Chapter 7
Effie Harlow
“Jumpin’ jellybeans,” I murmured under my breath, tightening Tore’s jacket around me as we stepped out from the Eclipse building, being hit in the face almost immediately by an icy wind coming off the lake.
The funniest part was that my underhand comment had nothing to do with the weather.
Nope, it had to do with the large shiny pickup truck that we were walking towards.
I wasn’t positive what type of car I would have expected Caedmon to drive…
but for whatever reason, this didn’t fit what I’d assumed.
It was surprising. Interesting.
The truck was sitting, clearly still on, and waiting in a parking spot right in front of our building. I shivered with anticipation, knowing it would probably be very warm compared to out here. I was also relatively curious to know what it would be like inside of the masterpiece of a vehicle.
I had seen a few cars in pack territory, but most people took public transportation when leaving the area.
It was the reason that I’d taken a bus to the train station after Alpha dropped me off, the first time I’d ever done that in five years.
It had been relatively simple but still a bit nerve-wracking, considering my lack of finances and the possibility of literally landing anywhere in the city if I messed it up.
This, though, was for sure different. This car was absolutely beautiful and clearly brand-new. There were no scratches, rusty spots, or dents, and it almost made a purr-like sound that I found myself enjoying.
“Did you say ‘jumpin’ jellybeans’?” Caedmon offered me a curious look, his face still slightly grumpy but his green eyes softening with what I swear was amusement. His stride was slow and casual next to me, but I still had to walk fairly fast in order to keep pace with him.
“Yes.” I blushed, feeling embarrassed. “I don’t swear a lot… so sometimes I just come up with my own.”
Caedmon blinked at me, processing what I was saying, as his lips pulled up into a smile. My face heated more, realizing just how gorgeous his smile was.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with swearing, though.” I really didn’t want to offend them.
His chuckle was soft as he pressed a hand to my lower back. “That’s adorable.”
Did I want to be adorable to him? Honestly, I didn’t mind when he said it like that…
Except I was distracted enough that the surprise of his hand on my back had me squeaking as I nearly fell back on a slip of ice.
Or, well, I would have if two solid, warm arms hadn’t wrapped around me.
Immediately, I knew it was Dakota, and I tilted my head back, offering him a small, embarrassed smile.
There was no avoiding the very obvious—I was awkward, and I would continue to do embarrassing stuff. I hoped they were okay with that.
“She’s short, we need to walk slower,” Julian offered as Dakota straightened me. Caedmon’s smile was gone, concern fueling his gaze.
“I didn’t ask to be this height,” I mumbled, feeling insecure. “I can keep up.”
“Now you hurt her feelings,” Tore rumbled.
I looked up at Julian, who was offering me a surprised look.
I opened my mouth to say something, but instead, I was scooped up easily, a small laugh breaking from my lips as I realized he had just decided to pick me up.
Julian carried me ahead towards the car and examined my expression as the others complained.
“Sorry, preciosa, you know I don’t mean it as a bad thing.
I love exactly how you are, but I do worry.
” My breath caught as he rubbed his nose with mine, and I melted against him.
Maybe I needed to relax a bit more. He clearly didn’t mean it as a bad thing.
I needed to stop letting my emotions get away from me.
Also, could we go back to him rubbing his nose against mine? I nearly scowled as he pulled back from the action.
“I really don’t mind catching her,” Dakota mumbled.
Caedmon scoffed. “Shocking.”
“Shut it,” Tore grunted. Oddly, despite their words, the tension between the two men was far less than before. I had absolutely no idea if that had to do with something I’d said, about me wanting Caedmon to be there… but no, that didn’t make sense. Nevermind.
I did want to know what was going on between them, though.
I seriously had a problem. None of this was my business.
They weren’t my business! Rationally, I knew I shouldn’t have been comfortable with these men.
I was semi-running on instinct, and considering my wolf was thrilled, there was a part of me that didn’t want to continue to be guarded… despite the necessity of it.
I mean, there was still a massive question in my mind. Why were they being so nice? What did they want from me? Goddess. I sounded so jaded, but then again, it wasn’t like my past experiences hadn’t proven the need to be cautious.
