Page 45 of Snows Sinful Seven

“What are you looking at?” Henry asks. I try to suppress a shiver as he steps up behind me, his looming presence making my belly knot. He smells good. Pine and peppermint.

I’ve come to notice the others have their own signature scents, too. I’ve only gotten close enough to Brady, Sullivan, Gabe, and Henry. But I’m sure Sterling and Dallas smell just as good.

Brady smells like chocolate chip cookies, and Sullivan smells like gingersnaps.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath in hopes of relaxing, but it only makes it worse. I’ve been feeling off lately. Not quite myself. I haven’t been worrying too much about it—I know stress plays a big part in how I’m feeling. Everything is new and these changes are going to take time.

“My room,” I finally answer.

“Is everything okay? One of us is more than happy to give up theirs.”

I look up at him over my shoulder where he stands a good few feet taller than me. “It’s really sweet of you to offer, but there’s no way any of you could fit in here.”

He looks around the room and nods. “Good point. That's why you should room with me.” He gives me a cocky grin, flashing atoothy smile that would make anyone else start shaking in fear. “You can even sleep with me.” He winks.

That idea has my mind racing, and the familiar feeling of need comes over me.

Henry's pupils dilate, his nostrils flaring. Can he smell me? Of course he can, he’s a lycan. I bet that snout of his can smell anything from a mile away.

Quickly, I look away.

“The room is fine. Better than fine, I love it. It’s just missing something. Maybe I need a few more things to make it my own, you know?”

“That makes sense. It’s pretty empty in here.”

Even with the room being a lot smaller than I’m used to, being empty makes it feel like it’s still too big for my liking. I need to fill it, but not with just anything. No, that would make it too cluttered and the idea of that overwhelms me. I want to make this room mine. Something cozy and comfy.

“Do you want to see if there’s anything around the cottage that could help? You see it, it’s yours.”

“Maybe.” I nod, following Henry out into the living room. The guys are there, sitting around the table and eating breakfast before work.

Dallas walks back into the cottage, his phone in his hand. I have no idea how he’s able to use one when the phone is so small and his hands are so big, but who am I to judge?

“Who was that?” Gabe asks.

“That was the clinic,” Dallas sighs.

“No,” Gabe grumbles. “Today is your day off.”

“I know. But one of the little girls from the orphanage is running a fever. Annie is worried.”

The mention of the orphanage makes my heart clench painfully. “Who is it?”

Dallas looks over at me. “Ah, her name is Sally.”

My eyes widen. “No,” I whisper. “Is she okay? Please tell me she’s okay?’

“She should be,” Dallas assures me. “I’m sure it’s just a fever because of a cold or flu. But we need to make sure, that’s why I’m going in.”

“I’m coming with you.” I raise my chin, leaving no room for argument. But of course, I knew I’d get some from these guys.

“No,” Gabe growls.

I shoot him a glaring look. “Is that the only word you know?” Gabe glares back as Henry chuckles.

“Most days, yeah,” Henry answers for Gabe.

Bringing my attention back to Dallas, I cross my arms over my chest. “Sally is a friend of mine. So are all the kids. I care deeply about them. If you don’t let me go, I’m just going to pace around this big cottage all alone and worry.”

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