Page 8 of Awakened
Fresh and clean, I made it back downstairs. Brandon, Seth, Connor, Emily, and Blondie from Penny’s were sprawled across my small, bright living room, drinking coffee and quietly chatting. As soon as my foot hit the last step, Emily jumped off the couch and flew into my arms. Sadness radiated off her, adding to the doubt surrounding my bigescape.
I glanced over her shoulder and caught Seth watching. His lips turned up in a gentle smile, and my heart ached, knowing I was walking away from that connection.
If only . . .
Rolling my lips in, I looked away. It wouldn’t do me any good to play the what-if game when it came to Seth.
On the other side of the room, Connor refused to make eye contact with me. Brandon glared at the poor bastard, the two of them having a silent argument that didn’t bode well for anyone.
Attempting to break the tension, I said, “Well, aren’t we a lively bunch?”
Brandon clapped his hands. “Let’s get the big furniture out first. Start with the couches?”
With five pack members and one burly blond dude, loading the truck only took a few hours. It was barely ten a.m. when I carried the last box to Emily’s car.
“Uh, Em, can you do me a favor?”
She tilted her head in confusion. “Anything.”
“Can you get this box to Whitney and your brother? It’s all the luna shit your mom gave me. The books and recipes, you know, the goods. Whitney is going to need it.”
Emily peeked in the box. Shaking her head, she loaded it into her backseat and then hugged the life out of me. In my ear, she whispered, “You are a fucking angel, and my brother will be lucky if his mate is half the goddess you are.”
We stayed in that embrace until Blondie yelled, “Hey, is there room for me?”
The boys growled, and Blondie apologized profusely.
“You better get your boy, Em.”
“Eh, he’s not my boy.” She tightened the ponytail on top of her head and frowned. “I think I’m going to stick to wolves. He was far too fragile, if you know what I mean.” I cracked up, startling Emily from her spaced-out thoughts.
We regrouped and headed over to Poppy’s for some breakfast as payment for their labor. Once we were seated, I looked aroundthe table and committed them to memory. Well, except Blondie. I didn’t know that dude.
I tried to get Connor to talk to me, but he wouldn’t even look up from his stack of pancakes. I caught Seth’s eye, and he nodded toward the door. When he got up, I followed.
Outside, Seth lit a cigarette.
“You started smoking again?” I hadn’t smelled it on him at the bar.
He shrugged and took a long drag. “I only quit because you didn’t like it. What’s the point now that you’re leaving?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Whatever you say.”
I huffed out a humorless laugh, and he frowned. “You good, Les?”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my nose.
“Aiden didn’t step out of line, did he?”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “What are you talking about?”
Seth shook his head, running his thumb against his jaw. The smoke from the cigarette between his middle and forefinger twisted around his face as the wind changed direction. “He crashed at the pack house last night. He smelled like a bar and, well, you.”
While his tone held no judgment, I cringed, embarrassed that Seth knew I’d fucked up.
“I made sure he got in the shower, but I think Connor was up too.”
