And Elowen is perched on one of the barstools with her knees drawn up.
She’s wearing what looks like one of my shirts and a pair of sweats that are about four inches too long for her. Her long hair hangs loose in big waves around her shoulders. She has both hands wrapped around a mug and she's watching Cliff and Adam move around each other in the kitchen with a quiet expression on her face.
She looks up when we come in.
Raff walks right past her, going straight to Adam first. He leans in and presses a kiss to my brother’s cheek. Adam tips into it automatically, and something in his shoulders loosens slightly.
Then Raff pivots and crosses back to the island.
Elowen goes still as he leans down and kisses her cheek too like it's the most natural thing in the world. Elowen looks startled for exactly one second. Then her cheeks go pink, and she ducks her head over her mug like she doesn't want anyone to see it.
But I’m pretty sure everyone saw.
I step up to the island and settle in next to Elowen, leaning my forearms against the counter. I’m so close I can smell the faint, clean scent of soap drifting off her skin. I wish like hell she wasn’t wearing those damn blockers.
I’d love even one unfiltered breath of what's underneath.
Elowen glances at me from under her lashes, and our eyes meet for half a second before she looks away again.
I don’t know why, but seeing her act so shy withme—a common, regular beta—makes me feel inexplicably giddy. Like a teenager. But I manage to keep my face neutral, as I look up at the stove.
"Dinner smells amazing," I say, looking up at Cliff.
"Angelica come by yet?" Raff asks as he takes the barstool on the other side of Elowen.
Cliff doesn't look up from the stove. "No." He almost sounds disappointed. “The fact that she’s not already here, means she’s taking her time on purpose.” He glances over his shoulder at Raff. “It makes sense. We aren’t going anywhere, so she knows she doesn’t have to rush.”
Raff rolls his eyes, obviously agreeing. “I’m sure she thinks she’s playing some kind of mind game.”
"Alright, boys," Adam cuts in, his voice carrying over everyone else's. “No more business.” He twists the knob to the burner as he checks the pot Cliff's been stirring. "Dinner's ready."
I push off the island and move around to the other side, making room. Adam slides onto the barstool I just vacated. I notice how he’s moving carefully, one hand bracing against the counter as he settles onto the seat.
He’s definitely in pain.
I’d love to tell him to slow down, but there’s no point.
I've had this argument with my brother more times than I can count, and I have never once won.
He'll tell me he's fine, and to fuck off.
Hell, even Cliff can’t get the beta to slow down during a flare. Adam grits his teeth and keeps going like he can will his pain away.
So I say nothing.
Cliff sets a stack of plates down next to me, then a giant pot of pasta. It’s the good kind, with a sauce that Odettetaught Cliff how to make from scratch. I can only assume our pack alpha is either trying to impress Elowen, or is desperate to make Adam happy by making his favorite meal.
Maybe both.
"So," Raff says as he reaches across Elowen, snatching a piece of bread. "Where are you from?"
Elowen picks up her fork, then slowly looks up at Raff. He looks down at her, waiting for her answer, and her eyes go wide with genuine surprise, like she wasn't expecting anyone to talk to her.
“Me?” She points at herself with her fork.
I can’t help but smile. The look on her face is very cute.
The corner of Raff’s mouth turns up, before growing into a proper smile. "Yeah," he says. "You." He tears a piece off his bread. "There's no one else here I don't already know everything about."
