army, my lips twitching with a suppressed smile as the tower of pizza leans to the left slightly, almost toppling to the floor before he catches them at the last minute.
Placing the boxes on the counter, he gestures for the others to help him, Leylan grabbing plates, while Lowie gathers glasses and napkins, leaving Geo to help sort through the boxes. While they’re busy, I sneak out of the kitchen and follow the drugging scent of pina colada.
Rasping my knuckles on the closed door, I ask, “You okay in there, Blue?”
“I’m fine,” she rasps, her voice sounding anything but .
It’s the only explanation as to why I barge into the fucking bathroom like an idiot, shutting the door with a snick of the latch after myself. I stall as soon as I see a sad Juniper leaning against the sink, hands splayed and head hanging between them, her hair providing a curtain that blocks her face from the outside world. It’s only the refection that displays her pain, and it fucking kills me.
“Sweetheart,” I breathe, a pit forming in my stomach, my chest aching at the sight of those glassy, blue eyes that have haunted me for years.
Juno’s body tenses, as though she didn’t realize she had company, and she peers into the mirror, those stunning blues clashing with my own gaze. With a croak, she says, “I’m fine. I’m okay. I’ll be out in a second.”
She peers down at the sink, expecting me to leave, but I stay where I am, watching the once vibrant girl full of life despite the hand she was dealt with try to curl into herself. It’s like she’s trying to make herself smaller, somehow, a lesser target for the pain I can see painted on her delicately sharp features.
“You’re not fine, sweetheart,” I counter, taking a step toward her when I’m unable to keep my distance. I mean, she’s right there, so close. Closer than she’s ever been in the last eight years. Only a fucking idiot would stay away. “And it’s okay not to be fine. None of us are fine.”
She flinches, and I instantly feel like shit, despite my words intended to soothe. I take another step and hurry to explain. “This is a lot for us all, Blue. A lot of emotions, a lot of feelings. So, what I’m saying is, it’s alright not to be okay. Because we aren’t, either. But you don’t have to not be okay on your own.”
At that, she looks over at me, a tear slipping from her eye and leaving a scalding trail of liquid down her pale cheek. I smile, a somewhat sad one at that, and I hold out my arms for her, giving her the option to take the comfort I’m all too willing to offer. Hell, I’d give her the fucking moon if she’d asked. Because if there’s one thing in my world that hasn’t changed, is how much Juniper Henley means to me. My feelings for her haven’t depleted, my thoughts are still often hers, and I’ll be damned if I let her cry in the bathroom alone without arms to hold her, a shoulder to rest on, and a chest to brace against when holding herself up becomes too much.
Not even an hour into her reappearing in my life, and I already feel like I have everything I’ve needed and have been missing in all the years that she’s been gone. I just hope we can convince her to stay.