Page 27 of Pack Scratch Fever
Thesass.I adore Poe; he’s one of my best friends, but sometimes, someone needs to check his attitude besides Avery and me.
Watching Piper do it is phenomenal.
With us, she was a bit shy and closed off. But with Poe, she looks ready to smack him.
Best. Day. Ever.
Poe continues to seethe. “So, you just found a bunch of cats and didn’t bother to call me?” he snaps, glaring at me.
I wave my hand in dismissal. “And do what? Watch you spiral about something you can’t control?”
I catch Piper’s lip quirk, but she doesn’t say anything.
“We need all those cats out,” Poe continues, his voice gruff. “There’s no reason for them to be here.”
“Okay,” Piper sighs, rubbing her forehead. “I’ve had a really long night, and I’ve lost all my patience.” She points at his chest. “Dude, youliterallysmell like catnip. You know that, right?” Then, she turns back to us. “Have you guys not told him? His scent is literally catnip.Herbs.”
Poe’s eyes bug out of his head, and Piper continues, angling her entire body on the couch to face him.
“Why do you think that cat wouldn’t let go of you?” she says. “Why do you think I asked if you gave her catnip?”
Poe is speechless.
I knew my packmate had an earthy, herby scent, especially with all his time gardening, but I never thought it wascatnip.
I burst out laughing, and both Poe and Piper glare at me.
Even Avery chuckles.
“Sorry, Poe, she’s right,” Blair adds, shrugging. “You attract cats.”
I can’t stop grinning, despite Poe’s annoyance. He looks ready to murder everyone.
“Besides, where were you?” Avery asks. “What have you been out doing?”
I catch Piper’s face turn stoic, pretending she’s not interested. A wave of indifference crosses her features.
“Office,” he grumbles, and Piper’s face looks relieved.
Interesting.
“An office at four in the morning?” Blair asks him. “I’d be grumpy too. What do you do for work?”
“Law,” Poe sighs. “Real estate law. Looking over contracts for hours on end, dealing with commercial properties.”
Piper makes a face. “Oh. That’s why you’re miserable. Ugh. I don’t envy you,” she murmurs.
My shit-eating grin grows wider.No onebothers to give Poe any pushback or attitude. But Piper speaks her mind, and it’s refreshing.
Almost as refreshing as her delicious scent.
“We should get going,” Blair says, standing, and I immediately want to object.
Why can’t Piper stay?
She shouldn’t be working if she hasn’t slept at all—she could rest here.
The suggestion sounds a little crazy, though.
