Chapter 7 #3
I frowned, not liking a female’s name on his lips.
More so, not liking the concept that he knew she would be excited to see them.
Instead of focusing on those thoughts, though, I jumped slightly as we drove through what felt like a barrier, turning off campus.
The cool magic ran over my skin as my vision blurred slightly, just as it had when I had first entered in the taxi.
The driver had explained that it was a warded campus, but holy crap did that feel weird.
I gripped the seat and slowly breathed out, barely listening to what Julian was saying behind me.
Before I knew it, we were driving down a familiar street that I already recognized as leading towards the train station and the small main street I knew I had seen earlier.
I turned my head slightly, looking over Caedmon’s muscular frame to see the frozen lakefront.
The sky was a pale gray and blue that met the icy, frozen, wave-like shores of the lake. It was beautiful and deadly.
Not enough to distract me, though, from the very Hallmark-like downtown city center we entered.
My smile grew, realizing that as the afternoon was wearing on, bright little lights in the snow-covered street lamps that lined the festive area were turning on.
All the windows had this beautiful festive window paint, wishing everyone a ‘Happy New Year,’ and I found myself breathing out at that.
It was a new year. As in, only the first two weeks of the new year… hopefully it would be a good one.
Caedmon parked, pulling over to the side of the snowy street, and I looked around curiously, examining the store we found ourselves in front of.
The door opened up and I found Dakota standing there, leaning over to unbuckle me before offering me a hand.
I pressed mine against his rough, warm ones, except as I went to stand, his fingers wrapped around my waist and he pulled me against his chest. I smiled slightly.
“You know I can get down from the car myself, right?”
His lip twitched, finding what I was saying amusing, apparently.
“I’m aware,” he admitted, “but I like touching you.”
Honestly, I was really appreciating his bluntness.
I blushed as his fingers ran over my cheek.
As if remembering something—or more distinctly, something he heard in my thoughts—his one hand moved up from my waist to my ribs, his gaze tracking my reaction.
My breathing tightened as lightning flashed in his gaze once more, making me wish I could read his thoughts like he could clearly read mine.
Instead of commenting on my bruised ribs, he led me towards the shoveled sidewalk, making me wonder what he wanted to say.
The others joined us, and Dakota confidently intertwined my fingers with his as we walked towards a large glass storefront that was decorated with beautiful window displays that showcased an array of Silver Falls University merchandise that caught my eye.
I felt my eyes widen at the massive sign that spelled out ‘Diane’s Department Store.
’ It was a stunning storefront, and I could see small crystals embedded in the foyer floor as we stepped into the massive space.
Instantly, warmth hit my skin as I let out a small, happy sigh.
I tucked my other hand into my pocket, or tried to, but jumped slightly as Tore appeared next to me, running his fingers along the skin in a comforting gesture.
I shivered as he lifted it to his mouth and kissed it before leading me forward to follow Julian, who was happily showing us into the store.
I was distracted enough that I was somewhat surprised when I finally looked around the busy store, other students dressed in the signature blue and silver shades of SFU’s logo mingling about.
Well, until they noticed us… then they were looking directly at us without shame.
I sank in between Tore and Dakota, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Had I already become so complacent with how comfortable they made me? Had I forgotten just how sharp and cruel reality’s gaze was on me? Surely not so soon.
When a low snarl broke from behind us, both men and women snapped their gazes away as I realized the sound had come from Caedmon.
I looked back at him as he offered me a comforting, barely-there smile, making me relax.
Despite the eyes on us, I felt very insulated, and I was wondering if this was normal.
I didn’t see anyone else being surrounded by large men like me…
I mean, at least not how they seemed to be doing. Maybe I was overthinking this.
Right, because you were imagining the two men holding your hands on either side of you. As if that was possible.
“Diane!” Julian called out. My chest relaxed as a friendly smile broke out on an older woman’s face, who was standing behind a large counter.
