He doesn’t see how hard I flinch. To him, the teasing is just that. Teasing.
“All right, I won’t be long,” I say.
It takes me a few minutes to walk to the Sol’s house. Where our house is smaller, with peeling white paint and a garden that is heading back on the evolutionary path, the Sol’s house is a pristine and lived-in mansion with a rare and beautiful lawn. I’ve spent half my life running in and out of this house.
I walk in, dump my keys in the bowl, and draw an infinity symbol on their whiteboard. It’s a strange tradition, but it's a habit now to follow the Sol’s and their weirdness. I wonder if anyone noticed that the only reason my symbol is an infinity is because Sebastian’s is the number eight.
“Lorelei?”
She pokes her head out of the kitchen. “Here, dear.”
I walk in and take a seat at the island. She slides a cup of tea in front of me. I’m disappointed it’s not secret recipe cocoa, but I will take anything warm.
Lorelei Sol looks like her son. I know a lot of people might argue, but he’s got her hair colour, the dimples when she smiles,the spark of stubborn pride. Her temper. Sebastian is her son through and through.
“So, I don’t know if-”
“Sebastian told me you’ve signed me up for Light Knot Night and found a match.”
Lorelei presses her lips together and scowls, looking so much like Sofia that I laugh.
“Drat that boy.”
I want to protest. He’s not a boy; stop treating him like one. He’s an alpha, a big powerful alpha who-stop that, right now.
I rub my hand over my face. The truth is, the truth I’ve been trying to hide from for years now is that Sebastian is an alpha I don’t think I’m ever going to get over. Especially not when we live a three-minute slow stroll from each other.
“I think it’s time, maybe to find someone for you. Alphas who will,” Lorelei bites her lip, looking away. “They will return your affections,” she finally says.
She knows.
The entire world knows.
I burn with humiliation.
“Okay, sign me up. Find me a match,” I say in a tight voice. It’s easy to agree. But then that’s what Cordelia Lake does. She just says yes.
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m prepared to try.”
Lorelei squeals and hugs me hard. “I’ve found the perfect alphas for you.”
I try to smile, but all I can see is Sebastian. He’s all I’ve ever seen.
Chapter 2
Katsu
Iglide into the bookstore, catching a wall of that book smell I love so much. Today is the day; I can feel it. We’re going to catch a break and get something that will help us move forward with this search. Sunshine Cove is pretty, but we’ve been here two weeks and so far have come up with no leads.
I straighten my pale blue knitted jumper that Fox insisted I wear. It feels weird not being in a suit, but I make it work quite nicely.
“Morning, Sofia! Where are the balls and chains?” I say to the auburn-headed bookstore owner who is currently unboxing a delivery of new books.
Sofia laughs and has to grab at Danger before the adorable merle brown dachshund spots my best friend, lover, and pack mate Fox and leaps off the counter to get to him. He peeks out from behind my shoulder, and the little dog howls in joyful song, his tail whipping a laughing Sofia in the face.
She blinks, stunned by the powerful thwack to her cheek.
