Chapter Ten
In one word: fun.Itwas fun.Despite being fearful in the beginning, Freya found herself relaxing when she noticed the twins were on the ground, stretched out on poufs, and Tara and Tanya were both near her.They were bantering back and forth, and the body language of both girls was relaxed.
They watched the first film with ease, but Tara dozed off during the second one, and even her eyes seemed to droop when the third started.
She woke up with a jolt.The TV was still on, the screen frozen with the last credits.They had all fallen asleep in Evelyn’s living room, and for some reason, she didn’t want to go home.For the first time since she could remember, she had slept a few hours undisturbed.No nightmares, no memories, nothing to disturb her peace.
Maybe she should go home ...but then again, the boys were sleeping on the floor, she might step on them accidentally ...and where was Tara?She tried to remember but couldn’t.
If I leave this chair, I’ll end up waking them.But I can’t sleep here, what would Evelyn think?
From what little she knew of her neighbor, she probably wouldn’t mind, but still...
The air was warm, but there was a coldness around that clung to her.Maybe it was the knowledge that she had slept soundly in a strange environment.She tried to scan the darkness but couldn’t see anything but shadows and figures.
And that was another wake-up call.Just hours ago, she was in her house, with every light on and fearing the darkness.Now, she was comfortable in a living room full of strangers, with only the pale moonlight to show the way.
Should she return home?
Someone snored in their sleep and she laid back, snuggling again.Just a few hours couldn’t hurt...
****
On the floor, the twinssmirked.Used to catnaps, as soon as she started moving, they opened their eyes, focusing on the dark.Their heightened senses felt her flight instincts, and they had the feeling she wanted to bolt.But she didn’t.By snuggling again, she showed she trusted them.And they felt humbled by her trust.They didn’t dare move at all until she was sound asleep again, but after that Ciaran got up and carefully covered her with the blanket Nanna always had on the couch.
Their shifter bodies were warmer than a human’s and nights tended to get chilly.
Declan was clearly fighting the urge to lie down beside her, but when Ciaran resumed his pouf and closed his eyes, he sighed and tried to sleep as well.
They both felt their wolves’ restlessness but suppressed them by sheer force of will.They had their mate nearby, safe and warm, nestled in the blanket they had provided.For tonight, it had to suffice.
The next day, they were long gone when Evelyn gently woke the girls up.Tanya had already hopped on to the shower—she was used to running in the mornings—but Tara was still rubbing sleep from her eyes.
“Get up, baby girl.Time to go and smell the sweat.”
****
Still flustered forfalling asleep in her neighbor’s house, Freya refused breakfast and almost ran out the door to the safety of her own house.Closing the door behind her, she was nearly hyperventilating, but with exhilaration.She’d done it!She had fought her fears and did something as normal as watching movies and eating popcorn at her neighbors’ house.
Not that she had eaten a lot ...she almost never ate popcorn without caramel.With butter?Thank you but no thank you.
“Come on, sleepy head!Move!”yelled Tanya’s voice through the window, and Freya jumped up and ran to the shower.
Half an hour later, they were facing the windows of the gym, still closed.It was simply called “Fitness Hour” and she wondered if it was on purpose so that all genders would find it appealing.