She closed a magazine and stood up straighter, seemingly very happy to see them, and I couldn’t lie—she didn’t bother me nearly as much as the idea of some girl our age being excited to see them.
Not that I would judge… but I didn’t want her noticing my new friends like that.
If they were both going to hold my hands like this, they were temporarily mine, right?
Yes, for the record, I was starting to realize this was a very unusual situation.
And yes, I had a feeling that this had something to do with our wolves’ magic…
I just wasn’t ready to fully consider what this all meant.
Mostly because I didn’t want to consider that this moment could be extremely temporary if they did, in fact, have a mate already or were still searching for her.
The idea of becoming friends with these men and suddenly having to no longer spend time with them was far too painful.
My head hurt at that notion. Although, if they did have a mate and were acting like this towards me, I wouldn’t be particularly happy either.
If these men were my mates, I wouldn’t be okay with them holding hands with some woman they just met. Or at all!
Until I had an answer, though? I planned on just seeing how this all played out, because, for once, I was being selfish.
These men made me feel good about myself, and I didn’t want to lose that.
Not yet. Once I sat down tonight, had a moment to think everything through, I’m sure it would become clear.
Right now, I felt a weird affection and lust-infused haze, the instincts running through me anything but my usual spectrum of feelings or actions.
I didn’t usually want to crawl all over men or rub against them like a kitten, but I wanted to do that and a million other things that turned my face pink with these guys. As if they would want that.
“We want it, doesn’t that count?”
I nearly scoffed at my wolf. Since when did anything that we want matter in the least?
“Julian!” Diane greeted as she stepped from behind the counter, and then, as she looked over all of us, “Boys! Good to see all of you, how are we doing?”
I could already tell I liked this woman.
Her eyes were a soft, warm brown, and I could tell she was a shifter.
She smelled faintly like a wolf but not completely.
How odd. Her red and gray hair was loosely pulled back, and she wore a flannel top with jeans.
I found myself a bit jealous at how comfortable she seemed in her own skin.
“Good,” Julian confirmed. “Figured we would take a trip in town.”
“And who is your new friend?” she asked as I gave her a shy smile.
“Effie,” I offered. “Effie Harlow.”
There. That was polite and normal. Right?
“Harlow.” Tore’s voice was a low rumble as I realized he was saying my last name out loud. I shivered, absolutely loving how it sounded on his lips. I didn’t love that the name was attached to Theresa and Gerald, but I had adopted the name mentally, so it was mine as much as theirs.
“I see.” She offered a knowing nod and briefly looked at our hands before continuing. “Well, I’m Diane. What can I help you guys with? I’m assuming you came in for more than just a friendly hello.”
“Bedding,” Tore answered. “She arrived at campus only today.”
“A bunch of other shit as well,” Caedmon muttered. I looked up and behind me, finding him standing there in my space. I felt my brow dip slightly.
Other shit? What other stuff did I need? I mean, sure, I didn’t have everything from back home, but I was nearly positive I had all of the necessary items. Although, I had a feeling Caedmon didn’t agree in the least.
“Well, come on then.” Diane ushered us further into the store.
I walked ahead a bit, breaking from between the two other men as Julian flashed me a cute smile. I tucked my hands into my pockets as the happy man looked down at me, his eyes sparkling with excitement as we walked next to one another, following her with ease.
The others were walking a bit slower, but I was so focused on everything around me that I barely noticed they were lagging behind. We turned two or three corners before my eyes went wide as we came to an area with a ton of pre-packaged bedding and other stuff that seemed to belong in a bedroom.
“This should work perfectly,” Julian said.
Diane flashed me a smile, squeezing my shoulder gently as she passed.
I tensed slightly at her touch but managed to brush it off, feeling better as Julian wrapped an arm around me, his hand gripping my hip snugly.
I couldn’t hear what the others were talking to her about behind us, instead finding myself distracted by the large amount of bright bedding.
“Which one catches your eye?” he asked curiously.