Chapter 19
LUCY
I’m peering out the kitchen window, and the storm is trying to tear the mountain apart, while the Alphas are out there, somewhere.
Rain is coming down sideways, slamming into the lodge, and pines are bending over in the wind, not to mention the thunder cracking overhead.
I flinch each time it snaps and lights up the night sky.
“Where are you all?” Please be okay. I lift my phone again, staring at my calls to their cabin in case they stopped there. I wish they had cell phones. But reception in the woods is crap on the best of days. Still, they should have been back by now.
And driving out there to find them is suicide. Knowing my luck, I’d get the truck stuck in mud. Then I’d be out there alone in the dark.
“Nope, that would be a stupid idea,” I mumble as I go check on the lamb stew with bread dumplings bubbling away, which is pretty much ready.
The mousse is in the fridge, and I shake one of the filled glasses.
It’s set. Just as I reach for the whipped cream, something bangs violently into the back door with a crack.
I flinch back out of the fridge, whirling around to stare through the window in the door at the figure standing out there. The door handle is jiggling. Whoever’s there is huge, and for one terrifying second, my whole body freezes as I picture the masked guy from last night returning.
“Lucy! Let us in!” Roman calls out.
“Oh, shit!” Relief falls through me instantly and chases away my fear. I rush forward, then frantically unlatch the deadbolts and yank open the door.
All three of the Alphas pour inside, and I step backward. The storm rushes in with them, water sheeting onto the floor, wind howling into the kitchen along with random leaves. And I throw all my weight against the door to slap it shut, then I lock us inside.
The men are toeing off their shoes near the mat at the door.
“Oh my God, you’re drenched all the way through. What happened?” I’m unsure where to look. They’re dripping, their clothes pasted to them, hair plastered to their heads. Rain is rolling down their faces, and they’re heaving for breath.
“The truck got bogged down,” Grayson starts. “About a mile or so from the lodge. A low spot in the path sank with all this rain. When we checked, the tire had also busted.”
“And no way we were changing that in this weather,” Wolf explains as I offer them each kitchen towels to dry their soaked faces and hair.
“So we ran the rest of the way,” Roman states. “It almost killed us, as we all nearly tumbled down a ridge trail.” He’s chuckling now.
“Fuck, that was close,” Wolf says, roughly rubbing the towel all over his face.
“Plus, Wolf screamed,” Grayson adds.
“Fuck off. I did not,” he snaps, then glances my way, mouthing silently, I did.
It’s impossible not to laugh.
“What’s cooking? Because I need it now!” Roman drifts toward the oven. “I’m so hungry I could eat you up.”
I cut him a teasing stare. “Lamb stew with dumplings and it’s ready. Go and get dry first. All of you.”
“Our bags are still in the truck,” Grayson states. “Looks like we’re going commando tonight.”
“Ha ha,” I say, because he’s grinning as though he’s contemplating it. “There are robes in the guest rooms. They’re large and extra fluffy. They should fit. Now go, and I’ll get the plates ready.”
They smile, tossing the now-wet kitchen towels onto the island counter, and they’re out of here. I snatch them up and wipe their wet footsteps before I slip and kill myself.
By the time they head back downstairs, I’ve got the steaming stew plated into bowls and placed on the coffee table by the couches, a basket of bread, beer bottles, and a cream soda for me. The fire crackles, warming the place, while rain still hammers the windows.
I grab my bowl and crash down onto the couch, lifting my gaze as the Alphas stride in my direction from the staircase, wearing the white robes and, most likely, nothing else.
I grin at the sight of these hunks. The robes are belted at the waist, still straining a bit tightly across their solid shoulders and chests.
Right now, there’s a high probability that one of them will flash me, and I’m ready for it.
Roman suddenly poses, one hand on his waist, the other flicking his hair back, and Grayson does a full circle, while Wolf just tugs at his collar, popping it up as if he’s suddenly cooler than the rest of us.
I almost drop my meal, as I’m laughing so hard. They stroll over to join me.
“Thought you’d like that,” Roman says as he plunks down next to me.
Wolf and Grayson drop onto the couch in front of us. Their robes ride up their thighs, parting, and I get an eyeful.
“You’re flashing,” I blurt out, glancing down into my meal.
Grayson adjusts his robe, while Wolf just sits there, smirking. “You like it, don’t you?”
Roman tosses a cushion right at his chest, and Wolf chuckles, covering himself. “The meal looks incredible, by the way. Thanks,” he says, collecting his, and we all dig in.
Then they all groan around me as they eat.
“So that’s a yes to the stew?” I ask before biting into one of the savory dumplings.
“I sure hope you made more, as I’ll need a second helping,” Grayson says.
“Marry me,” Wolf adds, then takes a big spoonful into his mouth, his stare dead serious.
“You really outdid yourself.” Roman nudges me, then keeps eating.
I grab the remote from the side of the couch. “I thought tonight we could watch a movie,” I declare, pointing the remote at the screen mounted over the fireplace.
“Sounds good. What’s on?” Roman scoops more food into his mouth.
“Well, there’s this new werewolf movie that’s just come out, and I’ve been dying to see it.”
“So, you’re into werewolves, then?” Grayson asks with no judgment in his tone.
Wolf points the fork at himself. “Hello, my name’s literally Wolf.” He’s grinning my way. “This explains so much.”
I’m smiling too much. “It’s getting to your head.”
“Clearly, you have a type,” he adds.
“Well, anyway, I’ve loved all things supernatural since I was a kid. Vamps, shifters, monsters, all of it. I read anything I could get my hands on.”
“So,” Roman begins. “Are you talking about the scary kind or the ones that glint?”
“Well, both have merit,” I admit.
