Sometimes the universe throws you in the right direction harder than you expect. I know Pine invited me over to get to know me, and I ended up getting to know his brothers too. They didn’t try to get me to stay and the night was comfortable. I smile as I think about the universe giving me breadcrumbs and letting me know that this is the start of a beautiful relationship. And honestly, thank you, universe. Good job on this one.
20
CASSIAN
I'm standing outside the coffee shop where we agreed to meet, trying not to look too eager. But then she walks out carrying two cups, and all of my good intentions about being respectful and measured go straight out the window.
She's wearing jeans that fit her perfectly and a sweater that falls off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin that makes my hands itch to touch. Her hair is down in waves that cascade past her shoulders, catching the light from the storefronts. Her curls are slightly frizzy from the cold, and I've never seen anything more beautiful.
Her scent hits me before she even gets close. Strawberry and honey with something warm underneath that makes my body respond immediately. She's not using suppressants. She's made a choice to let her natural scent exist in the world, and that choice feels significant.
"Hey," she says, handing me one of the cups. "I wasn't sure if you wanted coffee or tea, so I got you what the barista said you usually order. Oat milk, two sugars, black coffee on the side because apparently you're complicated even about beverages."
I take the cup from her, and our fingers brush. Brief, accidental, but it sends electricity through my entire body.
"You remembered."
"I pay attention to people that matter to me."
We start walking, and I'm hyper-aware of how close she is. Her scent wraps around me. I want to grab her hand but I'm being respectful and patient like Logan suggested, though it's killing me.
"I didn't want you to be alone tonight," I say as we move down the street. "I am worried for your safety, but more importantly we want to keep you protected and safe. So please stay with us. There is a guest room, free and clear. Just for our peace of mind."
"Pine was with me earlier," Sharon says, a slight smile in her voice. "He was very supportive and kind and exactly what I needed. He listened to me ramble and held my hand while I processed the fact that the universe has a twisted sense of humor. But he had to go back to the house to deal with something Jett needed help with. Apparently there's some logistics issue with the Tangle Peak wedding."
"So they left you alone."
"I wasn't alone," she corrects gently. "I was in my hotel room reading through wedding preferences and freaking out about flower arrangements. My preferred version of alone time. But I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you didn't just accept that I wanted to be by myself."
We walk through Pine Hollow, and the town is beautiful tonight. Christmas decorations twinkling in the darkness. Light snow starting to fall, just enough to make everything look magical. The smell of cinnamon and pine drifts through the air, mixing with Sharon's natural scent and creating something that smells like home.
"I know a place," I say, making a decision I've been thinking about all day. "If you want to see it."
“Really?”
"It's private. Where we can talk without anyone interrupting us. "
"Okay," she says simply.
I drive us up the mountain in my truck, following a road most people don't know about. It's a hiking trail during the day, but at night, it's just a quiet place where you can see the entire town spread out below. The road winds through pine forests, and the headlights cut through the darkness.
Sharon is quiet during the drive, but it's comfortable. She's got her hand resting on my thigh, and every time I shift gears, her fingers tighten slightly. Nervous and excited and maybe a little bit scared of where this is going.
I park at the overlook, and we get out. The cold hits immediately. Crisp and clean and making my lungs burn slightly. Snow falls around us, not hard, just enough to dust the landscape in white. Sharon walks over to the railing and looks out with absolute wonder.
"Oh my god. This is incredible."
Pine Hollow spreads out below us, Christmas lights twinkling in the darkness. Mountains rise up around us, dark and majestic and ancient. The sky is so clear I can see a million stars, and the moon is full and bright enough to cast shadows.
"I come here when I need to think," I say, settling beside her. Close enough that our shoulders are almost touching. "When the station gets too loud. When everything gets too much and my alpha brain starts screaming for something I can't quite name. This is where I come to remember there's beauty in the world even when things are complicated and messy."
She leans against the railing, processing everything. The view. The moment. The two of us alone under the stars.
"Thank you for bringing me here," she says softly. "For thinking about what I might need. For understanding that sometimes alone time isn't the same as being lonely."
"I don't want you to be alone," I say, and the words come out more raw than I intended. "Not when I can be here. Not when I can be someone you can count on."
She turns to face me completely, and in the moonlight, her eyes are dark and soft.
