Page 109 of Chosen Beta

I don’t need to worry about waking Shadow.

I could slam a door, and he wouldn’t stir.

Sitting on the edge of the bed to put on socks, I glance back at his peaceful sleeping face, and I can’t help but wonder how much everything is about to change for all of us.

Shadow’s been excitable about all of it.

Owen arrived in a mood last night, but he spent the night in Lana’s suite.

He must have some idea by now of what the rest of us know for sure.

I let out a breath.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

I put a fresh pair of scrubs on top of the dresser, and I step out of the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me. It’ll be easy to slip back into the room in a bit to finish dressing once I’ve put breakfast on.

I’ll also find out if Shadow’s hunger is stronger than his need for sleep once the cooking starts.

He could ignore the sound of a bomb dropping, but if I start frying something he’ll snap awake in a heartbeat and be by my side before I can call out that breakfast’s on the way.

The TV’s still showing the feed from outside Lana’s door, but Pete isn’t on the sofa watching it like a hawk, so I’m guessing that means Lana already left the suite to go to her office.

If I stop and listen, I can hear water running in the second bathroom.

I breathe a sigh of relief that Pete hasn’t left to take over from Owen yet.

There’s plenty of time to make food before I head downstairs to work, so I open the fridge and start figuring out what to cook. We’re all used to taking turns prepping meals at home, and I’ve been careful to keep that habit up when I’m alone like I was for the last few weeks, so I don’t get lazy about it or fall out of practice.

It’s not my favorite thing to do for myself, but cooking for my mates makes all the difference.

I take the eggs and butter out of the fridge and set them down on the countertop.

The bread is still fresh, so I start putting slices in the toaster.

Pete appears from the second bedroom while I’m making coffee.

He’s wearing yesterday’s clothes, but his short, dark hair looks vaguely damp, the way it does for a few minutes after a shower before it dries off completely.

“Aren’t you working today?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

Considering I’m milling around in the kitchen making food in my underwear and a T-shirt, I can see why he might be confused.

“I’ll put my scrubs on after breakfast,” I tell him. “I’m working, but I have time for food, and I’d like to be caught up on what happened after we went to bed last night.”

He pulls on a wry smile as he gets to the small breakfast table beside the kitchen area.

“Nothing happened. Lana and Owen left her suite just after eight a.m., so I stopped watching the feed to go grab a shower.”

It’s welcome news, of course, but it doesn’t mean the threat Pete identified is gone.

I pour him a coffee and set it down on the table for him as he pulls up a chair.

“Thanks,” he murmurs. “Shadow’s still sleeping?”

“I’m sure he’ll wake up once he smells breakfast cooking.”

He nods, before he wraps his hands around the cup.

---