Page 83 of Knot What I Expected

Fuck.

Amber.

I noticed the color before, but in here with all the daylight streaming in from the glass roof, with the weak October sun catching them?

They’re incredible.

Warm brown around the edges, turning almost golden toward the center.

Not Wolf gold.

Something softer.

Warmer.

Like honey held up to sunlight.

Pretty.

Monster practically sighs the word.

“Yeah,” I mutter.

Gabby arches one eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

That earns me another suspicious look. Ten minutes later, I’m following Gabriella and Matteo out of the mall.

Twenty minutes after that, there’s enough food spread across a park picnic table to feed a small Pack.

Somehow? It feels fucking normal. And that might be the strangest part.

I don't do this shit.

Picnics.

Malls.

Cookies.

Kids.

My life consists of fire, smoke, mountains, training, and trying to keep Monster from losing his goddamn mind.

But here I am.

Sitting across from Gabriella Santos while her son eats enough food to make me reconsider the possibility that the kid might actually be a Shifter.

Matteo finishes his burger.

Then his fries.

Then half of Gabriella’s fries.

Then he starts eyeing mine.