Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hazel
Goldie, Clover, and even Alice were giddy with excitement. And, at times, so was Augustine, but as I packed the last of my bags, which were considerable after the guys bought me an entire wardrobe, she got antsy.
By antsy, I meant popping off all the reasons I should rethink this.
“I’m sure.” I abandoned my luggage to put my arms around her.
She was the same height as me. My forehead bumped hers.
“These are my mates. And no, they were not so truthful in the beginning but they had their reasons, and I forgave them. It’s not worth missing a chance at a life with my fated mates.
My scent-matched pack. I’ll be okay. I promise. ”
“If you’re not…” Her eyes met mine. “If they do something or you don’t want to stay or they decide…I don’t know what, but come and stay here, with us. Or me. Don’t run away from us. You are a bit of a runner.”
We both laughed.
“I was. But not anymore. If I tried, one of my friends or my mates would catch me before I reached the edge of the woods. Or Divina. You can visit me anytime; you know that, right? The door is always open to you. And I’ll be at the shop every day.
Tea and gossip time will always be at three. I promise.”
That seemed to make her ease a bit, although a tear or two did slip from her eye and roll down her cheek. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Everything okay here?” Goldie came up the stairs with Clover on her heels.
“We’re making a covenant.” Augustine raised her brow, daring me to argue.
“We are. About keeping everything the same as much as possible, and teatime is nonnegotiable and if I run, everyone will hunt me down and drag me back by my ankles.”
Clover huffed. “I actually like that plan. Your boys are here. I told them they couldn’t come up here and fill our apartment with their stink, but really, I wanted to tell you goodbye without them.”
“It’s not goodbye,” I said but accepted a group hug.
My nest was everything I wanted it to be.
Moody plum walls. A huge bed that swallowed me whole but one day would hold all four of us.
I recognized things I’d helped shop for online, but they were only a third of the pillows and blankets, and the scent told me True arranged them there.
Handled each one of them with care, placing them neatly.
Of course, once my heat hit, I’d strip the whole thing and start over.
We had dinner, and I went to bed alone. Despite this incredible home that made me feel like I was in a fantasy, I slept like absolute shit. I was groggy and a bit snippy at the boys at breakfast, but they didn’t even flinch.
I wished my mates were in the bed with me. Keeping me warm and comforted with their bodies and their scents, but we weren’t there yet. And there was the issue of True. We weren’t mated yet. Shiloh was marked and Lindon mated, but True was quiet and a bit more distant than the others.
We would have our time together. Soon, I hoped.
I dressed in a black romper with a purple-and-black striped shirt underneath since the chill of autumn was fully seated in the air.
The short walk gave me a moment to myself.
The walk between my home and my work. Between my pack and my friends.
A place where I could collect myself and breathe and be quiet.
Sometimes, everyone in my life was loud. And I loved the loud, but I knew that I would love this little bit of peace in between one life and the other.
Once I got to the front door of the shop, I picked up a package and went inside.
I didn’t dare bring coffee from home or any breakfast, even though my mates wanted to make it for me.
My friends would be offended and also would never let me hear the end of it.
Goldie had picked out our coffee machine for the house herself. Insisted.
And my mates or I could never make anything close to Alice’s or Augustine’s baked goods.
Why even try?
“What’s in the box?” Augustine hopped down from her perch on the stool behind the counter. The morning dusting was done, and a slice of cinnamon coffee cake and an espresso waited next to the register.
“I don’t know yet. Let’s see.”
I tore the package open and smiled as I lifted the jar. “Hey, did you order some lavender honey? It’s…”
“I didn’t. Maybe Goldie. She’s been making some salted-honey lattes lately. What? What is it?”
I almost dropped the jar. “It’s from…”
Augustine caught the jar just as my fingers released it. “It’s from your town. These motherfuckers never quit, do they?”
“There’s a note. Read it, please.”
Augustine lifted the note and held it by the corners like it was laced with poison. Hell, it might be. “It says, we’re still here.” Her eyes met mine. “Should I tell them, or do you want to?”
I blew out a breath, trying to steady myself. “You do it. Get it out of here too, please. Throw it in the trash. Burn it. Toss it in the pond. It might have something in it.”
My friend nodded. “I’m taking a picture of both, sending it to your pack, and then it’s gone.”
I closed my eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for always protecting me.”
“Always, Hazel. Always.”