Chapter 18
Hestia
Itried to help Henri clean up after lunch, but somehow they redirected me again from doing chores.
I grab another cookie and jump up to sit on the counter. If they won’t let me help, I’ll appoint myself chore supervisor.
I glance at the gray sky through the kitchen windows. Some winter days are so bright with the sun reflecting off the white snow like it’s trying to blind you. Other days are so overcast and snowy, it’s hard to imagine the sun even exists. Today leans toward the latter.
It makes me appreciate a warm house and bright decorations even more.
“It’s a good day to stay inside. I’m glad the weather yesterday was nice for walking around town,” I say, swinging my legs.
No one says anything, and when I look over, I catch Charm and Orion looking away from each other. Everyone is avoiding eye contact with me, although I don’t see Cato anywhere.
“It is overcast,” Charm says.
“Yessss,” I say, drawing out the word when he doesn’t say anything else.
I look around the kitchen to see if I can figure out why they’re being cagey, and startle to find Cato leaning on the counter behind me. He smirks but doesn’t give any hint about what they’re up to.
“It’s not snowing much though. Do you want to go out to the fire pit? We can have dessert out there,” Charm says.
“That sounds fun!” I say, already forgetting about their weirdness at the promise of a cozy fire and food.
“Let’s go start the fire. Henri and Charm can bring the food,” Orion says.
We get our coats on, and I follow them out into the snow, walking along in their footprints since the snow is so high.
Magnus and Orion dust off the fire pit while Cato cleans off the log benches and sits down. He pulls me onto his lap, making me squeak.
I try to get up, but his arms are locked around my waist, so I end up wiggling around on his lap. Cato makes a rumbling noise, and I twist around to glare at him.
His expression is tight, intensely focused on me, more serious than I’ve ever seen him. My snarky response dies on my lips.
Cato’s eyes drop to my mouth, and his grip tightens as he hardens beneath me.
His face is barely a hair's breadth from mine when Orion says, “Do you want to light the fire?”
Cato jerks back, loosening his hold, and I scramble off his lap.
I stumble away, breathing hard.
Orion doesn’t comment on our almost kiss. I don’t know if he saw, if he knew what we were doing. He just hands me the matches, and I light one with shaking hands.
I can’t look them in the eyes, and I keep my head down while I get the fire going.
Orion’s hand brushes mine when I give the matches back, flustering me even more.
I was so close to a line I’m not allowed to cross, I was literally on top of it. I can’t believe I let it go that far.
Thankfully, Cato seemed just as surprised as I was to find himself in that situation. Now that we've come to our senses, I’m sure we’ll avoid anything close to inappropriate in the future.
“Cherrywood is one of my favorites, it always smells so good,” Orion says, apparently oblivious to what happened.
“It does,” I agree without thought.
It’s one thing to play around with Cato, but I can’t actually get with my bosses no matter how good they smell or how hard they get for me.
I’m still jittery. I need to sit down before I collapse.
I can’t risk sitting next to Cato, so I move toward the other benches, but Magnus steps in my way. I look up, confused, but his face is expressionless.
Orion moves in behind me, keeping me trapped.
My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my ears.
I look to Cato for help, but he’s still watching me with that intense expression.
“The moon is visible already,” Orion says.
I squint at him, unsure whether we’re going to kiss or not, and he nods toward the sky. I follow the gesture, finding the half-moon visible over the station.
“It’s pretty,” I say.
I try to look at him again, but Orion grabs my chin and forces me to keep watching.
Is this some kind of hazing thing?
I gasp as the station is suddenly illuminated, colorful lights covering the roof and chimneys, windows and doorframes, everything really.
Even the greenhouses and nearby trees are wrapped in holiday lights.
It reminds me of those grand pack houses you stop to admire when driving around looking at Yule lights.
I never thought I’d live in a place like that.
It’s magical.
“Charm and Henri put the lights up earlier. We thought it would be a fun surprise to see it lit for the first time,” Orion says, letting go.
It was a surprise. Such a big surprise that I almost forgot about Cato’s hard co—
“Do you like it?” Magnus asks.
“Yes, it’s beautiful! I love it,” I say.
“Good. I hope you’ll excuse the heavy-handedness. I didn’t want you to miss the moment,” Orion says, sounding relieved.
Henri and Charm trudge out into the snow now that they’ve plugged the lights in. When I spot them, I rush to meet them and thank them for the surprise.
I feel bad they were climbing around out here all morning. If I’d known, I would have brought them snacks and hot chocolate.
My thanks seem to be enough though, and they’re pleased I enjoyed the surprise.
Charm helps me get settled near the fire, facing the station so I can enjoy the view. He tucks a blanket around me, and Henri hands out the desserts.
I tense as Cato worms his way under the blanket, but he doesn’t do anything more than press his side against mine.
