Chapter 13 Junie
Junie
Last night was… something.
I’m not sure how I feel about it yet because I haven’t had time to be alone with my thoughts. The few moments Silas left the room to grab new clothes or go to the bathroom, my thoughts didn’t stray far from him.
I’ve had serious relationships in the past, but it’s never felt like this. All-consuming. I worry how I’ll feel when the snow clears and I’m forced to go home. What if I want to see him again? Would he reject me? Would he remind me that this was nothing but sex to kill the time?
Come on, Junie, get it together.
I groan and roll over, casually yelping when I find Silas next to me.
“Well, good morning to you, too.” His eyes blink slowly in his half-asleep state. “Forget about me already?”
Silas reaches for me, wrapping his large hand over my waist and tugging me closer to him.
“Silas.”
“Hm?” He hugs me tight, settling his head above mine. I nuzzle into him without thinking, wanting to be wrapped up in him like a blanket.
“Can you show me around today? I think if I stay in this cabin for one more day, I might go insane.”
“Are you asking for a tour, Junie?”
“At least a walk.”
He hums in acknowledgment. “We should get up then, huh?”
“You know, that answer would be a lot more convincing if I didn’t feel how little you want to do that.”
I hook my leg over his hip, drawing us closer, and he hisses.
“Junie, we don’t—” Silas groans as I grind on him, feeling an immense need to have him close.
I pout when he grips my hip to stop me.
“Trust me, I want nothing more in the fucking world than to do this, but…” He rolls us over, placing his body on top of mine. The light coming in through the window behind us shines on the hair that falls over his eyes, and I can’t tear my gaze away. He’s so beautiful.
He must get lost in some similar thought, because he stares at me the same way I can imagine I’m staring at him. So many thoughts about who he is and why I feel like this circle my mind. I need to change the subject.
“But?”
He shakes his head as if dispelling a string of thoughts. “If we don’t leave now, Mauve won’t have any breakfast left. If you truly want a tour, it’s best we start there.”
I try to push him off me as soon as he starts talking about food, and he laughs.
Is it possible that he already knows me after only being in my presence for a little over forty-eight hours?
Maybe. It’s not like I keep many secrets.
I’m a fairly open book, always have been, and it’s why not many people care for me.
I’m too much for some (most) people.
Between speaking my mind and having a lack of time because of Forever June, it’s not a surprise I haven’t been able to keep a relationship.
Silas springs off me now that we are both wide awake and ready to go, regardless of whether all we both secretly want is to jump back into bed. I’m okay if the one secret I harbor is how I’m starting to feel about a certain grumpy Alpha.
He holds out his hand, and I take it, falling happily into his arms. Silas presses a single kiss to my forehead, and I practically melt where I’m standing.
“What happened to my cranky Alpha?”
“Your?” He tilts his head, studying me.
I keep my mouth shut, internally yelling at myself for letting any sort of declaration slip past my lips.
“Don’t worry, Junie, he’s still here. You’ll see.”
He wasn’t wrong.
After we got dressed, grumpy Silas showed up in full swing. I barely had a pair of borrowed boots on when he stormed out of the cabin, not saying a word to me.
Should I be following him?
I overhear angry yelling outside the cabin and contemplate staying inside until he comes in to get me, but that’s not the type of person I am.
Plus, there’s food waiting for me at Mauve’s.
I don’t know where she lives, but I’m sure I’ll be able to follow the tantalizing smell of whatever she’s preparing.
It’s possible I could be leaving today, anyway, I don’t want to get attached to Silas more than I am right now.
When I leave the cabin, Silas is whispering with Jake. All chatter stops the moment the cabin door slams shut.
I awkwardly wave to Jake, who peers around Silas. Silas seems to be standing in front of me on purpose, trying to block Jake’s view.
This isn’t something I need or want to be a part of. If they have some wolf business to take care of, it could be a while, especially if it’s anything like yesterday. I don’t know what happened, but I expect it has something to do with Silas taking over the north.
To Mauve’s I go, I suppose. The snow doesn’t seem to have cleared, which lightens the lump in my stomach; today might not be the day I have to leave.
I’m fairly certain this is the first time in my entire life I’ve gone off-grid, with no one being able to contact me.
For anyone else, it might be a problem, because we rely on contacting others when we need help.
For werewolves, it seems their other methods of communication are all they need.
Although I’m sure they have the means to find a signal somewhere.
I aimlessly walk in the middle of the camp.
