“Hey, what are you thinking about so hard?” Luca whispered in a sleepy voice.
I smiled and made a conscious effort to smooth out my forehead. “Him, mostly.” I nodded toward Max who was sound asleep behind Luca.
Something complex crossed Luca’s expression, but I had a feeling it wasn’t about me and Max being as close as we were. Before he could form his thoughts into words, Max let out a small groan and stretched, which always signaled him waking up.
“Morning,” I said, not sure if I was ready to hear whatever Luca had been thinking about.
“Mhmmm,” Max hummed.
Luca snickered.
Rian knocked on the doorframe. “You guys good?”
“Yeah,” Luca replied and stretched his body. “I feel great.”
“That’s good. How about Ben or Max pop out to get you guys some breakfast, and then we figure out what Luca’s feeding rhythm should be for now?” Rian’s expression was fond, and his words made complete sense. We wouldn’t know until we gauged the situation, and until we knew, it wouldn’t be safe for Luca to be at the pack house.
“I’ll go,” I said, since I was much more awake.
“I think I want a shower.” Luca rolled out of bed after me. “But you go brush your teeth first.”
I gave him a two-finger salute and went to take care of morning business.
When I got back, the house was quiet, but I could hear them out on the back porch.
I was about to head there when Holden walked in.
“Hey, I got updates from Rian last night, but how did it all go from your point of view?” He hugged me, which felt good.
As Brodie’s enforcer beta, Holden was above me and Max in the wolfy pecking order, and the wolf always wanted to please those above him. Touches and hugs were something the animal side craved, and if I was completely honest, I didn’t mind it either. Max and I hadn’t exactly been raised with gentle touches and safety.
“As well as it could’ve,” I replied as I handed him the fourth to-go cup of coffee. Somehow I’d known he was going to appear, because he didn’t seem to be able to stay away from Rian.
They were solid now, which made me feel good, too.
“You got Rian one?” he asked, clearly pleased.
Rian liked espresso. His body tolerated a few tablespoons at most, but he liked the flavor anyway.
“Of course.”
We went to the back and Rian immediately got out of his chair to embrace Holden.
The rest of us concentrated on one another to give them some space. They were so deep into the honeymoon period it was… well, it didn’t annoy me. I was… envious.
“Here you go,” I gave Max his coffee and the breakfast burrito I’d gotten for him.
I’d settled on a meatball sub and more coffee. We had last night’s leftovers for lunch, but I liked my breakfast fresh if I could have it.
Soon enough, we were all sitting on Holden’s porch, chatting away.
Maybe ten minutes in, Luca suddenly piped up. “It feels so weird to look at you guys eating and drinking and not having the urge to do the same.”
“That’s definitely positive,” Holden mused.
“But the birds are really loud,” Luca grumped.
They were, but—