“Songbird, I’m right here. Just come and take your werewolf.”
“Okay, calm down,” I say. “Let’s watch the movie first and see what you all think.”
Once I track down the movie, I hit Play and settle down, Roman shuffling closer to me so he’s touching my bent knees. It starts in a small town with a girl who’s just moved back home, and this place has secrets.
I set my empty bowl on the table, tuck my feet back under me, and find myself leaning into Roman.
He sets his bowl down too and wraps an arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer.
This moment is perfect, all cozy, safe, and surrounded by my Alphas.
And I don’t squirm when I call them that this time.
The movie is up to the scene where the hot sheriff is clearly the wolf, and I’m about to say it out loud when the lights and the TV in the lodge go out all at once.
“Oh, what the hell?” I breathe out as the guys all groan, Grayson already on his feet. Only the fireplace is throwing out light in the dark room, and for a moment, with the storm raging fiercely outside, a sense of foreboding slithers through my chest.
“Just the storm,” Roman says, holding me closer to him.
“Probably blew a fuse or took out a line,” Wolf says.
“Grandma had a backup generator put in for exactly this. It’s down in the basement. At the base of the stairs, it’s on the left-hand side, a big green box. Just pull on the cord.”
“I can find it,” Wolf says, and he and Grayson march in that direction.
Roman kisses my brow. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah, of course.” I glance up, staring into his warm brown eyes, shadows dancing across his face from the fire.
“I missed you today,” he tells me. “More than you realize.”
I snuggle against him. “Missed you more. How was your day? Well, aside from getting soaked.”
“Long.” He chuckles. “Heard you went to visit your grandma today. How is Eve?”
“She’s really tired of the hospital and lying in bed all day. I don’t blame her. I’d go crazy with boredom. I think I’ll start going more often to keep her company.”
He’s watching me speak, then slides his finger under my chin, tilting my head back.
Without a word, his lips press against mine, and I lose my control.
I kiss him back, fisting his robe to pull myself closer.
It’s completely unhinged how easily I respond to these Alphas.
An ache starts deep in my belly, heightening until I’ve turned into liquid.
Would it be insane if the others returned and found me riding Roman?
A voice in my head reminds me that it isn’t normal to go from zero to ten on the insatiable scale so fast.
Then the lights and the TV flick back on, and I jerk back, blinking against the brightness. “They found the generator,” I say.
Roman’s arms remain coiled tightly around me, his lips on my neck. “I preferred the dark.”
“Busted,” Grayson announces. He and Wolf are strolling back. “We’ve been gone barely ninety seconds, and you two are almost at it.”
“I’m impossible to resist,” Roman gloats as the other two crash back onto their couch, and I dive for the remote, clicking Play on the movie before this conversation gets out of hand.
“Okay, back to it.”
They all stare at me, and I pretend not to notice. Soon enough, they’re all watching the movie, and the characters just found what’s left of the athlete’s body in the garage.
“My money is on the weather girl’s ex,” Roman says.
I steal a glance over at them, and Wolf’s still watching me, so I stick my tongue out at him as if I’m some brat.
The corner of his mouth lifts almost sinisterly.
Then he drags his tongue across his top lip.
Fire burns through me instantly, and no one should be reacting this fast, yet here I am, aroused so quickly.
Turning back to the movie, the sheriff has the weather girl cornered, throwing his head back with a howl, then he starts transforming. All those bones cracking, teeth lengthening.
“Called it,” I state. “The handsome ones are always the villains.”
“Not sure I agree,” Grayson replies.
“Nope, she’s right,” Wolf interrupts. “The pretty ones are the ones you should always worry about.” His gaze is on me when he says that, quiet between us until Roman snorts out a laugh.
Then we’re back on the movie, and these three are now running commentary right until the credits roll.
I stretch and yawn while collecting all the bowls and take them into the kitchen. There, I place them into the dishwasher. When I return, the three Alphas are all lounging.
“Okay, that’s it for me. I’m exhausted and going to crash. You three take the guest rooms, as they’re all clean, whenever you’re ready to sleep.”
“Wait,” Grayson says. “We’re not sleeping together?”
“I’m with Grayson. It’s cold and rainy outside, and the perfect night for snuggling,” Roman adds.
I absolutely adore these men, but one touch from them, and I’m putty in their hands. I barely slept last night. “How about tomorrow? Tonight, I’m almost dead on my feet.”
“Come on, don’t push her,” Wolf, of all people, says. “Give her the night off. We’ll take the guest rooms.”
I narrow my gaze at him. What has he done to the real Wolf?
He stares at me, blows me a kiss, and pats Grayson on the shoulder. “Let’s head to bed.” And just like that, we’re switching off the lights and the TV and going to bed.
Upstairs, we split up, and I call out, “Good night.”
They send me kisses, which I pretend to catch. Then I hurry into the private wing, and because my bladder is about to burst, I rush right toward my bathroom, not bothering to turn on the lights.
When I’m done, I change into my sleep shorts and tank top and leave my bedroom to grab a bottle of water from the bar fridge in the private quarters’ living room. Once there, I notice I’ve left the door to the wing open, so I push it shut and saunter down the dark hallway to my room.
Half a dozen steps later, a small creak sounds behind me, soft enough to ignore. Except, my chest tightens, and I glance back. The hallway is empty, mostly dark. Nothing there.
Yet the hairs on my arms rise, and that earlier unease trickles through me. So I make a dash for my bedroom, heart thundering, bare feet on the floorboards.
Just then, a large hand closes over my mouth so fast I stumble over my feet and crash into someone solid behind me.
A scream rips toward my throat, but it flatlines just as quickly. I thrash to get away when a hot breath exhales across the shell of my ear.
“Shh,” he breathes.