Not at me, clearly. Not that I want him to. But a little flicker of hurt still echoes as I fold my arms over my chest. “It’s safe to come down now.”
He gently flicks my nose in response to my grumpy words. “Not funny.”
When I don’t say anything, he tucks his finger under my chin, tilting it up. “Hey. What’s wrong?”
My lip actually wobbles. I half-shrug. “Nothing.”
“Kenny.”
“I… don’t know.” The back of my eyes burn. “Everything just feels a little overwhelming.”
His hand carefully wipes away the moisture that drips from my eyes, but it makes it worse. “Understandable. How can we make itlessoverwhelming? Is there anything?”
The lump in my throat grows as I shake my head. “Don’t… don’t go.”
I hate how pathetic I sound. But he doesn’t blink. “Done. I’m not going anywhere. Should I wash your hair? We can get you out, get you some blankets. Maybe a hot drink.”
“Yes please,” I whisper.
His touch is soothing. Just on the right side of heavy. Petting, almost. I feel every movement as he nudges my head back, holding my neck with one hand as he pours warm water over my scalp from a metal jug. His fingers dig in as he massages my scalp with shampoo in circular movements, and I feel my eyelids flutter. “It’s okay to close your eyes.”
“If I close my eyes, I’ll sleep.” Another yawn overtakes me.
“You can sleep. I’ll wake you when I’m done.”
I don’t think I can fight it anymore. I’m so warm. Comfortable. Exhausted. “Kay.”
A moment later, hands lift me again. I burrow into his scent, grumbling.
“Gotta get changed. You can’t stay like this.” He nudges me upright until I focus enough to pull off the wet shirt, hearing it thud on the floor. “Kenny. Baby. Clean shirt.”
“Put it on,” I mumble. “You already saw my nipples.”
“I didn’t look.” But he eases a new, warm shirt over my head, bundling me into it effortlessly despite my noodle arms flopping. This one smells like ginger and cayenne pepper. Spicy. Oscar. “There we go. Blankets and bed, okay? I’ll brush your hair out first.”
“And Jake,” I mutter.That’s important.
Maybe he says something else.
But I’m already gone.
Kenny
Thereisnoslow,peaceful return to wakefulness.
I jackknife upright, my hair sticking to the side of my face. And on either side of me, two alphas do the same, both of them erupting in panicked movement.
None of us speak as we all silently try to work out what’s happening. Both Max and Jake are pressed against me, the three of us squeezing into the small space on the floor that I appear to have been using as some sort of nest.
“I’m alright,” I say finally. Hesitantly. “I just… wasn’t sure.”
I prod at my teeth with my tongue, hissing when it scrapes against the sharp edge. My monster teeth are still in place.
But the rest of me is all here. My heartbeat slowly starts to lower. “Seriously. I’m okay.”
I settle back between them. Max curls his fingers into mine, and I wait for their breathing to settle before slowly edging back up, careful not to wake them this time.
Green eyes watch me steadily from the bottom of my heap of blankets. Theo’s back rests against the wall, his arms wrapped around his knees. I look around, my chest tightening when I don’t see Oscar.
