Page 60 of Pack Baines

Snickering, I offer him a salute of agreement, and he rolls his eyes with a shake of his head. It’s only when I’ve pulled away that he disappears, meandering away with his cell in hand, appearing for all the world that there isn’t a single care weighing his shoulders down.

The ride to the guys’ house takes no time at all, so I write a quick text to Munro before I jump out of the truck and use the key Creek forced into my hand the other day to let myself in.

“Honey, I’m home,” I call sarcastically, kicking my shoes off and placing them on the rack near the front door and discarding my backpack by the couch as I pass the living room.

Silence answers me right before I hear a door open from upstairs. I trudge my sorry ass to the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge while I wait for whoever is home tofind me.

By the time a shirtless Evron rounds the corner, I’ve already inhaled three strawberries and two cake pops left unsupervised on the counter.

“Hey, Blue,” he greets, rounding the island counter just as I steal another cake pop, stuffing it in my mouth with a half-assed greeting that doesn’t go missed. Snorting, Evron crowds my back with his tall and lean frame, banding his arms around me snugly. I’m blissfully assaulted by the sturdy and comforting scent of oak and hazelnut, and despite my bad attitude and grumpy emotions, my body instantly sinks into his with a sigh.

“That’s better,” Ev mutters softly, kissing the side of my neck while I pathetically eat sugary confectionery and wish this bad mood would go away already. “So, what has my little omega out of sorts today?”

I shrug a shoulder, because there’s nothing other than the obvious that has me in a bad mood. A bad mood I can’t shift, no matter how much I try. So, with a shrug and a swallow of the delicious sugary baked goods that I low-key want more of, I turn in Evron’s embrace and mutter, “I don’t know. I’m just grumpy.”

He raises his eyebrow playfully and I roll my eyes.

“Fine. I’ve been grumpy all week, and it was pointed out to me that it has something to do with my heat or whatever,” I grumble, crossing my arms under my breasts and leaning into Evron, inhaling his scent deeply and relaxing into the way it soothes my mind and soul.

Ev runs his hands through my short strands of hair, blunt nails scratching gently at the nape of my neck, and I shiver against him as he asks, “What about your heat, sweetheart?”

Dropping my forehead to his chest as he continues to turn my insides to mush as he plays with my hair, I mutter, “Apparently, the stress I’ve been feeling has screwed with my omega hormones and is delaying the heat spikes that would inevitably lead to my actual heat. Because my body isn’t getting the relief it needs through theheat spikes, it’s making me into a hormonal and painfully miserable omega.”

“Hmm,” he answers thoughtfully, his free hand running up and down my back in soothing motions that almost have me falling asleep standing up. My eyes close and I take another hit of hazelnut and oak, my shoulders relaxing that little bit more.

Evron doesn’t say anything for a long moment, and I’m more than content to drown in the affection he’s pouring over me in silence. Moreso when he slowly starts to purr, the sweet rumble vibrating beneath my head as his chest rattles softly. His hands are steady and sure, gentle and warm, and just as I’m about to stop resisting the urge to fall asleep against him, he startles me when he says, “I think I know a way to lift those spirits. How much do you trust me?”

“With my life,” I answer instantly, words slightly slurred with a tiredness I hadn’t felt before the guy started purring prettily for me.

Evron’s purr deepens with satisfaction, and I smile sleepily against his chest, loosening my arms from under my breasts and banding them loosely around him.

“Then how about I take you on a date?” he asks softly, an undercurrent of excitement in his words that piques my interest.

Lifting my head from his chest, I squint up at Ev and wonder, “What did you have in mind?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out. So, what say you? Up for an adventure with me?” he probes, pretty, green eyes glistening with barely concealed hope and anticipation.

His excitement for a potential date only sends a bolt of the same emotion through me, and I don’t bother battling the smile that forms on my lips. “I’m always up for an adventure with you.”

“Then let’s do it,” he nods decisively and grins. “Get changed into something a little warmer. And bring your camera. I’ll let the guys know I’m stealing you away for a few hours.”

“My camera?” I question, squeezing him once before releasing him, already missing his body heat and the rumble of his purr that has died down in lieu of his giddiness.

Ev nods, booping my nose as he takes a step back. “Your camera. You’ll see why when we get there.”

With a parting wink, he practically runs from the kitchen, snatching his cell from the counter and pressing it to his ear after a few taps. Before he disappears up the stairs, I hear him whisper shout, “I’m taking her on a first date, sucker.”

Snickering, I steal one more cake pop from the box on the counter before heading to the guest room that has my clothes stored inside, the guys insisting I use it to house my belongings in order to keep my nest comfortable and decluttered for all things other than blankets, comforters, pillows, and cushions.

The moment I’m in the guest room, I head to the closet where my meager belongings are stored, and search through the limited supply of clothing I own. Frowning, I eye the couple of t-shirts, jeans, leggings, a few sweaters, and a hoodie. When I can’t decide what the hell I’m meant to wear for this date, I stride right back out of the room and head for Evron’s that is stationed to the left of my nest.

Knocking, I call out, “Ev? What am I meant to wear?”

“Something warm, sweetheart,” he reminds me, and I frown.

“How warm?” I plead, an accidental whine slipping through my words that I’m instantly annoyed at.

An almost naked Evron is suddenly in front of me, and my brain short circuits for only a moment as he finds me scowling at where his door had been seconds before. Blinking rapidly at the sight before me, the boxers wrapped around Evron’s body doing very little to leave much to the imagination.

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