“About what? Thorne or seeing your mate?”
Bile rises in my throat about both prospects. “You didn’t see anyone,” I insist. She couldn’t have. There’s no way.
“He’s handsome. Prettier than I thought you might get. Big and blond,yummy.”
Hells. She really did see Keiran. How did she see him? Where was she last night that she was able to?
“What I can’t figure out is what he’s doing here looking for you. He should be glad you’re gone. I know I would be if I was him.”
“What the fuck are you going on about?” Piper asks as she stomps up to us. She gives Cassidy a withering look. “It’s a fine day, Cassidy. Don’t ruin it by being a bitch this early.”
“Fuck you, Piper. Freak alpha.”
Piper scoffs. “Please. You wish you were an alpha so bad.”
Cassidy rolls her eyes.“This is between me and her,” she tells Piper, “but seeing as you’re here now I’m out of here. And don’t you forget what I said, stray. You go near Thorne again and I’m going to tell him who was here last night. I’ll go straight to Ronan too. He’ll throw you out on your ass and don’t think I won’t do it.” She throws her hair over her shoulder and stalks off towards her friends. They go into the mess hall and it’s only when they’ve vanished inside that I realize I’m shaking. I wrap my arms around myself to chase the weak feeling away.
“What the hells was that?” Piper asks me
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie. Besties don’t lie.”
I smile at her. “I-she, I don’t know. She threatened me about Thorne. Said he was her mate and that I should stay away.”
She rolls her eyes. “She’s delusional. He can’t stand her.” Piper loops her arm through me and pulls me towards the bakery. “Come on.”
I point towards the mess hall. “But what about breakfast?” I don’t relish the thought of having to go into the mess hall for breakfast when Cassidy and her entourage are waiting inside but it’s not like I’m going to miss a meal just because she hates me. Going hungry because of hate? Never.
“Clover and I decided to spice it up. We’re getting breakfast from the bakery. Talked to Esme and everything. She made us breakfast sandwiches and cinnamon rolls, which hey, if you’ve never had them you’re in for a treat.”
I hug her arm tightly. “You’re a goddess. A true savior.” A cinnamon roll after last night and this morning sounds like just the thing to bring me back to life.
“Don’t I know it. Now come on. Let’s forget that beta bitch and enjoy ourselves. You’re going to be super busy before the Autumn Festival.”
That surprises me. “Why? Is there a bug going around?” It could happen, we are on the cusp of true autumn days and Maud was always a little busier when the seasons changed due to some shifters not acclimating to the weather change without falling ill.
She shakes her head. “No, I swear it’s like clockwork. The Autumn Festival happens and everyone just starts taking care of everything they’ve been putting off. I think it’s because they realize the year is almost over or something?” She shrugs. “Whatever it is, they’ll definitely be running to make appointments with you to get themselves looked at.”
“Well….all right.” It doesn’t sound logical but Piper would know better than me.
“Trust me. You’re about to be slammed, so let's eat and be merry before it's all work and no play for all of us.” She pushes open the bakery door and the bell above it jingles. Esme and Clover are busy plating sandwiches. They greet us when we enter with excited good mornings.
Esme puts the plates down on a little cafe table she’s set up in the corner and motions for us to come closer. “There you are, girls! Come on and grab some breakfast!”
“Do you want coffee?” Clover asks. “Esme just made some.”
Piper makes grabby hands towards the coffee cup Clover holds out to us. “Yes. A thousand times, yes!”
I smile while I watch the three women chatter and bustle through the bakery. Clover puts a mug of coffee in my hand and hugs me while the scent of bacon and sweets mixes with the fresh coffee Esme made and wraps around me like an old worn sweater. This is exactly the morning I needed to forget about Keiran and Cassidy.
Chapter
Forty-Nine
CORDELIA
As much as it didn’t make sense, Piper was right about the rush. Over the next four days I see just about every single pack member for every last ailment in existence. Everything from a mild cold and a headache to pulled muscles and suspected psoriasis. Someone does come in with a broken foot which I’m happy about, especially when they say, “I wasn’t going to come in but you know with the Festival and all I had to.”
