AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What are you afraid of?”
This was Petra, and only because it was her I could say the truth out loud. “I’m afraid it’s too late. That he—they—won’t forgive me.”
“Can’t find that out unless you actually talk to them,” she pointed out.
“Weren’t you scared at all?” It hadn’t been long since Petra met her guys. Frankly, it was a bit of a whirlwind. Every member of her pack was incredible and perfect for her. They would do anything for her, and had, including save her life from a homicidal maniac.
Petra laughed and rolled her eyes. “That’s a stupid question and you know it. Of course I was scared. In my head, a scent-sympathetic pack meant something bad was going to happen, like the way I lost my mom. I was terrified of that, and they answered every one of my fears.
“So, let me guess. You think Asher said something about you to the rest of his pack and they think you’re a terrible person?”
“Something like that,” I muttered.
“Is that something he would do? Really?”
I sighed. “No.”
Her face saidI told you so.
“I just don’t know what to do.”
Petra pulled her knees up and clasped her arms around them. “I waited one night—one—to fall into bed with my pack just to make sure we had our heads on straight, and you were furious I ‘went to bed with cookies instead of cock.’ You need to build a time machine and go back in time tothatSloane, because I’m not going to let you bury your head in the sand because you’re scared of the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“How do I do this?” I said. “I can’t just pretend the five years didn’t happen.”
“I don’t imagine they will either,” she said with a shrug. “But that’s between you and Asher. You still have to get to know the rest of his pack, andputtingthose five years between them and you helps no one.”
I melted over onto the floor. “Fuck.”
She laughed. “That about sums it up.”
Sighing, I stared at the ceiling. “Is it crazy to take it slow?”
“If it helps you, it’s not crazy. Not what I thought you’d want, but no, absolutely not.”
I covered my face with my hands. Not only were we crashing a performance, I now had to deal with what were potentially the most important relationships in my life. I was so absolutely, entirely fucked.
“Take it the speed you need, Lo. And no matter what happens, I’m here for you.”
“Thank you.”
Stormy chuffed, rolling over onto her back like she agreed to have mine. The two of us laughed, and I tried to put aside the thoughts whirling in my mind and simply enjoy some food.
CHAPTER SIX
________
ROMAN
The formal room by the front door had the best light early in the day, so I’d taken to sitting here for a few hours before I went to my studio in the back.
It was easy to slip into the place of simple silence. No thoughts, just me and the piece of paper in my sketchbook, as I figured out how to whittle away at a chunk of stone until it did exactly what I wanted it to. The piece for this commission still eluded me. I had a vague theme, but so far it wasn’t clicking.
The front door opened, and Gabriel’s voice reached me. “Ash, I’m going to chain you in the backyard if you don’t stop.”
Asher saw me and came striding across the room, motorcycle helmet in hand. “I need you to punch me in the face.”
I stared at him. “What?”
