Page 158 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

While the outside of the house resembled a cabin, they decorated the interior with a minimalist and modern taste. Spotless and white, with light decor and a few houseplants.

When we reached the landing, I could tell we’d entered Wesley’s family home. Because covering the entry wall were various snapshots, school photos, and family portraits of Wesley, Sebastian, Madeleine, and their parents, all from different ages and seasons.

“Haven!”

I turned to see Maddie smiling at me, her blue eyes looking over me. “Hey, Maddie,” I said with a small wave and a smile.

“Come on, I’ll let you pick out what you want to wear and get the shower started for you.”

“Where’s your dad?” Nolan asked her as we started walking down the hall.

“In his office. I think he’s on the phone with Alpha Benjamin or maybe talking to the councilman.”

“I’ll be down there when Haven is done,” he said, then he turned and went down the stairs.

Maddie and I went into her room, and she led me to her closet.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, a tiny flicker of worry passing over her face, there and gone again in a flash.

“I’m okay. Mostly a little overwhelmed by everything.”

“Nolan said you were pretty much healed, but I can imagine the information overload is exhausting,” she said with a nod.

“Yeah, it is,” I agreed.

“Well, I won’t talk too much then. I don’t want to overwhelm you more. Pick whatever you want,” she said, gesturing at her clothes, then she walked into the attached bathroom.

I looked down at Wesley’s shirt, breathing in the scent of him that lingered on it from sleeping in his bed with him. I didn’t want to wear something else. I wanted to at least feel like he was near me.

But it was probably kind of gross from the grime I could feel on my body. I needed a clean one. But I didn’t want to ask for one of his shirts either. I didn’t want him to know I already missed his presence and his touch.

I frowned and grabbed a blue and yellow plaid flannel shirt from the closet and a clean pair of leggings from a shelf, then went into the bathroom. The soft pink and white room was already filled with steam, and a fluffy black towel sat folded on the counter, waiting for me to use it when I finished.

Maddie smiled. “Take as long as you need,” she said, then left and closed the door behind her.

I removed my clothes and got in the shower, taking my time to scrub, wash, and remove all traces of the club and the attack, Lennox, and my blood from my body. And the whole time, all I wanted was to be with Wesley. To have him hold me and caress my skin under the flow of the water like he did that night we shared. To have him wash my hair and massage my scalp.

My body, my heart, and my soul ached for him. And I’d only been away from him for an hour or so.

After I got out of the shower, I dressed quickly, grabbed a pair of shoes, and left Maddie’s room. Then she led me back down the stairs to the main floor.

Nolan leaned against the hall by the door we’d used to enter the house, and he smiled at me as I approached him. “What do you want to do now, Luna?”

“You seriously can just call me Haven,” I said with a sigh.

“I told you Wes ordered me to call you that.”

“Well, I order you tonotcall me luna.”

He frowned and crossed his arms, his brain working through the conflicting commands. Then he sighed, rubbed his forehead, and said, “Okay, Haven. What do you want to do now?”

“I’m starving,” I said as my stomach growled.

“Oh, good, because I’m hungry too.” He laughed. “It’s already after eleven, so does pizza sound okay? We have a pretty good pizza place in the little town here.”

“Pizza sounds perfect.”

He led the way through town with me close behind him. The shoes I borrowed from Maddie were just a touch too big, but luckily, we didn’t have far to go, so the odds of blisters would be low. We sat at a table in the small restaurant and ordered our pizza, then waited, sipping our drinks.

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