25. Daniel
Daniel
The silence that follows Mara's retreat is a physical weight, pressing down on the three of us in the warm, quiet café. The air still crackles with the energy of her anger, a faint, ozone-like scent that mingles with the lingering aroma of coffee and fear.
I stare at the empty staircase, my own anger and frustration a bitter taste in my mouth. We were trying to help. We were trying to save her. And all we did was push her away.
"Well, that went great," Leo says, his voice dripping with a weary sarcasm. He slumps back in his chair, running a hand through his already messy hair. He looks as defeated as I feel.
"We have bigger problems," Gray says, his voice low and serious, cutting through Leo's cynicism. He's not looking at us; his gaze is fixed on the staircase Mara just disappeared up, his brow furrowed in concentration.
I swallow the lump in my throat, the memory of her scent hitting me again. It wasn't just the usual honeysuckle and rain. There was something else, something sweeter, thicker, almost… fertile. A scent that spoke of a deep, biological readiness.
"Yeah," I say, my voice rough. "I smelled it too."
Leo looks from Gray to me, frowning. "Her scent's been off for two days. I caught that much. But whatever the two of you are picking up, I'm not getting it."
Gray finally turns from the stairs, his expression grim. "She's in pre-heat, Leo."
Leo stares at him for a second, the words not quite registering. Then his eyes widen in dawning horror. "Fuck," he breathes, the word a soft, explosive sound in the quiet room. "Fuck. Are you sure?"
"Her scent is changing," I explain, my mind already racing, connecting the dots.
The fever, the exhaustion, the mood swings, the heightened arousal…
it all clicks into place with a sickening certainty.
"It's not a full heat. Not yet. It's a precursor.
Her body is… preparing. The suppressants aren't working as well anymore, probably because of the stress. "
"Shit," Leo says again, running both hands over his face. "So what do we do? I mean… what does that even mean right now?"
"It means we have to be careful," Gray says, his voice the calm, rational center of our little storm. "Her scent is going to get stronger. It could attract… attention. And it's going to make her more emotional, more unpredictable."
"We can't push her," I add, my voice firm. I think of the look on her face, the raw terror and shame. "Pushing her now will only make it worse. We have to give her some time. Let her process."
We sit in a heavy silence, the three of us lost in our own thoughts. The implications of this new development are staggering. It complicates everything. Her ex-pack… if they were to get a whiff of this… I don't even want to think about it.
Just then, the sound of footsteps on the stairs breaks the quiet.
We all look up. Mara is coming back down.
She's changed into a heavy, forest-green sweater.
Her hair is pulled back in a tight, severe braid, and she's carrying a small, packed duffel bag.
Her face is a mask of determination, her jaw set. She's armored up for a fight.
We all stand up as one, a united front of concern. "Mara?" Leo asks, his voice gentle. "Where are you going?"
She stops at the bottom of the stairs, her gaze sweeping over us, cool and dismissive. "Not that it matters to any of you," she says, her voice clipped and cold, "but I just talked to Tess. She needs some things. Fresh clothes, that kind of stuff. So that's what I'm doing."
"Absolutely not," I say, the words out of my mouth before I can stop them. The Alpha in me, the protector, rears its head at the thought of her driving alone in this weather, in her condition.
She lets out a short, bitter laugh, a sound completely devoid of humor. "You don't get a say in what I do, Daniel."
"Don't be stubborn, Mara," I press, my voice tight with frustration. "The roads are basically impassable right now. We got a call from the highway patrol. There's another storm front moving in. It's not safe."
Leo steps forward, his hands held up in a placating gesture. "Baby," he says, his voice soft and cajoling, "what he means is that it's dangerous out there. You shouldn't go alone. At least let one of us drive you."
Mara's eyes flash at Leo's term of endearment. "I'll be okay," she says, her tone softening slightly, but only just. "I can handle it."
"Daniel, relax," Gray says, his voice a low, steady counterpoint to my rising panic. He places a calming hand on my arm. "She's right. Tess needs her things."
"I can drive her," Leo offers immediately, his gaze fixed on Mara, his expression earnest.
"Or I can," Gray adds, his voice calm and reasonable. He looks at Mara, giving her the power of choice. "She can pick whoever she wants to drive her."
"This is crazy," I say, my frustration boiling over. I feel like I'm the only one seeing the full picture of the danger. "You can't just let her go waltzing off into a snowstorm. We need to have a conversation first."
"Don't," Gray warns. He gives me a look that tells me to back off, that I'm making it worse.
Mara ignores me completely, her focus solely on Gray. A flicker of gratitude crosses her face. "Gray, then," she says. "We can be there and back by evening. Before the storm gets too bad."
Then she turns and walks toward the exit, her duffel bag slung over her shoulder, her steps quick and purposeful. She's not asking for permission. She's informing us of her decision.
My mind is racing. This is crazy. I need to have a conversation with her, alone. I need to make her understand the risks, not just from the storm but from herself. From her own biology.
"Wait," I say, my voice a command this time. She stops, her hand on the doorknob, but she doesn't turn around.
Leo looks from her rigid back to my furious face, and a solution seems to dawn on him. "Daniel should go with you," he suggests, his tone diplomatic. "He can check on Tess while you're there. It makes sense."
I consider it for a second. It's a way to talk to her. But I can't be trapped in a car with her for hours. Not right now.
"I'll take my own truck," I say, my decision made. "That way, I can stay as long as I need to with Tess, and you and Mara can come back when you're ready."
Leo nods. "Perfect. I'll hold down the fort here until your parents get back from the hospital."
I give him a grateful look. "Thanks, Leo."
Without another word, I grab my coat from the back of my chair and follow Mara out the door into the biting cold. She's already scraping the snow off her beat-up Mini Cooper, her movements sharp and angry.
I head for my truck, my jaw set. This is far from over. I'm going to Glenwood Springs, and I am going to have that conversation with her.