Page 99 of Pack Scratch Fever
I bite my lip and read the final one she sent me.
Me, Gary, Heidi, Mari, and the others have it handled. We’ll have more volunteers this week as well. Enjoy your time off.
I shoot her a quick text expressing my thanks, then look up to see Maddox watching me with a smirk.
“Told you, babe. You’re stuck with us.”
I smile.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about for the next week,” he continues. “Just let yourselfrelax.”
“I’ve been relaxing for two days,” I argue.
“I wouldn’t call what we’ve been doingrelaxing,” Maddox chuckles. “But there’s no way in hell any of us are letting you leave when you smell likethat.”
He presses a quick peck to the corner of my mouth.
I’m still sweaty and a little dizzy, and I’m glad I don’t have to rush to the rescue or make ten thousand calls about the cats right now.
“Is she awake?” A hesitant voice asks, and Maddox leads me out into the hallway where Avery lingers, dressed in grey sweatpants and a white shirt, his brow furrowed. “How are you feeling? You shouldn’t be up yet, Piper.”
“Good luck telling her what to do,” Maddox huffs. I roll my eyes and hurry into Avery’s embrace, hugging him.
“Thank you,” I whisper to him, “for everything.”
He trembles slightly at my touch. “Thank you for trusting me to take care of you,” he murmurs.
The scent of sweet tea and chamomile calms my rapidly beating heart, and Avery gently kisses my mating gland.
All of their scents are on me—the mixture intoxicating and more potent than I could have imagined.
This is the best Heat I’ve ever had.
“Are you hungry?” Maddox asks behind me. “You haven’t eaten in over twelve hours.”
At the mention of food, my stomach gurgles, and I nod.
“I’m starving,” I admit. “But where’s Poe?”
Poe surprised me more than anyone else.
I saw a side of him I didn’t know he possessed, and now I want to see more of it.
“In the front room,” Avery says. “We’ve been waiting for you to wake up, but we wanted to give you space.”
We head past the living room and into the kitchen, Avery and Maddox on either side of me.
“Oh, what the hell,” Maddox murmurs, and I follow his gaze to the sliding glass door.
Two cats illuminated by the patio light paw eagerly at the door, creating smudges on the glass.
“The house smells like a giant cat toy,” Avery says delightedly. “I guess our scents combined bring them out.”
“I have to see them.” I grin eagerly, recognizing the felines from the night we trapped them. “If they’re this friendly, there’s a possibility we could adopt them out.”
“Do what you have to do, babe,” Maddox says. “We’ll get you some food in the meantime.”
I’m surprised Maddox and Avery are giving me this much freedom, too. I can sense both of them watching me as I slideopen the door to the patio, but they don’t force me to cuddle with them or keep a possessive arm around me at all times.
