“Time to wake up, doll,” Ethan murmured, gently shaking my shoulder.
“No,” I groaned, clinging to the warmth still lingering in the bed.
That warmth came from the other man beside me, his arms wrapped around my waist, nuzzling into my hair with contented murmurs. Heat radiated from the twins in waves, and I noticed a thin sheen of sweat on my skin. Kieran’s scent of citrus and wood, like a crackling bonfire, offered comfort and safety, lulling me back to sleep until Ethan’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“We’ve got a long day ahead,” Ethan chuckled softly, nudging my shoulder again.
Summoning enough strength, I reluctantly opened my eyes, shooting Ethan a half-hearted glare. Kieran softly snored beside me, his dark lashes resting against his cheeks. All signs of stress and anger had vanished from his face, leaving him looking peaceful and almost angelic. Kieran groaned at the sound of Ethan’s voice, his eyes fluttering open in disbelief at finding me still in his arms. Irritation flashed next as he realized Ethan was urging us from our comfortable bed.
“Ten more minutes,” Kieran grumbled, his voice deep in the early morning. He pulled me closer, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
“Thirty minutes,” I countered, burying my face in the pillow.
“I see I’ve got competition in the morning,” Ethan smirked, raising an eyebrow. His gaze softened, a hint of resignation in his eyes. With a sigh, he slipped back into bed behind me, intertwining our limbs once more.
Ethan let us sleep for another thirty minutes, refusing to leave until both Kieran and I were up and moving. Kieran’s disheveled hair stood in funny angles as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, shooting Ethan a mock scowl.
The aroma of food drifted up from downstairs, surprising me with its distinct notes. Maple, garlic, pepper, freshly cooked eggs, sausage, toasted bread, and jam-all mingling perfectly. My stomach growled in response, a clear motivation to get out of bed.
“It seems food is the ultimate motivator for you two,” Ethan snorted, watching amusedly as I hurried my movements. His gaze felt heavy as it lingered on me, tracing my form slowly as if making up for lost time.
“Food is a perfectly valid reason to leave bed,” I shrugged, offering him a soft smile.
As Kieran sat on the bed to put on his shoes, I approached him. I savored the mix of surprise and amusement in Kieran’s expression as I ran my fingers through his unruly hair. He caught my wrists with his large hands, his gaze meeting mine.
“What are you doing, sweetheart?” he asked, the morning rasp still in his voice.
“You had bed head,” I teased, nibbling on my lip as a light blush warmed my cheeks.
Kieran released my wrists, guiding one of my hands back to his head. I smiled to myself, running my fingers through his hair until it lay flat. His satisfaction rumbled in his chest, no words needed to convey his thoughts.
“Keep that up, and you’ll have him wrapped around your finger,” Ethan whispered in my ear as we headed downstairs.
Turning to meet Ethan’s eyes, I glimpsed the softness reserved only for me.
“And what about you?” I asked playfully, my voice honeyed.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ve already got me wrapped around your finger, doll.”
Marcella had prepared a feast for our farewell, and leaving her home felt like leaving behind a sanctuary. With Ethan and Kieran by my side, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place. I wanted to stay-wanted Marcella to help me discover my abilities, hone my senses, and unravel the mysteries of my destiny.
“We have responsibilities-Ethan and Kieran have responsibilities,” Silver murmured softly. “We won’t be alone anymore.”
I fought back tears, pushing down the ache in my heart as we turned from Marcella’s door. Pedro joined us, masking our scent as we ventured down the road. He suggested avoiding the forest, wary of the wolves who might still be lurking after attacking me.
Ethan and Kieran’s car was nearby, just an hour’s walk from Marcella’s house. They had stopped in town, tracking my scent guided by our mate-bond. It led them an hour away, back to the forest where I had fled. There, the bond was stronger, making it easier for them to find me.
“I need to stop by the bakery in town. I used to work there, and Bia-the bakery owner-must be worried sick,” I frowned, silently pleading with them.
“We’ll stop by,” Ethan nodded, glancing from the road to my face. “Kieran and I also want to look around, see if we recognize any scents. Those wolves won’t give up easily now that they know you’re a white wolf.”
The bakery was easy to spot, nestled in the heart of town. Everything looked different in daylight, colors vibrant and streets bustling.
