Blankets consistently stay at the top of that list.
We’re lucky enough to have extra food, flea medicine, and basic first aid to give to other rescues around the area. Piper’s packmates constantly make generous donations, but nothing compares to something handmade like the blankets.
They’re lovely. One is dark blue with lavender fish designs, another is turquoise with white paw prints, just like our logo’s sign.
“And the box doesn’t say who it’s from?” I ask, leaning over the counter to grab the turquoise one. Alvin makes himself comfy on the dark blue blanket that Maeve spread out onto thecounter, kneading his paws into it and loafing. “They’re so nice. Why would these be sent anonymously?”
“Ooh,” Piper says, rolling her desk chair over to peer at the designs. “Those are gorgeous.”
“Maybe you guys have a secret admirer,” says another voice, a faint scent of pepper and ginger following. Maddox, Piper’s Alpha, enters from the back, hauling a massive bag of cat food. “I picked up more of the limited ingredient kibble for you guys. Heard one of the new cats has a bad stomach.”
“Thanks, Maddox,” I say, smiling. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“The hell I didn’t. I’m a cat food expert now.”
Piper rolls her eyes fondly, while Maddox bends to kiss the top of her head. To anyone that doesn’t know him, Maddox would be intimidating. Dressed in all black, tall, and pale with dark hair, he looks like he walked out of some goth band’s music video.
But he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, if not a little bit intense.
Maddox and I came to an agreement a long time ago.
If he ever made Piper cry, I’d kill him.
As far as I know, I haven’t had to commit murder yet.
“He’s working on an app to categorize cat food,” Piper says. “Which, I told him he didn’t need to do, but apparently, it’s a new passion project.”
“It’s going to be free, too,” he adds, placing the bag on the counter next to the blankets. “And with no ads. Fuck all those rich assholes and their ad revenue.”
I have a feeling Rowan and Maddox would get along quite well.
“I wish I knew who was sending these donations,” Maeve says, petting Alvin’s loaf form. “They should get recognized. It’s so kind, and these blankets are so gorgeous.”
I catch the wistful look in Maeve’s eyes, and a pang pricks my chest.
Now that I have my scent matches and Piper has her pack, I notice Maeve’s smiles are more strained. When Piper’s Alphas visit, she’s excited to see them, but there’s always a hint of sadness when she turns away from us.
Maeve wants to love loudly and proudly, while I choose to be closed-off when it comes to my scent matches.
“Speaking of admirers,” Maddox adds, nodding at me. “When do we get to talk to meet these guys, Blair Bear?”
“Ugh. Do not use that name around them, please.”
Piper gave me that name when she visited Scents with her pack and they were all a bit tipsy.
Apparently, it’s the funniest nickname on earth according to my friends.
Even Maeve giggles at the name.
“Yeah, Blair Bear, when are they going to come around?” Piper adds, smirking.
It’s been almost a week since I fooled around with Travis, and I keep plastering a ridiculous smile on my face when I think about it. He kisses me goodbye after every shift at Scents, now.
He never pushes for more, even though I know he wants to.
He’s allowing me to navigate this situation in a way that makes me comfortable, and I’ll be forever grateful for it.
I miss Ryland and Rowan, though. The brothers have created a group texting chat that excludes Travis just to make him mad, they told me.
