Page 13 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

I rolled over, hugging Umbra.

“Thanks for staying with me,” I whispered, nuzzling her little fox face.

A huff escaped her as her tail gave a single, sympathetic thump against my hip. For now, I let myself wallow, giving myself permission to fall apart. Tomorrow I could be strong and brave and positive.

Today I could be sad.

I lay there for hours, dozing in and out of sleep.

Streams of pinks and purples flooded the room as the sun started to set.

“Mi?”

Oh.

That voice.

It sounded like caramel wrapped in chocolate—pure decadence and sinfully sweet.

It did terrible things to my panties. My omega purred, rolling over for their alpha. Ready to bare her neck in submission.

Jason had to show up now.

Of course.

My eyes were swollen and my spirit bruised. I wanted to stay in bed and ignore him.

“Mia,” he said again, this time his deep timbre more demanding.

Stupid. Gorgeous. Impatient, alpha.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, knowing it was a lost cause. I didn’t want to look like a hot mess in front of Jason… again. I was doing very little to help the “all omegas are emotional” cause.

“One sec,” I called out, my voice sounding hoarse.

Umbra jumped off the bed with me, weaving between my feet. My hands struggled to smooth out the nest of curls atop my head. Eventually, I gave up. It was a lost cause. It was better this way. Jason should see me for the mess I was.

I cracked open the door, and I forgot how to breathe. Drool gathered at the corner of my mouth, me and my omega greedily drinking in the sight of Jason fresh out of the shower. His dark hair was still damp, hanging over his brow and curling slightly on his nape.

A plain black T-shirt hugged his muscled chest as he scrubbed a hand over his scruff.

An omega whine threatened to rip from me when a spike of amber and cedar flared between us. My nails dug into the supple wood of the door, needing something to keep me upright.

“Evening, darling,” he hummed, his voice dropping an octave as his eyes swept over my face.

My teeth nibbled on my poor, abused lower lip, knowing what he saw: blotchy skin, red-rimmed eyes, and smudges on the thin skin there so dark I doubted they would ever go away.

I was a fucking mess.

At least Jason had the decency not to say anything.

Umbra slipped out into the hall, unnoticed, prancing around and on the hunt for more treats. His bright eyes followed the movement.

“I see you are making yourself at home, Umbra.”

Her tail swished through the air. The fox didn’t spare the alpha a glance as she pranced down the hall like a queen in her castle.

A small, lopsided smile curled on one side of his mouth as he leaned into the archway, eating up the space between us.