Page 55 of Shifting Fate
“And the lightbulb clicks on,” Gage joked, turning back to his game. “Not very bright, but hey.”
I smacked him in the arm. “Fuck off.”
He handed me a controller. “Wanna play?”
I sighed, sadness tugging at me. I needed a distraction. Maybe slaughtering mass amounts of zombies would help fill that empty spot. I snatched the controller out of his hand and sat cross-legged on my couch cushion. “Might as well. Nothing better to do.”
So we played, but my heart wasn’t in the game. Neither was my mind. All I could think about was Arias. I wished he was here, but I understood his loyalty to his pack and his Alpha. Although I didn’t agree with Rhine half the time, he was still my Alpha and I would respect his wishes.
Even if that meant I went days without seeing my mate.Suck it up, cupcake. This is real life, so pull on your big boy panties and deal with it.Another soft sigh escaped me. Damn, I had it bad.
Gage elbowed me in the side. “Keep up. You’re gonna get us killed, dumbass.”
“Sorry,” I muttered, forcing myself to focus on the TV.
That focus was shot when there was a knock on the door. Before I could leap up and answer it, Ayla barked, “I got it!” and took off running down the hall. I twisted around in my seat despite Gage’s frustrated sigh.
Ayla bustled back into the living room, her freckled face nearly as red as her hair, and my heart leapt. I grinned. Arias. Had to be. No other guy I knew had the ability to make aloof little Ayla go from growly guard-dog to blushing and stammering.
“It’s for you, Dallon,” she said, then mumbled something about needing to clean her room.
My grin stretched ever-wider. My wolf yipped with happiness. Tossing the controller aside, I pranced down the hall and right into Arias’s arms. I grabbed him around the waist and squeezed, which earned me a throaty chuckle. I pressed my face against his shirt and dragged in his woodsy winter scent. Oh, sweet baby Jesus. He smelled so good. I nuzzled in a little deeper, then peeked up at him.
His smile was boyish and sweet. It sent tingles through me from head to foot. “I brought you something.” I drew back and he proffered up a single pink rose, its stem wrapped in a satiny black ribbon. “For you. Sorry I’ve been so busy.”
I took the flower and sniffed it for good measure, but Arias smelled better than any flower. I rolled my lips together and leaned in for a kiss. “Missed you…” My throat clogged up with emotion—really, Dallon?—but I could see those same feelings reflected in his eyes.
“And I missed you.” He peered into the living room, where Gage and Ezra sat, video game forgotten, watching our little reunion. I stuck my tongue out at them. They laughed. I grabbed Arias’s hand and tugged him along after me, and we squeezed in together on the couch.
Ezra’s cheeks flushed pink. “He brought you flowers? Gage never got me flowers!”
Gage scoffed. “Didn’t know you liked them.”
“Everyone likes flowers,” his mate replied.
“Huh. Fine. Maybe I’ll plant you a rose garden, but you’re watering them. I got a black thumb.”
Ezra’s smile dimmed a few watts. “Um… Remember what happened with the herb garden?” He made a face and I had to laugh.
“What happened to the herb garden?” Arias asked, confused.
I only laughed harder. “Ezra accidentally set it on fire,” I said. “And then he cried for, like, two days.”
Gage growled and poked me in the chest. “That’s cuz of all the pregnancy hormones, man. Be nice. It wasn’t his fault.” To Ezra, he added, “It wasn’t your fault, angel. We’ll try again next spring.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Maybe we can have, like, a huge community garden or some shit. Could be awesome, plus it’d save on groceries. Remy could learn how to can and we could make homemade salsa and jams.”
“I like that idea,” said Ezra softly, leaning his head against Gage’s arm.
If we’re still alive next spring.He didn’t speak it out loud, but I was pretty sure we were all thinking it. I knew I was, and I didn’t like it one bit. I wasn’t ready to bite the dust yet. I was too young. We were all too damn young. Nobody should have to stare death in the face before they hit their sixties, at least.
“It’ll be great,” I said. “I wouldn’t mind a few rose bushes.”
Arias brushed a kiss to my temple. “Ask and you shall receive.”
I raised a brow. “How about a rose emporium?”
“You’re stretching it a little.”
