Page 9 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

I refused to think about yesterday. Not now. Now was for me. A moment to unwind. Later I could figure out what the hell I was going to do. But right now, I was going to eat enough pastries that I would need to unbutton my jeans.

A quiet crunching sound rustled behind me. I spun, sucking in a sharp breath and crawling backward. Something beautiful and terrifying trotted toward me without a care in the world.

Burnt-orange fur blended with obsidian tufts over the slender body of the fox.

It plopped onto the blanket, its pointed ears stretching toward the sky. I froze, tempted to pet it, but afraid it was a ruse to bite me. Its fluffy tail feathered as it stood, ignoring my protests as it slid into my lap, pawing at the scone in my hand.

A disbelieving laugh shook my frame, my eyes wide. I passed the scone to the bossy little creature, who inhaled it in two bites. With that, it settled, letting out a tiny chuff.

“Excuse me, Your Highness,” I murmured, daring to scratch between its ears.

Velvety fur slipped between my fingers, the creature nearly as fluffy as it was entitled. She leaned into my touch, those large eyes fluttering shut.

“I see you’ve met Umbra,” a feminine voice called.

Pinpricks erupted over my forearms, and my eyes darted to the tiny figure hovering nearby. Thick coils of auburn hair spilled over her slim shoulders. A vibrant smile pushed against her cheeks, making her eyes twinkle like fairy lights.

As she moved closer, a waft of sugar and peppermint followed her. An omega.

“She is a little mooch. Umbra travels around town looking for snacks and a human to do her bidding.” I snorted, realizing I’d been conned by a fox. “The local vet keeps Umbra up to date on her shots, so no need to worry. She’s more likely to lick than bite. Or steal your snacks.”

The knot in my chest loosened with a laugh. “She definitely enjoys scones.”

“Umbra has expensive tastes. You can blame Mrs. Simpson for that. Woman gives her an entire cake at least once a month. Umbra turned up two years ago and hasn’t left.”

The omega moved with confidence, clearly comfortable as she settled beside me on the blanket. It made an unfamiliar feeling twist in my abdomen—something that strangely resembled jealously. She was stunning and sweet and sexy and everything a pack could want in an omega.

My pack.

Shit. This couldn’t be happening.

Whatever emotion it was, it must have shone on my face. A knowing look flashed in her smile.

“I’m Fern. The marketing manager for Hawthorne Farms. Painfully single omega with zero interest in anyone in the Hawthorne Pack.”

My cheeks burned, and my face fell into my hands. Umbra pawed at me, displeased that her scratches stopped.

“Oh gosh. No, it’s not that. Jason… He just gave me a place to stay while my home is being repaired.” I didn’t think she needed to know my whole depressing life story. “He was my neighbor growing up. He’s not… I’m not… It’s no…”

“Relax, girl,” Fern laughed. “Trust me. There is nothing wrong with being attracted to Jason. I’ve worked with him and his pack for so long now they’re like family. I cannot see any of them as anything more than brothers.”

My omega calmed, no longer sensing a threat. Now that I was thoroughly embarrassed, my shoulders fell, and I looked at Fern with a resigned sort of indifference.

“Mia,” I mumbled, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

“Nice to meet ya, Mia. I dragged my butt out of my nest to come and take some pictures of the farm for social media. With the Maple Festival coming up, it’s prime time to flood social media with pictures of muscled men in flannels, foliage, and syrup. Nothing sells maple syrup better.”

Fern pulled out her phone, scrolling through her Notes app, typing faster than I thought humanly possible.

“I remember the festival. I grew up in Maple Falls. The hayrides were always my favorite.”

“Aww. Welcome home, then! I moved here about three years ago. Listen, not to be pushy. People tell me I’m always too pushy, but would you want to join us for game night? No alphas allowed. Just you, me, Hazel, and Lily. Hazel hosts next week and wants to teach us to play Dungeon and Dragons. She said she’d be our Dungeon Master. I said kinky. She was not impressed.”

Before I could even accept the invitation or laugh, she reached out.

“Here, let me see.”

I blinked, handing her my phone purely on instinct. She tapped away, her thumbs a blur.