Julian set me down gently in front of the passenger door and threw open the back before sliding in, leaving me standing in front of Caedmon. I ran my bare fingers along the sleek paint job of the vehicle as I looked into the window, realizing the truck was even nicer than I assumed.
“What?” Caedmon asked almost cautiously, gently opening the door and blasting me with heat.
I could feel Dakota’s gaze on mine as Tore got into the car on the other side.
I knew I probably looked very odd, just standing here, staring and touching his truck…
I just didn’t know when I would be in one like this again, so I wanted to appreciate the moment.
“Your truck is pretty,” I admitted, shrugging as his eyes warmed on me. I looked up at how large the two of them were. “I should sit in the back, though. I can’t imagine there is a ton of room back there, both of you are huge—Caedmon!”
He literally lifted me up by my waist, two large hands easily setting me on the leather seat.
I sighed at the feeling of his touch through my worn jeans and jacket.
His throat rumbled at something as my eyes widened, his hand reaching across to buckle me up.
I took the moment to inhale his delicious scent and tried to not rub against him.
Because that would be weird. I just needed to remind myself of that… again and again.
Caedmon pulled back and paused, leaning over me as Dakota slid into the back. My entire focus was on the man over me as I fought the urge to touch his hair, which hung in his face slightly.
“Say it again,” he demanded softly. I didn’t think the others could hear him.
“What? About your car?” I tilted my head, swallowing nervously.
“My name.”
“Caedmon?” I asked sincerely. His green eyes jumped, his throat producing a low, sexy growl that wasn’t scary in the least but very much invoked a response from my body, jolting it and causing everything to turn molten.
Then he stepped back and closed the door, swearing up a storm under his breath, making me feel as if ice water had been poured over my head.
I watched in surprise as he jogged around the front of the snowy car.
Alright, I was a bit confused, honestly. Although, I did like saying his name, so if he wanted me to do it again, I could, but why… Oh. I felt my cheeks begin to burn as realization dawned on me, and I pressed my fingers to my face to try to cool it down.
“Are your hands cold?” Tore asked, leaning forward across Julian. I wiggled my slightly red fingers and shook my head.
“No, but I probably do need gloves. I imagine you get used to this weather after a bit of being here, but it’s still a bit shocking. Chicago is a different type of cold.”
“This is my third year and I’m still not used to it,” Julian mused, flashing me a cute smile, dimples and everything. That was so unfair.
“Yeah, even Washington wasn’t this bad,” Tore murmured.
I jumped slightly as he took my hands, rubbing them between his rough palms that were double the size of mine.
My face flushed, feeling a hot streak of desire that had my breath catching.
Before any of them could notice, I tried to shake myself. Not right now.
I really needed to control my physical reactions better around them.
I was almost positive they could scent desire, and that had the possibility of making everything awkward, because I had no idea how to explain that I was attracted to all of them.
I mean, that just sounded bad, right? Maybe they wouldn’t be surprised.
I mean, they were gorgeous—could that truly be shocking?
They probably wouldn’t even notice because they were so used to women feeling that way around them.
A surge of jealousy had my wolf growling at the concept of anyone noticing them like that.
Couldn’t everyone see that they were… well, not mine.
I couldn’t claim that. My wolf narrowed her eyes as if challenging me, and I nearly huffed.
We couldn’t just claim ownership over this many men.
Or any men. I needed to get out of my head, and my wolf needed to relax.
She had never been this worked up before.
“I’m from right outside of Phoenix, this is absolutely one-eighty,” Dakota offered, my gaze darting over to his. I froze, my breath catching at the way he was looking at me. Intensely. Almost as if he could see into my very soul, directly to my most inner thoughts.
That concept paralyzed me for a moment. Not because the idea of my mental privacy being invaded was unappealing, but the opposite—I somewhat loved the concept.
Which worried me, because there was nothing normal about that.
Yet my wolf didn’t seem threatened by it at all.
My throat felt dry as I swallowed, feeling awkward as I let out a slow, small breath on a controlled exhale.
“Breathe, little wolf.”
Didn’t he realize I was trying?