Page 19 of Little Red and Her Creatures of Chaos
I wake up in bed with a jerk the following morning, wildly looking around, trying to get my bearings.
“Shhhh,” Nash says to my side. “You’re safe.”
I look over at a shirtless Nash, and my heart rate slowly returns to normal. “Did I pass out?”
Nash lifts up on an elbow and tucks my hair behind my ear. “You did. I carried you inside. I hope it’s okay that you stayed.”
I look down at myself and notice I’m swamped in a huge T-shirt, and someone put my panties back on. “It’s okay.”
“Radley,” Nash says softly, waiting for me to look at him. “Are you fine with what happened last night?”
I quickly search my feelings and don’t feel anything but happiness. “I’m more than fine with it.” I lean down and kiss him slowly. “Way more than fine.”
Nash picks up my hand and kisses my knuckles before sliding from the bed. “Mason is fixing breakfast, so I’ll give you a second to get dressed. The bathroom is right in there.” He points to a door at the other end of his room and kisses my forehead. “Thank you for trusting me last night.”
With a soft smile, Nash slips from the room, and I flop back on the bed. I’ve heard girls talk about getting butterflies around guys they liked, but I’ve never experienced it myself until now. I do trust them. This might sound crazy to most people since I just met them and they’re shifters, but I’d be able to feel anything bad through the bond, and I don’t feel anything but good things. I feel the pull to be close to them, so I slide from the bed, take care of business, and pick up the extra toothbrush Nash must have laid out. I quickly brush my teeth and run my fingers through my hair, trying to look somewhat presentable. When Iget to the bedroom, I debate putting my jeans back on but decide against it since Nash’s shirt fits like a dress. I pull the door open and follow the voices to the kitchen. When I walk in, I stop to take it all in. Nash is sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee. Mason is at the stove, pushing around something in a pan, and Bryce is standing behind him with his arms around his waist. It looks so cozy, and my heart clenches, wanting the same thing. Will this be my life if I let them in?
Bryce turns around, and a huge smile breaks out on his face. He bounds over and kisses my cheek. “Good morning! Mason is making his famous pancakes.” He beams at me again and goes back to his spot behind Mason.
Nash pushes the chair out beside him and motions for me to sit. I do, and he pulls the chair close to him so our thighs are touching. “I like seeing you in my shirt, Pup.”
“It’s comfy,” I laugh.
“They are so big and roomy,” Bryce comments, kissing Mason’s back.
Mason chuckles and turns to peck Bryce on the cheek. “Bryce is our resident shirt thief. Can we add you to that list, too?” I feel like he’s subtly asking if I’ll be around more, and I find myself agreeing.
“Yes. I’ll fight him for the good ones.”
“You won’t have to,” Mason says, turning to lay a huge plate of pancakes on the table. “All you’ll have to do is smile, and he’ll give them to you.”
Bryce sits beside me and starts loading my plate up. “I would give them all to you.”
I grab his wrist when he goes to grab a fourth pancake. “That’s enough,” I say with a laugh. “And I won’t steal your shirts.”
We get our pancakes ready and eat in comfortable silence. I’m dying to ask questions, but I feel like that’s all I’ve done.When Mason’s done eating, he gets up to start clearing off the table. I jump to my feet. “Let me do it.”
“Absolutely not,” he answers.
“But you cooked,” I argue.
“It’s my job to take care of my pack.” Mason shrugs and puts the dishes in the sink.
“Who takes care of you?” I ask, sinking back down in my chair.
“They do,” he says, taking his seat. “I know you have more questions. Never hesitate to ask.”
I chew on my lip, trying to figure out what I want to ask first. “I’m assuming you’re the alpha?”
Mason nods. “I’m the lead alpha. Nash is also an alpha and my second-in-command. Bryce is our beta.”
“And you guys are…in a relationship?”
“We are,” Nash answers easily. “We’re mated for life.” I’ve seen the shiny scars on their bodies and know they’re mate marks. Where Bryce has two, Mason and Nash only have one.
“Why do you have two?” I ask, looking at Bryce.
“I can’t give a mate mark—only alphas. So, they claimed me, and it works the same way. They have each other.”
