AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pulled through the gates at the same time as the Marino clan, parking in a giant driveway that was already half-filled with vehicles. They all hugged Nicky like she’d come back from the dead, and I snuck my own hug in there, noting the subtle shake in her muscles, and the bruising she had obviously done her best to cover with makeup. I hadn’t known the extent of the damage after the attack. Allie had said Nicky didn’t need to be hospitalized from it, so I had naïvely assumed it had been stopped pretty early.
I knew how to lighten the mood, at least. “Damn, girl. Your pack is swanky. If you ever need anyone to house-sit, hit me up.”
Nicky laughed, and that made me feel a little better. “I’ll let them know you’re available if we need someone.”
“Did someone say house-sitting?” Nicky’s purple-haired beta popped up next to her with a grin. “Because I think after all we’ve been through, our pack deserves a little vacation. Throw a dart at the map and go where the wind takes us.”
Definitely spoken like someone who came from money.
Nicky took a while to introduce me properly to her pack, focusing on getting her parents set up with her partners. I gravitated to Jasper once it was my turn to officially meet everyone, knowing he was the one Luca had bonded with the most.
Jasper got Luca and me mimosas.
“You’re obviously my instant favorite,” I joked with him.
He laughed, his eyes crinkling with mirth. “Happy to hear it. Can I give you a tour?”
“Fuck yeah.”
Luca had already seen the pack house, but Jasper took me around, Luca walking a step behind us. The pack house was gorgeous, but I didn’t know that I would want to live in such an extravagant place. My apartment was a decent size for me, and I didn’t plan on kids, so it was plenty big to suit my lifestyle.
Jasper asked me questions about myself as we walked, collecting that I worked with Allie, had two sisters, and also taught yoga and aerial silks.
I committed the pack names and faces to memory. I could smell the fresh bond on Jasper, which meant he and his pack would be sticking around Nicky for better or worse. My friends needed to stop getting themselves accidentally bonded. That was another thing I never planned to do for myself. But if I ever did, I would make sure it was one-hundred-percent intentional.
I focused on the fact that Nicky seemed happy instead of following my compulsion to scrutinize her new partners. Luca would be a whole mess if his sister had gotten herself attached to terrible people after everything she’d been through. It helped that Jasper was covered in bond bites from the rest of the pack and seemed totally comfortable and happy. A happy omega was a good sign.
Luca liking Jasper was also a point in their favor, and I was trying to get better at trusting his judgment. He hadn’t let me down yet.
My sister was going to give us all aneurysms. After worrying about whether or not she was alive, now we had to worry about the police thinking she’d been the one to set fire to the library she loved. It was weird being on the periphery of so much chaos in Nicky’s life when I couldn’t do anything to help. I never would have pegged her for the kid to give Mom this much grief.
Luna was there for me through every second of it. Answering texts and phone calls whenever my panicked brain had the inclination to send them, coming by the gym on the days I worked, and making sure I was taking care of myself.
Part of me was surprised by how hard she showed up for me. It was…nice. Beyond nice, honestly. It made me feel important to her in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Some people were good with acute crisis, but as things dragged through the end of November and into mid-December, Luna didn’t let up.
Luca:
You’re sure I can’t pick you up?
Sunshine:
Super sure
I don’t need my niece asking a million questions
Luca:
Fair :(
Sunshine:
Reservations are in an hour at the steakhouse on main, right?
Luca:
You bet
Sunshine:
