“Please, come in,” I snark.
“Why thank you, my dear. I do believe I will,” he replies with a grin and a chuckle. This is new as well, Cree, grinning and laughing. I’m not completely convinced I’m not in a coma somewhere. It would explain a lot.
Mates happy. I smile at my wolf because I know she’s right. Regardless of what is coming they are happy. Surprisingly, so am I. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this light and free.
They are happy aren’t they. We are too. We are… happy, aren’t we? Concern filling my chest as I plead with my wolf for an answer.
Silly girl. Happy. She confirms
Good. Incredibly good. With a grin, I turn and close the apartment door.
“Okay, Cree. Show me what you brought.” I call out heading into the kitchen where I find Cree with papers scattered across my kitchen table. “Good Gods, man, did you bring your entire office?”
Cree just chuckles at me as he hands me a water.
I scream and jump from my seat when large, strong, warm hands descend on my shoulders. With my nose in Cree’s books I didn’t hear the knock at the door nor notice when someone walked into the kitchen. Spinning on my heels Reed catches my fist that is flying toward his face.
“Easy kitten,” he chuckles.
“Kitten? Really? For that you outta get a punch to the face,” I sneer. “What time is it?”
“Dinner time, babe. You’ve been working on those books for the last four hours,” Cree calls from the living room.
“Well shit,” I exclaim, checking my watch, “I didn’t realize so much time has flown by. Do we have plans tonight? I assume you all are joining me again.” Wouldn’t surprise me, they have been for the past three weeks, almost every night.
Reed smiles his prince charming smile at me. Yep he’s got plans. “We’re taking you on a date,” he states, trying to hide any hint of excitement.
Wait a minute, did he just say we? “What do you mean by we?” He couldn’t possibly mean all of them.
“Yes, Riley. I mean all of us,” he casually says as my eyes widen and he chuckles again, “and yes you did say that out loud.”
“Fuck,” I say under my breath.
“That too,” he says with a laugh as I walk down the hall to my bedroom.
“Wear something sexy,” Cree says, “just not too sexy. We don’t want others looking at you or I’ll have to kill them. On second thought, just wear jeans and a hoodie. One of mine should be hanging in your closet.”
I stop dead in my tracks and turn back toward the overprotective bear. “What the fuck do you mean by one of yours should be in my closet? How? When the hell did you do that?” These guys…seriously.
Mates. That’s all my wolf has to say on the matter.
Fucking overprotective, overbearing, asshole mates. I start to think NO! Not mates, Godsdamnit, would you stop saying that word!
My mates. She reiterates again.
Fuck it!
“Conversation with your wolf again, love?” Reed asks from my doorway. I startle again. I hadn’t realized I walked into my room and was now just standing in the middle of it staring off into space.
“Yea,” I say monotoned.
“Penny for her thoughts.”
“Not yet, Reed. I’m not ready for what she wants,” my confession cuts a little deeper than I’d like to admit, as a tear slips free and I quickly turn from him.
He steps into the room and reaches out, taking my hand in his and turns me back toward him. In a gentle tone he guides my attention to him, “hey, it’s okay. Please don’t turn away.” My eyes meet his as he asks, “Do you trust me?”
Gods how I want to say yes. I want to take his hand in mine, look into his gorgeous blue eyes and state with no hesitation, fear, or doubt...yes I trust you, but I can’t. It's tearing me apart inside, why can’t I trust them, any of them. I mean sure I’ve built a level of trust with Enzo but even that comes with limitations. What have they done that they shouldn’t have that trust? Nothing that’s what. They have stood by me regardless of how much I try to push them away. They have saved my life, more than once at that, even killed for me. They haven’t pushed me for more than what I can offer them. The only thing they have asked for in return, is for me to live. To be sober, clean, and alive.
I sniffle and turn my eyes away, tilting my head so my hair creates a curtain between us, “I want to, more than you know, but I don’t know how.”
His calloused fingers glide under my chin, apply a little pressure to tilt my face up so my eyes meet his. I expect to see anger or hurt there, but instead I see understanding and what I think is pride. “You know what Riley, that’s okay. It’s a starting point. I’m not surprised after everything you must have gone through and everything that has happened over the past few months, that it's hard for you to trust anyone. We are not going to push for what you’re not ready for. If friendship is what you need right now then that’s what we’ll give you. If you want to hold our hands as we walk down the sidewalk then we’ll hold hands. Just understand this though, I won’t give up on you, Riley, neither will the others.” He leans in and rests his forehead on mine and whispers, “We’re not going anywhere.”
A tear runs down my cheek and I roughly wipe it away. “Fuck. I am so fucking tired of fucking crying!”
“It’s okay, Riley. You’ve been through so much. You’ve spent years hiding from your emotions. It’s going to take time to adjust to feeling them again. Just remember you’re not alone. We’re here when you’re ready and when you need us.” Kissing my forehead, he turns and walks out of my room, not waiting for a reply. I just stand there a moment, just breathing.
My mate. Care. Protect. Ours. She’s right and I know it.
Your right. They are ours. We are theirs. Taking a deep breath, baby steps, Riley, I head to get ready for our date.
To be continued in Shattered Strength, Shadowcrest Pack Series Book Two…..
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Current Works
Shadowcrest Pack Series
Book 1- Beautifully Shattered
Book 2- Shattered Strength (December 2020)
About the Author
B. Livingstone is a Northern Native turned Southern Bell. She is a lover of books, coffee, movies, but most importantly her family. She has 3 wonderful children, 2 fur-babies, and 1 crazy husband who gracefully loves her erratic, erotic behavior. Livingstone is currently writing in the paranormal world with plans to enter other genres. Regardless of what genres she's in, her one goal she has is to create characters you can connect with. Love or hate. Just connect.
Beautifully Shattered: Shadowcrest Pack Series Book One Page 12