Page 34 of Ensnaring Their Rabbit

It still wasn’t enough, so one day when I was doing laundry, I picked up one of Reeve’s construction hoodies from the hamper, and instead of washing it, I brought it to my nest. I needed something that was Riv’s too, so his long sleeve shirt he did yard work in ended up in the nest. Theydidnotice those were missing, but I played innocent.

Other things somehow found their way into my nest; one of Reeve’s belts, Riven’s favorite book that bought for me because he thought I’d like it. There was also a painting that had been on the walls of the coffee shop I worked at. I managed to sweet talk my boss into giving it to me after a lot of fake grumbling. Even the original burner phone Laurent had given us was buried under all the pillows and blankets. In fact, all the original clothes that were in the duffel found their place in the organized chaos. I acquired some other stuff, too. A really soft fleece blanket I found at the store across from the coffee shop. Two oversized black wolf plushies with blue eyes and a much smaller gray rabbit one. The small dresser that had been in the room was painted a dark hunter green, and the walls a softer slightly lighter version of the color. I covered up the paint fumes by also painting the backsplash in the kitchen the same day.

It was a lot of work, a lot of sneaking and a lot of guilt, but finally it was done. Finally, the nest wasmine. It was time to tell my mates. I looked around the room, making sure it was perfect. It smelled like us, and still faintly like paint, but I couldn’t wait for my mates to really make their mark in here.

Before nerves got the better of me, I pulled out my phone. I had already taken the day off work to prepare for this. My fingers shook as I typed the text in our group chat.

Brynn:

Hey, what time are y’all working till today?

I didn’t expect them to answer right away; they were busy. But it only took a few minutes beforeReeve is typingshowed up on the bottom of the chat.

Reeve:

The job is almost done so we should be home around 1. Why, what’s wrong, sweetness? Do you need us to come back?

I smiled, even as I rolled my eyes. My mates were so overdramatic.

Brynn:

Everything’s fine. I have a surprise for you both. But it can wait. Have a good day at work and be safe. I’ll see you when you get back.

I swallowed and waited, wondering what they would say to that. Would they question why I wasn’t at work?

Finally Riven started typing.

Riven:

I look forward to our surprise. Love you and miss you already.

My stomach fluttered with butterflies. Riven loved to say that Reeve was the more sentimental one of them, but he sure had plenty of moments of sweetness. My cheeks were burning as I responded. Even after a month of them constantly expressing their love to me, it was still something I struggled to get used to. I still couldn’t believe it was real.

Brynn:

Love you, too.

I threw my phone down on the mattress, face down before I ended up spending the rest of the day staring at it. I still had plenty to do before they got home. I ran out of my nest and to the bedroom so I could shower. I had more planned than them seeing the nest, and I wanted to be clean inside and out when it happened.

EPILOGUE

RIVEN

I glancedat Reeve as I sat in the passenger side of the old truck we’d bought shortly after starting our new jobs. Having to shift and run to the job got old really quickly. We tried to get Brynn a car too, but he completely balked and still shifted and kept a lock box with his uniform and other necessities at the local bus station. Apparently in Pearl City, they made some allowances for shifters like keeping private places for us to change and somewhere to store belongings. It was one of the many differences between the city we all grew up in and this one.

“Calm down,” Reeve told me, sensing my nerves, even as his fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “He said everything was fine.”

“Yeah, but why do you think he didn’t go to work? Do you think he’s finally ready to show us his nest?”

Our little mate seemed to think we didn’t realize he had been slowly building his nest the past few weeks. I’m not sure how he thought we wouldn’t notice all our stuff going missing or the paint fumes coming from behind the closed door. He was keeping it from us, and while it hurt a little, I understood he had his reasons. I was trying very hard to be patient and wait for him to share it with us.

Reeve’s eyes flashed blue. “Maybe. But if it’s not, don’t push him. He’ll share when he’s ready.”

I threw my head against the headrest. “Ugh. I just wish he’d show us already. He has to know we’ll love whatever he did with it.”

Reeve put his hand on the center console, palm up. I happily took the offer, relaxing slightly when he squeezed. “It’s more than that, Riv. He explained a bit. He never had this before. Give him time.”

“Hmmmfff.” Like he wasn’t as anxious about it as I was. Reeve grinned, knowing my thoughts. Still, I tried my best to be patient. He wasn’t the only one still reeling from all this. We decided to talk to Uncle Zeke whenever he came back. If nothing else, then for closure. He hadn’t shown up though, and we were starting to get worried. If he really came once a month, he was well past due. We had been considering contacting Laurent to see if he could find him but so far hadn’t gained the courage. We also had been steadfastly avoiding the conversation of Rella. We’d get there eventually.

---