“What is this?”
There is a new heart with D loves S. I count thirty new carvings on my desk. From each of them. I go to the window, and, sure enough, they have drawn on it as well. On the ceiling, carved into my bed frame, and there are a couple of pencil drawings on the actual walls, too.
I turn to the pin board, and everything in me goes absolutely still. I bite my bottom lip and then laugh. There are photos of us. I didn’t even know they were taking photos, but they are everywhere. Me looking around in the water when we went snorkeling. I’m walking on the beach with Danger. In my dad’s restaurant. On our first date, and our second.
Who was taking the photos?
There’s a photo with me looking at the three of them, and the look on my face is soft and hopeful, like the Sofia that used to exist.
The one I was afraid I'd lost.
“Danger, I’m in love with them, and there’s no way we are giving them up. Tomorrow, I’ll choose them, and we’ll deal with the rest together.”
My Danger Dachsie barks.
I turn to leave and then stop, caught by the masculine scrawl that wasn’t there before.
“No matter what you choose, we’ll choose it with you.”
I sit on the end of my bed, realising what they mean, finally. They will leave Sunshine Cove with me if I choose to go.
“Wow.”
For a long moment, I get lost in the visions of a future that could be mine.
“Come on, Danger, we need to go and figure out what we’re wearing tomorrow.”
I scoop up my dog and cross over into my temporary bedroom.
All night I toss and turn, tumbling between fear and excitement.
When I fall asleep close to dawn, I don’t remember that I’ve forgotten one crucial thing.
I forgot to set the alarm.
Chapter 31
Mack
Itake extra care getting ready. My stomach is in knots, but I keep finding myself staring off into space, smiling as I fall into fantasies of what our future could look like.
“Come on, Mack!”
I adjust the shirt I’m wearing, tugging at the collar. Should I change?
“Mack, you look beautiful,” Elijah teases and tugs me towards the front door. “Come on, we’re going to be late!”
“Is the nest ready?” I ask. “I didn’t check.”
Elijah strokes my jaw until I focus on him.
“I checked; the nest is perfect.”
“What about food? Do we have food?”
“Mack, we have food, clothes, anything and everything she could want, but even if we don’t, we can get them.” Elijah smoothes his hands over my chest. “Breathe, Alpha, it’s going to be fine.”
I take a breath. “We have to make this perfect.”
