Page 23 of Cupid's Pack

“Come here,” Mason says with a sigh.

He pulls me in against his warm body, wrapping his arms around me and resting a hand on the back of my head. He cuddles me against his chest and squeezes me tight, holding me as if he’s terrified I’ll make him let go.

I can’t remember the last time someone really hugged me. Before Dad died, most likely. I feel tears prick in my eyes as a wave of emotion washes over me.

The moment drags on for so long I feel all my tense muscles slowly relax, melting like butter in his arms. His presence is surprisingly calming, reminding me how safe he and Ian made me feel last night in the bed together.

I only pull away when the throbbing pain in my knee breaks through the calm.

“All of us should talk,” I whisper, looking past Mason at Ian and Willem waiting awkwardly several feet away. I can’t in good conscience leave them in the dark so long as they’re sticking close to me. They should know what kind of danger we’re facing.

Jakob clearly doesn’t intend to walk away. Especially not now that I’ve proven I won’t bow to him.

“Let’s go to the cabin,” Mason suggests, his eyes skimming my body, still naked from shifting unexpectedly.

Willem steps forward, and Ian trails closer too, like he doesn’t want to be left behind. “We can go to mine,” Willem suggests. His cheeks go slightly pink when Ian and Mason both jerk their heads to look at him suspiciously. “I have one of the double cabins near the lake.”

“Bigger than this one?” I nod my head at Ian and Mason’s cabin.

Willem nods.

“How’d you get a double? We were told they were all rented out months ago.” Ian juts his bottom lip out in an over-exaggerated pout.

Willem’s cheeks go from light pink to almost red. “I’ve been here a while,” he mutters, almost too quietly to hear.

“How long is a while?” I walk a few steps closer, brows furrowing as a frown tugs the corners of my lips down. Sudden, unabashed worry for him spears through me.

“A few months.” He scratches his head and looks away like he can’t bear to hold eye contact, and my heart breaks for him. Has he been here alone all that time? I want to ask more questions, but I can tell from the drooping slant of his shoulders that he doesn’t want us to dwell on it.

I cross the short divide between us and loop my arm through his. “I think with four people, we can use the space to spread out. Thanks for offering.” I lean into him slightly, the urge to comfort him so strong it makes my chest tight.

He hesitates and then wraps his arm around my shoulder, relaxing against me.

“That’s decided then,” Ian says cheerfully. “Let’s see this fancy double cabin.”

He walks faster than the rest of us, jolting ahead as if he’s the one leading the charge. A smile tugs at my lips in spite of the circumstances and the nagging pain in my leg.

“Your leg is bothering you.” Willem stops suddenly, pulling me to a stop alongside him. He kneels to look at my muddy skin.

I’m acutely aware of how close he is to other parts of my anatomy as he gently nudges me to turn to give him a better look at the front of my knee. There’s nothing suggestive about the careful way he checks me over, but the pose is suggestive enough on its own. I can feel my cheeks warming as Mason and Ian both stare from over Willem’s shoulder.

“Dude.” Ian clears his throat uncomfortably.

Willem glances back at him, but his hand stays on my calf.

“I know this is a shifter campground and no one would be too surprised to see us like this.” Ian gestures to his own completely nude body. “But maybe the whole campground doesn’t need an intimate look at Quinn while you’re playing doctor?”

Willem jerks his head to look at me again, his eyes widening as he realizes how obscene this might look to an outsider.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters, cheeks still pink, as he stands and pulls me in close to his side.

“It’s fine,” I tell him, swiping my hand over my mouth to hide the hint of a grin threatening to escape. I’ve hardly made it for this many years as a shifter by being embarrassed by a little nudity—but it’s a first, having a man on his knees in front of me while I’m naked in the middle of a public space, and it feels somehow different.

“We should stop here; my cabin is too far.” Willem frowns down at my leg again.

“It’s okay, I got her.” Mason elbows past Willem and abruptly dips to pick me up bridal-style. I gasp as I latch an arm around his neck, my heart pounding as he picks me up like it’s nothing, bare skin rubbing against bare skin. “Lead the way.” I can hear the smirk in his voice even before I glance up at him.

He looks down at me affectionately and meets my eyes. He surprises me a second time by swooping his head down to kiss the corner of my mouth.

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