Chapter 15
Effie Harlow
Abrush of fur moved across my skin that had me smiling as my heavy eyes opened.
I could hear distant music playing, and when I tried to listen, I also recognized the familiar voices that echoed through the house.
I felt warmth infuse my heart as a tongue brushed my cheek, my laughter sounding far younger than I was used to.
I blinked around and noticed there was a bright blue furry cat laying on my chest staring down at me, its large purple eyes watching me with interest. Misty.
Her name was Misty, and she was little, like me.
My small hand came out and brushed over her soft fur as a purr came happily from her chest, making me smile.
“Effie?” A female voice called out to me as I looked towards the massive white archway of my bedroom, the bright sun making me wonder who it was calling me so early. My mom? Mommy wasn’t usually up during the day.
A shadow crossed the floor, but before the person could walk through the doorway, everything clouded over with mist…
My eyes opened as a tidal wave of emotion hit me and I tried to remember where I had just come from.
A dream. It had been a dream about… Disappointment surged through me, the odd dream like a fuzzy memory that I was losing grasp of as the minutes ticked by.
I stared up at the ceiling of my dorm room, confused on why it was afternoon light that was streaming through the large windows.
How long had I slept? Clearly a while, since it had been very early in the morning—only four or so—when Ruby had finally woken.
She hadn’t explained what had happened, but I’d felt comfortable enough with my mates taking me home at that point… Which was why I was in bed with Tore.
I turned into his chest and looked up to his closed eyes, his breathing soft and peaceful. A warm sensation rolled through me that had a smile pressing onto my lips. He loved me. Someone—no, not just someone, Tore himself—loved me. That was unreal.
“You’re staring at me, lil bit,” he rumbled. I let out a small embarrassed squeak, burying my head against his chest.
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing.” His voice held humor. “I like having your eyes on me.”
I looked up and found him looking down at me with so much affection that it had my heart palpitating.
“I like when you look at me also,” I whispered before frowning slightly as my embarrassment faded and the disappointment surged back.
“What?”
“I just thought…” I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to remember. “I had a dream, and it seemed so real, but by the time I opened my eyes, I couldn’t even tell you what it was about. It’s very frustrating.”
“Maybe it’s nothing,” Tore suggested, looking confused, “or maybe you could keep a notepad next to the bed, just in case you wake up and do remember, so you can write it down.”
“That’s a good idea,” I murmured before sitting up and looking outside, my eyes widening. “Wait, is it really afternoon?”
“Yes,” Dakota’s amused voice sounded from the door. “You slept until almost four in the afternoon, little wolf.”
“Which means you need to eat,” Tore rumbled as he sat up and moved off the bed.
I rolled out from where I’d been pressed between the wall and his protective frame, offering my mouth up for a kiss.
He pressed his lips to mine and walked past Dakota as he approached me, his eyes melted into dark pools.
“Feel better?” he asked softly.
“Yeah.” I remembered briefly how out of it I’d been coming back here. It was clear how used to an almost full night of sleep I’d gotten in a very short amount of time, because I’d been exhausted. “Although you’re right, I am hungry.”
Dakota helped me off the bed as I leaned into him, his voice a rumble. “I can make some breakfast for you.”
I offered him a suspicious look, and his smile turned amused. “Alright, I’ll order it, but same thing.”
“I appreciate whatever you make or order.” I brushed my nose against his as he let out a low growl and nipped my lip.
“Get dressed for the day before you walk out of here,” he ordered softly. “I have a feeling you may give Ryder a goddamn heart attack if you walk out in just a shirt.”
“And what about you?” I asked, looking down at the oversized shirt that went to my knees. I was almost positive it was Tore’s, but I would be thrilled wearing any of their clothes.
“You always make me feel like I’m on the verge of breaking, little wolf,” he growled, brushing his lips against mine. “But we need to feed you, so go get dressed.”
I groaned in frustration as he chuckled and walked out, leaving me to get dressed for the day.
I opted for a comfortable outfit with fuzzy socks, knowing that I was likely to stay in today.
Honestly, I was a bit glad last night hadn’t been a full sleepover—not that I hadn’t wanted to hang out with Aanya, but because I loved being in the same bed as my mates.
“Morning,” Julian called from where he sat in the living room with a cup of coffee.
“Good morning,” I replied, my eyes then moving to Ryder. “I didn’t know you’d be here today.”
