Page 33 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
She grins at me, evergreen eyes sparkling in the sun. She makes a move to rise to her feet, but I hustle over to her while gesturing for her to stay put.
“Izzy,” she greets as I bend to hug her gently. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too, girl.” I sit beside her. “I know I’ve already apologized, but since we’re face-to-face, let me say again that I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding.” At the time she and her three Alphas were wed, we’d been in crunch mode forDeathof an Archon,and time off was forbidden for everyone at the studio.
“Don’t apologize again,” she says with a laugh. “I completely understood. And you sent the most amazing gifts with Bec, which was so unnecessary.”
I shrug at that. I’d felt it had been very much necessary.
Her gaze falls back to the man and the little girl, warmth filling her eyes and a small smile on her face.
“They’re yours, I take it?” I ask cheekily.
Violet laughs. “Yes. The big one is Ben, the little one is Ivy.”
My laugh is a little nervous. “Kids are cute, especially when they’re someone else’s and you can just give them back.”
Oops.
Violet laughs even louder, turning back to me. “I can agree with that.” She squints. “There’s nothing wrong with not wanting children,” she adds, as though feeling the energy I’m giving off. “I was scared shitless before making the decision to start a family, but I knew it was something I wanted.”
I sigh, bite my lip. “Please don’t take this in a way that makes you look at me differently, but I’m worried I might fall for someone who wants kids.”
Violet thinks on this a moment. “First, I’d never think differently of you in a bad way,” she assures. “Second, I’m curious. Have you found any of your scent-matches?”
My body stills without me commanding it to. Scent-matches…. I mean, I know all about that now, and I even changed my medications to leave myself open to finding them, but…
“I don’t think so?” It comes out as a question. “I mean, just because a guy smells good doesn’t mean he’s my scent-match, right?”
Violet gets a faraway look in her eyes, expression fond. “I didn’t realize what a scent-match really was until my suppressants wore off. Then,bam,”she claps her mitten-cladhands. “It was so fast, my head should have spun off.” She laughs. “Maybe it did.”
Huh.“Bec had told me a bit about what you went through. I literally had my suppressants changed the following month. I haven’t gone into heat or anything, but scents have certainly changed for me.” I shift toward her, and as if to emphasize my point, Violet’s wildflower scent rises around me. One look at her is all it takes for me to realize it’s her Alpha who’s causing the elevation.
I let out a small laugh. “Even my ex, Matthew—he’s actually staying here in Crescent Lake—even he smells so much better now than he did when we were together and I was on my old meds.”
Violet smiles kindly at me. Her whole demeanor is so different from when she lived in L.A., and I can’t tell if it’s because of her move to Crescent Lake, because she found her pack, because of motherhood, or all of the above.
“Should you be out here in the snow in your condition?” I blurt.
She laughs at me, but it’s still kind. “There’s nothing wrong with being in the snow for a while. Besides, they love it.” She returns her gaze to Ben and her daughter before looking back at me. “I’d better go join them.” When she moves to stand, I’m right there with her, helping her up. She nods in thanks, takes one step, then turns back to me. “I’d like to send you some information about scent-matching, if that’s okay.”
I’m nodding, yes, before she finishes speaking.
And, as I watch her join part of her family, how Ben wraps her in his arms with so much love and care, the absolute adoration in his gaze, I think I may start my own research when I get back to the B&B.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Scent matches override suppressants the longer a pack is together.
There could be adverse mental effects when unmated packs cohabit for too long.
The overwhelming desire to be with scent-matches at all times overwhelms even those who aren’t conscious of it.
Grumbling, I move from the small desk in the corner that I’d set up my laptop, and fling myself onto the bed.
I don’t think that I’m having any kind of adverse effects from living with Will and Asher. I don’t think Matthew is experiencing anything worse than his preexisting panic disorder.
Recalling Will’s vanilla bean scent makes my mouth water. Asher’s warm amber scent makes my body hot. Matthew’s patchouli makes me feel like I’m home…
