Page 10 of Autumn After

“You’ll especially like these ones because I make the best muffins in the entire pack.” She was singsongingly, and I already adored her.

“You don’t say.”

“I do say. I had to put that out there because my brother says you make the best cookies. And since I was the best cookie maker before you got here, I shall hold the title of muffin baker supreme.” She grinned.

“They do look delicious.” I wasn’t really a muffin maker, but even if I was, I’d stop right then and there. If this made her this ridiculously happy, I wanted her to have it.

We put on a pot of coffee, and as it brewed, she told me all about herself. It was easy to see why Cedric thought so fondly of her. She was fun, nice, and sweet, and had a bit of spunk to her. I could instantly see us becoming friends.

“Okay, it’s the moment of truth. Tell me what you think.” She held the muffin out to me, and I took a bite. I had to admit, it was pretty freaking good.

“Well-deserved title, I see,” I said.

Her smile was infectious. “See, now you can trust me.”

“Because you make good muffins?”

“Nope, because I make the best muffins.” She grabbed one for herself.

I wasn’t sure how those two went together, but I went along with it.

“Where’d my brother go, anyway?” she asked.

“He was going to check with Rodney. Something about a tow.” Rodney being the mechanic or just the tow truck. I wasn’t sure which.

“Oh yeah, Rodney was having trouble with his truck.”

Wasn’t that my luck? Yesterday the news would’ve crushed me, but today, I was kind of glad. It meant there was no rush to making a decision of what came next between Cedric and me.

After learning about shifters yesterday, I’d spent the entire day drilling him with questions about his world. I would have thought I was crazy, except any time I looked out the window I saw wolves running around like… well… like people. More than once I saw them shift. I couldn’t deny that Cedric told me the truth.

I just didn’t know what the future held.

My home was nowhere near here, and my dream was to have a food truck and attend the festival I’d spent the last few weeks saving for. Hell, I had practically run away from home in order to go to the festival. Which reminded me that I needed to call Alex and let him know I was safe.

I should’ve been upset. I had the big event coming up, but right now, it kind of felt like it wasn’t as important. It would be nice to get her moved to someplace safer, though. I didn’t like leaving her there where another truck or car could hit her.

“My brother says she’s purple and that you call her Lavender.”

“Well, he’s right on both accounts.”

“I knew I liked you.”

The door opened, and Cedric walked inside. “Are you being nice to my mate?” he teased, coming up behind her and kissing the top of her head.

“I made him muffins. I think that qualifies as spectacularly nice,” she said.

“Besides, we’re both trees,” I piped in.

He looked at me like I was making no sense, which, fair. It didn’t, not at face value.

“On that note, I need to get going. I have chores, and you guys have... whatever it is mates do.” She winked, and I wanted to shrivel up and hide. It was one thing when his brother teased like that, but his little sister? It just didn’t feel right.

That being said, she was totally right. As soon as she was gone, we’d return to the bedroom. In between him telling me all about shifters, I’d also learned all about his body and him about mine.

She gave me a quick hug, and her brother one as well, then left.

“Good news,” Cedric said. “Rodney should be able to get your truck today. And he is an excellent mechanic, so there is a good chance he can repair it.”

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