Page 33 of Bonds and Beasts

Lisa grabs my arm and pulls me a few steps away. "You're dating The Beauty Pack?"

A jolt runs through me. I didn't know their pack name until now. It's probably something I should have looked up. Bello gave me a smartphone to use this morning, but everything has been a lot.

"Yes, we're—" I pause, considering that I haven't known this person in a year. I love Lisa, but I don't know how much she's changed. When I meet her eyes though, they seem the same. Earnest, true, and slightly mischievous. "They're my scent match. We're mates," I admit.

She gasps and throws her hands over her mouth. "Girl, you need to tell me everything," she stresses, and I can't help but grin. She still sounds so much like she did when we were teenagers.

"I promise," I reply, as I always did.

Colt pops in between us. "Wanna play tag?"

Lisa and I look at each other and shrug. And so begins the most ridiculous game of tag between three grown adults, Dean declaring he's on Colt's team even though we point out that tag doesn't have teams. Bello and Easton come back and watch for a little while as I flail around, trying and failing to avoid Dean's grabs. He doesn't even try for Lisa.

I hug Lisa, Colt, and Mrs. Portidge goodbye, the latter saying she'll be up in the morning to cook breakfast.

It's the happiest afternoon I've had in a long time.

Easton

Adison is behind Bello and Dean, who are still talking over the script and the director's approach. Which is why they don't see Adison hesitating at the car.

She's looking up and over the town to where the manor sits on its hill. I can only guess, but she's been locked away for a year. She's enjoying her first day out, and she doesn't want it to end.

Up the street toward town, there are plenty of people milling around. The shops are still open. It's starting to get dark early, as it does in northern states like Michigan. Twilight has activated the street lamps and the store lights make the sidewalks glow. It's a perfect autumn evening. Not too cold, but with a definite breeze in the air.

Bello and Dean are peering out the open car door at us now.

"Let's get something to eat in town," I suggest.

Adison glances back at me, hopeful and a little shy. Dean explained what happened with the reporter. It's not like we have anything to hide anymore. "Would you mind showing us around, Sweetheart?"

Pink rises up her cheeks but she nods, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Tom and Larry follow us at a respectable distance.

The joy from playing tag and reuniting with her friend is back. There are a lot of stares in town, a lot of locals whispering or even pointing, but there are even more people who are here for the shoot and have no idea who Adison is. Some try to approach us. We want to be kind, but we also don't want to be swarmed, so Bello and Dean smoothly redirect them or hand out pre-signed cards. A small number of folks do know Adison and don't gawk, but wave and say hello, ask how she is, and seem to be genuinely concerned about where she went. Adison doesn't give them the full account, but offers a general "I was ill" or "I was having some personal issues." These kinder souls take the explanation at face value.

At the edge of town, we arrive at a beach. I hadn’t visited Michigan before this shoot. I had no idea that a lake could look exactly like an ocean. It’s just as vast—horizon and water as far as the eye can see without any land on the other side. I knew that factually but seeing it is a whole different experience.

"I missed this the most," Adison says quietly. The wind here is colder and she shivers. I step up beside her and wrap my arms around her waist from behind, feeling the fit of her spine along my chest and abdomen. My chin comes down to rest on top of her curly red hair. Her hands find my biceps and squeeze. Dean picks up a rock and skips it across the calm, glassy surface of the lake. Bello scans the beach as though a photographer might pop out at any moment. I doubt it. I'd heard the alpha sheriff had banned paparazzi for the time being, which seemed dubious in its legality, and was ticketing anyone found in violation. The fees were outrageous.

"We can visit anytime," I promise her.

"Can we come in the summer when the sand is soft and the sailboats have started launching and everything's warm?" she asks. My heart squeezes. I glance up and can see the same feeling written across my packmates' faces. She's thinking about the future. She's thinking about the future and including us.

"Absolutely."

"Yes."

"I'll buy you a bikini." This last one from Dean, as we all speak at once. She smiles and I know I will definitely be on this beach with her next summer.

Adison

Despite having an amazing time out with the pack and enjoying their set and Mrs. Portridge, Colt, and especially Lisa, I'm surprised to find myself glad to be back at the manor. After so much time inside and away from people, being out that long is more draining than I expected.

My hands started to shake by the time we arrived back at the car, and despite the alphas' use of physical grounding techniques, I still feel sluggish and find it difficult to form sentences.

We make our way upstairs. I lean heavily on Dean. When we get to the top, I head straight to Bello’s old room. My childhood room. Before I open the door, I notice that the alphas have fallen back a pace.

I turn to find them all staring at me with eager, if chastened, expressions. "What?" I ask. I don't understand why they're not coming into the room with me.