When Henri circles around for the third time to see if anyone needs a refill, I grab his sleeve and tug him down next to me.
I give him one of my snowman cookies and tell him to relax and eat. He’s flustered but accepts it and takes a bite.
I tuck the blanket around him, trying to ensure he stays put instead of playing host.
When I pull back, Henri is frozen, and my eyes snag on his plump lips. Some of the sparkling sugar from the cookie clings to them, and I lick my own lips, wanting to taste it.
I catch myself before I do anything more and look away.
I can’t avoid his scent though. Henri’s sugar cookie scent is more mouthwatering than the actual cookies.
Henri clears his throat and resumes eating.
I keep my eyes trained on the lights, since those don’t spark lustful thoughts.
They really do brighten things up. I don’t even notice how overcast it is now that our home is so colorful, the lights reflecting off the snow.
No wonder they became a tradition. It’s harder for the gray, dark winter days to get to you when you have cheery lights to lift your spirits. There’s something special about seeing them at home and around town, like the whole world is cheerful with you.
We relax in silence for a while until Charm suggests we build snowmen. I enthusiastically agree, and Orion goes inside to get supplies while the rest of us start making snowballs.
I stop to rest after rolling one until it’s waist-high, and see we all had the same idea to make giant snowmen.
Charm stacks my snowballs on top of each other once they’re ready, and my snowman ends up being taller than me.
Henri lifts me, and Orion hands me the button eyes, carrot nose, and button mouth to put on it. I finish my snowman off with a hat and plaid scarf.
Cato offers me a bundle of sticks, and I choose a pair for the arms.
Once the guys are done adding their snowmen’s accessories, I walk around admiring their work.
When I get to Magnus’s snowman, I find a round snowblob sitting at its feet. The blob has button eyes, a straight stick mouth, and four small sticks around the base.
I laugh when I realize what it must be. “Is that Pete?”
“Yes, that’s what I was going for. I thought the sticks for legs would make it obvious it’s supposed to be an animal at least,” Magnus says.
“He’s perfect! The best snow frog I’ve ever seen,” I say.
Magnus smiles big and bright, flashing his pointy canine teeth. The sight makes my heart skip a beat. It’s the most I’ve ever seen him smile.
After staring at him for a little too long, I force myself to move on and look at the last snowman in the group.
It’s smaller than the others and has a pink scarf and mittens.
I glare at the unfamiliar accessories, too small to fit any of the guys.
“We always end up with extra gear from previous trainees, which worked out well for this occasion,” Orion says.
“Mhmm,” I hum noncommittally.
My omega is too busy growling to come up with a response, and I’m also irritated at the reminder that they used to live with some other trainees.
I’m not jealous though. I’m just territorial, like any omega should be about their home. It has nothing to do with their pack specifically. Omegas are cautious, so I don’t like thinking about all the other people who have been in my house with my bosses.
“The only beanie we had in your size is blue, but the pink scarf and gloves match your hair, so I thought that would be enough,” Orion continues.
That gets my omega’s attention. I squint, looking over the small snowman again and at the other five snowmen.
I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before, but the others look like the guys. One even has a balaclava.
“Do you think it looks enough like you?” Orion asks me.
My irritation dissipates and my omega purrs in my mind. They’re obviously not missing their previous trainees if they’re building an effigy of me in snow.
“It’s great! You can totally tell it’s supposed to be me,” I say.
I admire our little snow family, trying to hold back tears at how cute they look together.
A thump interrupts my emotional thoughts. Another thud is followed by a burst of snow as Cato hits Magnus with a second snowball.
I can’t hold back my giggle at the impassive expression on Magnus’s face.
Cato hits him again, even though Magnus is staring directly at him and could have dodged it.
“Hestia, are you going to join my team? My side is already winning,” Cato says as he packs another snowball.
I look at Magnus apologetically as I scoop my own snowball.
I bring my arm back slowly, giving him a chance to move. Magnus’s lips quirk, so I take that as permission and throw it, hitting him square in the chest.
Magnus lunges for me, and I squeal as my knees buckle. He grabs me before I hit the ground and spins us as more snowballs hit his back.
He releases me to fend for myself and starts making his own ammo to return fire. I laugh and run off when I see Charm aiming a snowball in my direction.
The fight quickly descends into chaos, unclear divisions between teams. I’m not actually sure if anyone called sides. Knowing Cato, he probably meant it was the two of us against the others.
Most of the hits gravitate to the guys, but some softballs are lobbed in my direction.
If I tried, I think I could have dodged most of them, but it doesn’t seem fair to do that when they’re already going easy on me.
Besides, the adrenaline from the battle is part of the fun, the cold rush from a hit is invigorating.
When the fight is over and the snow settles, Orion carries me back to the station. I’m too exhausted to do anything but smile.