The familiar scent of Bia’s pastries filled the air, and I smiled at the line of customers outside. Guilt washed over me for leaving Bia in the lurch, just as I had with Kat.
I hopped out of the car when they pulled up to the curb, surprised when both Ethan and Kieran followed me to the bakery. I glanced between them, noting their serious expressions. Their rugged demeanor and imposing stature made them look like intimidating bodyguards.
Passing by the line of customers with a sheepish grin, anxiety twisted in my stomach. As I entered the shop, I heard Bia’s sharp voice barking orders at Bryan, who yelled something back.
Bryan’s eyes locked onto me the moment we stepped inside the bakery. While I couldn’t sense his emotions, I saw them clearly in his eyes-surprise, shock, relief, happiness, each emotion lasting longer than the previous.
“Bia! Bia! Sophia’s here!” Bryan called out to the back, and Bia’s head popped out, eyes wide with astonishment.
“Where the hell have you been, girl!” Bia exclaimed, and I instinctively flinched at her tone.
I wasn’t afraid of Bia hurting me, but I had heard her use that tone with Bryan enough times to know it was a sign of her patience wearing thin. I was surprised when she pulled me into a tight hug, glaring fiercely at Bryan.
The customers in the bakery watched in silence, bewildered by the scene unfolding before them. Bia heaved a sigh, scanning me with eyes full of concern.
“God, when Bryan told me he hadn’t taken you home, and then you didn’t show up for work…” Bia’s words rushed out, forced along with the last of the air in her lungs. “I thought something terrible had happened.”
“Something did happen,” I chuckled weakly. “You didn’t think I’d just flake out, did you?”
Bia’s eyes widened as she noticed the two large men flanking me, their intense gazes fixed on Bryan. I nudged Kieran’s side, trying to draw his attention away from Bryan, but Ethan kept his eyes trained on him. Ethan finally tore his gaze from Bryan, offering Bia a polite but tense smile.
“Sophia, can I talk to you for a minute?” Bia asked quietly, her voice a hushed whisper. I nodded, even though I knew Ethan and Kieran could hear her.
“I’ll be right back,” I assured them both, giving them a small smile.
Following Bia into the back, I breathed in the aroma of pastries filling the air. A rack of croissants cooled nearby, their golden crusts flaky and tempting. Despite having eaten a large breakfast, my stomach rumbled at the sight of Bia’s baked goods. In all, I knew I would miss this town. I would miss working at Bia’s bakery, the scent of icing sugar in the air, the banter between Bia and Bryan. This place, along with Marcella’s house, had been bright spots in an otherwise bleak situation.
I could feel Ethan and Kieran’s apprehension swirling around me like a storm, gnawing at my insides mercilessly. They feared I might leave, that somehow last night had meant nothing. Two men who likely rarely experienced fear were now terrified at the thought of losing me.
“Those two… they’re not the ones you were running from, are they?” Bia whispered, her wide eyes darting towards Ethan and Kieran. When I shook my head in denial, she continued speaking.
“Obviously, you ran away from home, I’m not that oblivious. I just want to make sure they’re not here to drag you back.”
“No, they’re not,” I chuckled, shaking my head. I knew Ethan and Kieran wanted me back more than anything, but I also knew they wouldn’t force me if I truly wanted to stay. The thought of seeing the pain in their eyes if I refused to leave, if I refused to be with them, was almost unbearable. “I left for a lot of reasons, but Ethan and Kieran weren’t one of them. They came to talk some sense into me.”
“And did they?” Bia frowned, looking somewhat disheartened. “Are you going back home?”
“I’m sorry, really,” I frowned, hoping I hadn’t lost the first friend I made in this town. “They were right; I shouldn’t have left.”
“You care about them, both of them,” Bia noted, raising an eyebrow as she said ‘both.’
“I do,” I nodded, swallowing my nerves.
“Are you sure about this?” Bia asked. “You’re not going back to whoever made you leave, right?”
“Not a chance,” I shook my head, making a mental note to discuss this with Ethan and Kieran. “They’ll take care of me. You don’t need to worry.”
“Oh, I’ll still worry. Bryan’s my brother; worrying is something I’ve done for years,” Bia snorted. “Speaking of which, feel free to chew him out for not taking you home.”
“I have a feeling you’ve already given him a piece of your mind,” I chuckled, glancing over at Bryan who seemed uncomfortable under Kieran’s gaze.
“I plead guilty,” Bia grimaced. “What exactly happened to you? I know you wouldn’t just skip work like that. I even called the police, but they said they couldn’t do anything until 48 hours had passed.”
“I was almost kidnapped,” I shuddered, the memory still fresh. “It’s a long story, but I managed to escape.”
“Here, take my phone number,” Bia said hurriedly, grabbing a pen from a wicker basket and a sheet of paper from the printer in the back. “I’d like to hear the whole story sometime, if you don’t mind. Maybe Bryan and I can come visit! Is there a bakery in your town?”
“Maybe someday,” I giggled nervously. “Unfortunately, there isn’t a bakery. The town could really use one.”
“Why not start your own?” Bia suggested, casting a glance at Ethan and Kieran. “See if your boyfriends are willing to invest. I’m a great business partner.”
Even though my plate was already full with responsibilities, a vision formed in my mind-a life with Ethan and Kieran, helping them manage their pack, and my spare time devoted to running a bakery I owned. It was something I could pour my heart and soul into, something that Lauren, Darren, or Sebastian couldn’t touch or ruin. It wasn’t a perfect picture, but it was my life-my family.
“That’s not a bad idea,” I smiled softly, pulling Bia in for one last hug. “Thank you, for everything. You’ve helped me more than you know.”
Bia graciously took over the register from Bryan, giving us a chance to talk. Bryan looked guilty, but I held no blame toward him. The werewolves had found me in this town; Bryan taking me home wouldn’t have changed anything.
“Your friends are intimidating the customers,” Bryan pointed out, nodding toward Ethan and Kieran.
Both of my protective mates had their eyes fixed on me, Kieran’s expression shifting to a slight frown.
“They’re just making sure everyone behaves,” I snorted, narrowing my eyes as a group of giggling girls passed by Ethan and Kieran, eyeing them up and down. “Looks like the customers appreciate them-well, most of them.”
“Jealous?” Bryan chuckled. “Now I get why you’ve turned down every guy who’s asked you out. Two guys, really, Soso? That’s a bit unusual.”
“It is, but I wouldn’t change a thing,” I shrugged, feeling a blush rise as Ethan and Kieran picked up on my words.
Their attention snapped to where I stood, Bryan momentarily forgotten. I lightly tapped Bryan’s shoulder, giving him a playful glare. “And I told you to stop calling me Soso.”
“And I stopped listening when you told me to stop calling you Soso,” Bryan shrugged, flashing a lopsided grin that quickly faded. “I’m sorry about the other night. I should have… I should have taken you home.”
“Don’t worry about it, really. This would have happened either way; it wasn’t your fault,” I reassured him, offering a friendly smile. “I’ll see you around sometime. Do me a favor and try not to annoy Bia too much while I’m gone.”
“You couldn’t have asked for something more realistic?” Bryan grumbled, pulling me into a somewhat awkward goodbye hug.
Leaving the bakery, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders, even though I was returning to a town where most people didn’t like me. Ethan and Kieran provided a sense of security I’d never felt before, solidifying the guilt that had lingered since leaving.
“You’ve made friends here in such a short time,” Ethan said softly, his voice contrasting with his muscular frame. “Are you sure about leaving?”
Ethan and Kieran wrestled with their own guilt and emotions. Ethan felt like he was taking me away from happiness when, in reality, they were my happiness. Having accepted them as my mates, I couldn’t imagine finding happiness in this town without them. I wanted to be with them-wherever they went.
“I made the mistake of leaving once,” I admitted, guilt coiling in my stomach as I glanced between my two mates. Their pain was evident, though they tried to hide it. “I won’t make that mistake again. Where you go, I go.”
Some of that hidden emotion spilled from their eyes, and for once, I wished we weren’t on a crowded street. I wished we were alone, just the three of us. I wished I could erase the hurt from their eyes, the guilt from their veins, until there was only us.
I took a hand in each of theirs, squeezing gently as I guided them toward the car. Something caught my eye across the street-a familiar face. The guy who had sat beside me on the bus stood there, phone to his ear. Even from a distance, I recognized his features, the same ones that had kept me company on that long ride.
“Josh?”