His eyes filled with heat, looking over me before a resigned yet frustrated expression crossed his face at my words.
“Aanya, the twins, Ruby, and her mates have taken over my apartment, so I gave up trying to get them to leave. I figured I would come here instead, especially if you wanted to stop by there to see her eventually.”
I did, but I also didn’t want to pressure her into talking about something she wasn’t fully ready for.
“Oh, okay.” I thought through his words, realizing it was possible that he was only really here because he had nowhere else to go.
After last night I wanted to believe that wasn’t the case, but I couldn’t help reverting to feeling like everything was on shaky ground with Ryder.
I never knew what to expect when it came to him.
That squashed my excitement just a bit, but I sat down on the couch next to him as Julian handed me a cup of coffee.
Dakota walked back into the room before pausing and frowning. “Ryder, what the hell did you say to her?”
I looked up with wide eyes as Ryder frowned, snapping his head over from where he’d been staring at me. “What?”
“Can’t you see she’s upset?” Dakota arched a brow. “Fuck, you are dense.”
“What did I do?” Ryder asked me, looking more confused than ever.
“The unraveling continues,” Julian chuckled under his breath before he took a sip of his coffee, momentarily distracting me.
“Little wolf.” Dakota motioned to me as I realized he may have read my thoughts.
“Oh.” I nibbled my lip. “I just was excited when I saw you, and now I’m a bit sad because you’re probably only here because your apartment is filled with other people.” I very much wanted him to deny that.
Ryder blinked at me before frowning. “I’m here because of you. I have four other houses in the state. I’m in a dorm on campus for you, kitten.”
Oh.
“Okay.” I blushed as his eyes warmed on me.
Tore walked in, and I immediately looked up at him, his darkening, heat-filled eyes making my cheeks flush further. Ryder let out a frustrated sound as I looked back at him, his eyes narrowed on Tore. Was it just me, or did he seem a bit cranky?
“Not just you,” Julian mused, changing the channel on the television. “He is one hundred percent cranky.”
Had I said that out loud? Crap.
“What’s wrong?” I asked Ryder.
“He’s jealous,” Tore said proudly before coming to sit down. “You shifted for me, and he’s fucking jealous. Has been all morning since he found out.”
“Not the only thing he’s jealous of.” Julian grinned as Ryder’s eyes narrowed briefly on his neck…where my bite mark was.
“You’re jealous I bit Julian?”
“You marked Julian,” Dakota corrected. “Far bigger deal.”
My cheeks flushed as Tore spoke quietly, “Don’t pay any mind—”
“I didn’t mean to make you jealous, Ryder,” I spoke softly before openly admitting, “I’ve never done any of this before… I’m just going with whatever feels right.” Which could be completely misguided.
Ryder’s eyes softened. “I know, kitten, I’m not jealous, exactly… I just would like to see you shift.”
And what about the bite mark?
I didn’t have the guts to ask that just yet.
“I can shift whenever you want, I would love to do that. It was super freeing being able to without facing backlash.”
“Backlash?” Ryder turned on the couch to hold my gaze.
“Yeah,” I murmured. “I used to get things thrown at me, some other stuff… Not super important.”
Ryder stilled before gently grasping my shoulders and turning me so I was facing him completely.
“They abused you?”
“Yes,” Dakota answered before I could say that it wasn’t that bad.
My eyes shifted downward. “They weren’t very nice.”
Ryder’s eyes darkened. “Whitepaw Pack, right?”
I nodded, and he continued, “We should pay them a visit.”
“Ryder,” I whispered, feeling the violence radiating off of him.
It should have scared me, but the longer I was around these men, the more my wolf and I began to trust them.
If it was anyone else besides them that had that type of predatorial energy, I would be gone.
Not with Ryder though. I knew he could hurt me, especially emotionally, but I didn’t think he would.
“Just to find out more about your past,” he promised. Dakota chuckled from next to me but didn’t add anything.
“I’m a fan of that,” Tore agreed, “but it’s really up to Effie.”
“Is that really why you want to go there?” I asked Ryder.
“Partly,” he admitted before running a hand through his hair, “But also because I very much want to put the fear of the Goddess into those fuckers.”
I bit my lip. “So you really think there is something to learn? About me?”
Ryder hesitated. “Yes…”
“What?” I asked softly.
“I’m just questioning my control now, and I don’t want you to be mad at me if we get there and I kill someone.”
“Oh.”
“Stop scaring her,” Tore bit out.