Page 51 of Alistair

She let out a little growl as she crushed the card in her fist.

“Pink lilies are your favorite?” Alistair asked.

She shook her head. “No, I’m allergic! I just happen to like pink flowers. I can’t tell you how many times he got me lilies and I’d have to throw them out or give them away. He never listened. I always wondered if he did it on purpose, got me flowers that I was allergic to just to see what I’d do.”

“What an asshole,” Jasper said as he joined them on the porch, along with Alfie, another wolf who was part of their safety escort.

“Yeah,” she said. “Could someone toss this freaking thing in the dumpster before I have to take an allergy pill?”

“On it,” Jasper said. He lifted the box and hustled away.

“I’m sorry,” Alistair said, pulling her close and kissing her temple.

“For what?”

“I should have gotten you flowers. You’re my soulmate. I should know you like pink flowers, butnot lilies.”

She tilted her face to his. “I don’t need you to buy me flowers. You’ve already given me your heart, which is more valuable and important to me than anything that dies easily like flowers.” He looked irritated that Seth had sent flowers, so she added, “I think he did this on purpose, to goad you, to try to point out that he knows me better. But he proved he doesn’t. And we’ve only known each other for a week. He knew me for a whole year andcouldn’t get something simple like that right. He’s definitely an asshole.”

“I promise to never get you lilies,” Alistair said.

“I have some ideas of what youcanget me, though, if you’re taking suggestions.” She waggled her brows lasciviously, and he let out a low growl.

“Ugh,” Alfie said. “Should I leave?”

Her cheeks heated as Alistair laughed. “You’re fine. Let’s pack up my sweetheart and get home.”

She unlocked the door and let everyone in, then directed the two wolves to put the clothes and shoes from her closet into trash bags, while she and Alistair raided the bathroom for her toiletries and personal items.

“Stay out of my underwear drawer,” she cautioned the guys.

Alistair punctuated that with a snarl. “Yes. Definitely.”

“Gotcha,” Jasper said. “We’ll just stick to the closet.”

They spent an hour packing her things. She’d need more time to gather the rest of her belongings and deal with the furniture, so they made plans to come back the following week.

On the way out of the apartment complex, they stopped at the management office and she turned in her one-month notice.

Her phone buzzed as they pulled out of the leasing office.

“Oh hi, Mom,” Maggie said, putting the phone to her ear. “How’s it going?”

“Hi, honey. We’re good, how are you doing?”

“Really great.”

“Do you have a job this week yet?”

“No sub jobs. I’m actually going to help Alistair at the park this week with the animals. I’m going to take a job there; I’m just trying out a few things before I decide.”

“Oh, really? What kind of jobs?”

“Well, there’s taking care of the animals.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“Only the ones that aren’t dangerous, like the deer.”

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