Yes, camp. Silas might not refer to it as that, but it’s literally a circle of about twenty cabins with enough space in the middle to drive a few cars.
I know there are fifty people here, but I don’t know the total number of members in the Starview Pack.
And the north? How many are in the north pack?
It’s no wonder Silas is all strung up and has an attitude problem. That’s a lot of people to take care of.
I stop in the middle of the open area, letting myself look back once to see Silas still talking to Jake. He doesn’t even look my way, and I take a deep breath, willing to make it hurt less.
I don’t care.
I don’t fucking care.
My hands form fists under the gigantic gloves I borrowed, and I force myself to look around to find where Mauve lives.
“It’s that one,” someone whispers in my ear.
“Ah!” I jump to the side, holding my hands up in what I would assume is a kung-fu position.
Silas stares at me, amused, holding both his hands up in defense.
“Whoa there, human, don’t hurt me.”
I shoulder him, making sure he hears me when I mutter, “Asshole.”
I begin walking to Mauve’s, making it my mission to walk faster than Silas, but I should’ve guessed it’d be impossible.
He keeps stride with me. He’s looking my way.
I can feel his eyes on me every few steps, but I force myself to look forward.
He doesn’t need to know how angry I am. I have no right.
We haven’t promised anything to each other.
“Wait.” Silas grips my wrist, and I have no choice but to halt. He’s stronger than me, and I wouldn’t be able to get away from him if he didn’t want me to.
I turn to him. “Silas, it’s fine. Okay? You don’t need to check on me.”
His brows shoot up, not impressed by my answer. He opens his mouth, and I prepare for him to argue with me, to push me on the subject, but Mauve’s voice saves me from having to do so.
“What are you lovebirds doing standing in the snow? It’s fucking cold outside.”
I chuckle. I like her. I’d imagine if I had a mentor of any sort when I started Forever June, I would have wanted someone like Mauve. Someone who doesn’t give two shits what others think and makes really good food.
“We’re coming, Mauve,” Silas grumbles, dropping my wrist. Neither of us will comment on the lovebird term, because what is there to say? She’s only doing it to get under his skin, I’d assume, since he was a royal ass yesterday when he kicked everyone out of his home.
Walking into Mauve’s cabin, I’m nearly knocked down by all the various scents.
On the island by a far window is a buffet of nearly every breakfast item: eggs, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, bacon, pastries, and more.
When she has time to whip up all of this, I have no idea, but I would be so happy staying here all day, baking alongside her.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook for our tour,” Silas whispers in my ear. He nods toward the food, and I shake my head, not bothering to argue with him because he knows he’s right.
“Junie!” Fran barrels over to me, coffee in hand, with Cooper on her heels.
“Thank you.” I graciously take the cup of coffee from her, realizing I haven’t had any since I’ve been here. How I’ve survived is beyond me.
Cooper pads over to Silas, and I’m grateful for the distraction.
Fran takes me over to the table to fill up on food after she hears we are going to hike around the camp.
“Sorry, the snow isn’t gone yet,” she says as we sit next to each other.
“It’s surprisingly okay.” I huff a laugh, for some reason feeling safe enough to be more open with Fran. She may be one of Silas’ seconds, but I could see us as friends.
Since we stopped in, there’s been a constant stream of weres coming and going from Mauve’s.
Some singles, some couples, some families, all taking large helpings of breakfast and saying hi to everyone before leaving.
Fran does her best to introduce me to everyone, telling them I’m a friend of Silas’s.
I don’t miss how many stare at me like I’m a rare diamond, like I’m oddly precious and could be lost in the blink of an eye.
“Why is everyone looking at me like that?” I lean over to ask Fran once we have a lull in new guests.
“Your smell.”
“My—what?”
“Oh.” Fran rests a hand on my arm and chuckles. “No, not bad, Junie. You, just, uh, smell like Silas.”
“I…smell… like Silas,” I say slowly, digesting what that must mean to a group of werewolves.
“Mhm. Quite a lot, too.” She holds her coffee cup in front of her face to hide a grin.
“Fuck. I’m sorry? How do I stop smelling like him?” I ask, wondering if that’s even the right question to ask. “Is this like a coveted honor? To smell like your Alpha?”
Fran’s eyes widen, and she dips her head down, averting her gaze from me.
I’m getting ready to apologize for being an awful bitch, thinking I might have insulted the entire werewolf community, when there’s an unmistakable presence behind me.
Silas.