Page 154 of Pack Scratch Fever
“Avery,” I promise, my voice low. “Never.”
I have the same worries. They haunt me every day, and there’s no reason why the perfect Alpha with a heart of gold standing in front of me should ever think like that.
His lip twitches, and he reaches out to take my hand. “Okay, then.”
Maddox takes my other hand, and the three of us reach the front of Furs and Purrs.
But I stop when I see the new sign, bright teal blue with a white paw print. The outline of a white cat sits in the corner, and a feline face is etched into the middle of the paw print.
“Oh,” Maddox adds. “I designed you a new sign, and Avery helped with the color scheme. I can always make it more detailed later, but?—”
“It looks perfect,” I tell him.
It’s soft and delicate, something that I would never dream the Alpha dressed in all black would create.
But every member of my pack is full of surprises.
Blair is at the front counter when we enter, and I’m greeted by both her and Alvin. Blair wraps me in a fierce hug while Alvin yowls for attention.
“You better not be here to work,” she warns, releasing me. I bend down to gather the tabby cat into my arms.
“She’s on house arrest until we say otherwise,” Maddox says, knowing it pisses me off. I shoot him a glare, but he simply winks at me.
Alvin nuzzles my face, and I breathe in his calming cat scent while he purrs.
Once I place Alvin on the floor, I look around the building, and grin at the new pictures on the wall.
Portraits of different cats fill the lobby—some of them are of cats the rescue has for adoption, while others are candid photos of felines. I recognize one of Alvin, who wears the top hat Blair purchased for him last year, his mouth open in a meow.
“They’re not my best work,” Avery says, rubbing the back of his neck. “But?—”
I silence him with a soft kiss, smiling against his mouth.
“It looks incredible,” I promise him, pulling away. “And they mean so, so much to me.”
He beams, and my smile grows.
They’ve made what matters to me matter to them, and not just to win me over.
Poe didn’t need to adopt Mister Whiskers, but he did.
Maddox and Avery didn’t need to redo our website or make a new sign, but they did.
And Poe sure as hell didn’t need to buy the whole damn building.
Speaking of Poe…
Rich, delicious herbs fill my senses as I head to the cat playroom, my gaze falling to the back of a head of thick dark brown hair.
Mari talks animatedly to Poe, waving her hands and gesturing excitedly.
When I open the door, they both turn to me. Poe’s eyes warm when he sees me, and my heart beats rapidly.
I missed him. I saw him this morning when he checked on me and made sure I took my meds, but it feels as if it’s been ages since then.
“Your Omega is here!” Mari cries, and I shake my head and chuckle.
“Mari…” I warn her, but the older woman keeps going.
