EVAN
“Evan, hey,” a voice says from somewhere far away. A hand gently nudges me from sleep.
I stir on the soft mattress, my head groggy. “Huh?”
“You need to get up. Your mom is almost here.” Through my sleepy haze, I recognize Taren’s soft voice, but why would she be in the van? No one from the pack ever comes in here.
Cracking an eyelid, I’m confused by the dark curtains covering most of the wall, and the fluffy pillows spread out around me. So many pillows.What the hell?
I sit up too quickly, and my head spins. When I don’t see Jericho, my pulse quickens.
“Jericho?” I mutter.
“He came downstairs a few hours ago. Are you okay?” Taren sounds genuinely worried.
I blink hard, rubbing my eyes. “Yeah, just not awake.”
Taren shifts her son in her arms while Aster claws his fingers like a bear in the air. “Roar!”
I furrow my brows. What did she mean about Jericho coming downstairs? Did he sleep in here? Or was it just me? Why can’t I remember?
“Seriously, Evan. You should get up. They’re only like five minutes away,” Taren says.
“Who?”
She tilts her head. “Your mom? Seriously, are you okay?”
Fuck. How could I forget? She’s on her way here. “Right. Sorry. I’m just… my head is so… I can’t think.”
“I’ll get you some coffee.”
I sit the rest of the way up, swinging my feet over the edge. The bed is so high off the ground, my toes barely touch the floor.
Mom had been so panicked last night on the phone, and Jericho was so certain it was Foxx. What if it was? What if he was there, in her house?
I fist my hands and climb off the bed. At least the other side looks just as rumpled as this one. Either Jericho slept in here with me, or he came up to visit.
Stumbling into an adjoining bathroom, I splash cold water on my face then take a piss before heading downstairs. My head is still fuzzy, making every movement difficult.
Red approaches me with a mug. “Here. Taren said you’re dragging after last night. Drink this.”
I hesitate, but the aroma coming from the mug is irresistible. Like warm butterscotch. I take two big gulps.
Red gives me a sheepish expression. “I’m sorry if it was a bit strong last night.”
“If what was strong?”
“The tea. It’s what knocked you out.”
I blink at him before vaguely remembering Jasmine making me drink something. “Right. Is that why I’m so out of it? I feel like I slept for a week.”
He grimaces. “Sorry. I may have forgotten to dilute it. We usually only make it for shifters. But that should help,” Red says, gesturing to the mug. He walks away, ears pink with embarrassment.
It’s probably a good thing he drugged me; I would’ve been an anxious mess all night.
I take another drink as I look around.
Everyone is here. Well, everyone except… “Where’s Jericho?”
