"One cider for the lady," he says, winking as he passes one to me.
I wrap my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my fingers, and take a sip.
Oh my god.
"This is incredible," I breathe.
"Right?" Felix takes a sip. "Mrs. Henderson, the woman who makes it, protects that recipe like it's a state secret. Oh, and she also grows zucchinis the size of baseball bats."
"Would love to see those," I chuckle.
We stand there for a while, enjoying the whole vibe. The band has moved on to "Winter Wonderland," and more people have started dancing. Light flakes start drifting down lazily, looking like glitter as they catch the light from the tree.
"You want to get closer to the fire?" Silas asks. "You're shivering."
I hadn't even noticed, but he's right. My shoulders have tensed, despite the cider warming me. We move closer to the bonfire, where more people are starting to gather, and extend our hands toward the flames.
An older couple settles next to us, the woman smiling at me.
"First Angel Ceremony?" she asks.
"That obvious?"
"You've got that look." She chuckles softly.
"Don't forget to make a good wish, dear," her husband adds, his voice gravelly but kind. "They tend to come true on nights like this."
She winks at me, then turns back to the fire, leaning into her husband's side.
I close my eyes for a moment, let the warmth wash over me, and make my wish.
The fire pops as if on cue, and the band transitions into a slower melody.
This, I think. This is exactly the kind of flow I want to go with.
Everything's perfect…
Except my jacket, which suddenly feels too warm. I unzip it halfway and slide my scarf loose.
Better.
A minute passes. Maybe two. And then another wave of warmth rolls through me.
This one feels different. It's starting low in my belly and blooming outward. My thighs press together on reflex, and a prickle starts at the back of my neck.
Okay. Weird.
I shift my weight, chalk it up to too much cider and the fact that I’m basically in a cuddle pile with my three alphas.
But then my knees almost buckle.
“Hey.” Felix’s hand lands gently on my arm. “You’re flushed. Do you want to step back from the fire? Get some air?”
"I'm okay," I reply. But the words barely leave my mouth before another swell of heat rolls through me, dragging a quiet sound from the back of my throat.
Silas' palm finds the small of my back. “We should take a lap. See if that helps.”
"You know what? Yeah. Let's do that."
