Page 40 of Fated to Monsters

A man with honey-colored hair looks up from his spot at the counter, his eyes beaming once they settle on her. His cheeks turn up and he exposes his teeth. "You're just in time." He dusts his hands off over a doughy mixture and wipes them on the towel tucked into his apron.

Willow continues toward him. “Cam, I have someone I want you to meet.”

A buzzer goes off. "Hold that thought." Cam presses one finger up into the air and turns on his heel. He slides a mitten onto his hand and reaches into the oven to pull out a batch of whatever he must be baking.

My mouth waters at the sheer scent of it but I restrain myself from latching onto the hot pan and running out of here like my life depends on it. Food is not a scarcity here, not like it is back home. I may not have lived like a demon on the run, but even as a hunter, things like substance and shelter weren’t always easily accessible. And considering only the elite had the best of what our world had to offer, the provisions we got weren’t anything compared to what Cam just placed on the counter between us.

“You didn’t have to.” Willow walks around and throws her arms around his torso and presses her lips to his.

He returns her kiss and hugs her tightly before releasing her. “I knew you had a busy day ahead of you.” Cam brings her hand to his face and kisses that, too. “Anything for you.”

Willow blushes and gives her attention back to me. “Wren, this is Cameron, my husband. Cam, this is Wren Oliver.”

Cam’s brows perk up. “An Oliver, ey?” He extends his arm. “Always nice to meet family.”

Family. Is that what this is? I shake his hand, noting how nothing sparks at our touch the way it had with Willow. Does that mean he’s not supernatural? Or is it possible that the reaction I had with her was only because we share the same blood? Either way, I’m grateful for the connection even if it doesn’t have the samespark.

A week ago, I had no one, and now I have Willow and her husbands.

"Can I offer you a blueberry muffin?" Cameron plucks napkins out of a square wooden holder before taking two warm muffins out of the tray and setting them on the counter.

“Thank you,” I tell him. “That’s mighty nice of you.”

What did I do to deserve the kindness that these folks have had to offer? Sydney has been gracious in introducing me to Willow and giving us a place to stay. And Cameron is willing to part with one of his delicious concoctions.

“Cam is the best baker in the state.” She elbows him gently. “Angels, maybe the whole world. Can’t say I’ve had a blueberry muffin that tastes better than this.” She takes one from the counter and hands it to me, then keeps the other for herself.

“I thinkworldmight be an overstatement, babe,” he tells her.

“Doubtful.” Willow kisses Cam’s reddened cheek. “I’ll try to be back for dinner, but don’t wait around on me. You know how Deghan gets if he misses a meal.”

“Speaking of, have you seen him? He was gone before I got up.” Cam scratches at his scruffy chin and leaves behind some of the white debris that was still on his hand.

Willow pats him with her napkin. "He's out with the wolves doing wolf stuff."

“Oh, right, that new pack is in town. I forgot he’s training them.” Cam nods as if he’s just had a realization. “That explains why two pans of brownies were missing this morning.”

“Are you surprised?” Willow chuckles.

"Not even a little bit." Cam steadies his baby blue gaze on me. There's something so soft and innocent about him—wholesome, really. He reminds me of Dash with his genuine and caring nature. He lacks the overbearing masculinity that I've grown familiar with in my lifetime. Most men make it a mission to assert their dominance and be seen as the top alpha in the room. Cam and Dash are both okay with their position in the ranks and seem to thrive in the truth of who they are. It's calm, endearing, and a welcome breath of fresh air in a sea of men and their pissing matches.

I don’t need a man to protect me—I need respect.

Dash has given me that from the start. He’s been on my side even when I wasn’t and continues to stand by and support my desires. Bo could learn a thing or two from Dash. My relationship with Wes hasn’t always been easy, but given our complicated attachment to each other, it makes sense that it wouldn’t be smooth sailing. What relationship ever really is? Maybe I’m being too demanding for thinking that the situation with Bo should be anything less than difficult? He and I are exact opposites. We were brought up to hate each other. And not too long ago, we were enemies.

I shouldn’t compare Bo to Dash, nor should I compare any of the guys. Every one of them is different, along with my connection to them. I should accept that some may come easier than others, and some might take a lot more work. But what if I’m the only one willing to put in the work, and Bo doesn’t even feel the same way at all? I guess my biggest issue with the entire situation is not knowing whether he actually wants me. I could handle his bad attitude, temper, and short-fused nature if I was certain of his feelings for me.

He's so hot and cold I can never get a good read on what’s going through his thick skull.

Maybe that’s something I can talk to Willow about if I ever get the opportunity to meet with her again. She does have four husbands after all, and I’m confident things weren’t always this simple.

Sydney speaks of Deghan in a good nature, and Cameron does the same. There doesn’t appear to be any bad blood between them—but there’s another husband I haven’t heard anyone refer to. Is he the troublesome one of the bunch or is it happenstance that he hasn’t been brought up yet?

“Don’t be a stranger,” Cameron adds. “You’re an Oliver, which means you’re one of us.”

My heart clenches in my chest. Does he realize how much of an impact his words have on me?

“Thank you,” I tell him. “I appreciate that more than you could know.” I hold the muffin out toward him. “And for this, thank you. It smells divine.”

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