Teddy gets up, and starts to fold the blanket up. I don’t have to lift a finger as the guys pack up all the beach stuff, toys included, and distribute it between the three of them. “I can take a bag,” I offer, feeling useless.
“Nah, mate, you got the most precious cargo right there.” Teddy claps my shoulder as he passes. “That’s wot bein’ a pack is all about, innit?”
When I glance down at Wren, I see that she’s fallen asleep. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted slightly as she breathes softly against me.
Fuck.
Something in my heart stirs at the sight. Is this…love? It can’t be, not yet. We’ve only known each other for a few days.
But at the same time, I can’t deny the way my heart swells when I look at the freckles dotting her nose and how she rests against me.
After all she’s been through.
After all the torment she’s endured.
She’s opened her heart to us.
And I’ll be damned if I let anyone or anything close it again.
Chapter 22
Wren
“Is there a problem, officer?” I’m startled awake by Maverick’s curt but polite voice.
Officer?
My head shoots up, and I look around wildly. I’m still being held by Brennan, but now we’re in front of the cabin, next to Maverick’s Range Rover.
I look to the other side, and see a police car stopped in front of the house, the passenger side window rolled down. The officer is looking at my guys suspiciously, that is, until his eyes land on me.
“We’re responding to a call from a concerned hiker…” the officer says slowly, a frown forming on his face. “They heard a screaming woman down by the lake, but when we drove by it was deserted. We were just doing a quick run around the block to double check.”
Shit. A woman screaming? That was me, but I wasn’t screaming, I waslaughing.
The officer glances down at something in his lap before he looks back at me. “Ma’am? Is everything alright here? Is this your pack?”
“I—yes, of course,” I nod, my voice squeaking. I scramble out of Brennan’s hold, but when I hit the ground, I realize I’m not wearing any shoes. Before I can say a word, Ethan drops to his knees, sliding my shoes on for me. “Thank you,” I whisper, and he nods before standing again, wiping his pants off.
“Yes, officer, this is my pack.” I take a step forward, hoping to hell the officer doesn’t recognize me as I pull my towel tight. Anxiety spikes in my chest as I speak to these unknown men, but I can’t let my pack get in trouble. “And that was us down by the lake. I wasn’t screaming though, I was laughing. I’m so sorry for any trouble I’ve caused.”
“What were you doing by the lake at this time of year?” The officer in the driver’s seat leans over, looking at us. “The water must have been pretty cold.”
“It was,” I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips, “but we were on a date. We don’t live here, we’re on…vacation.”
“Vacation.” The officer on the passenger side repeats, and I nod. He looks at me again before glancing down into his lap yet again.
“Yep,” Brennan answers, putting a hand on my shoulder. “This is my buddy’s cabin. We’re just here for a quick little getaway.”
The officers exchange a glance before nodding. “Would you guys mind if we came in for a minute to ask a few questions? We just need to follow up on the whole…screaming thing.”
Teddy grumbles behind me, but Ethan elbows him, hissing, “If we turn them away it’ll look like we’re hiding something.”
“Not a problem,” Maverick says easily. “Is it alright if these two,” he motions to Brennan and me, “get cleaned up real quick? As you know, they were at the lake and we don’t want to get thefurniture dirty.”
The one in the passenger seat looks hesitant. “It won’t take long.”
“I know,” Maverick winces apologetically, “but besides the whole furniture thing, our omega…she’s still pretty sandy. You know how omegas are about irritating textures.”
