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They’re surprisingly comfortable. I still have scabs on my feet and legs from running barefoot over gravel a few days ago, but they aren’t hurting very much at all.

Maybe it has something to do with them changing my bandages often and the creams they’ve been applying.

“Alrighty then, let’s get going!”

Madden reaches into one of the cabinets in the corner of the huge garage and pulls out two sleek plastic sleds.

“Have you ever used one of these?” Madden asks, extending his hand to me.

I shake my head as Chase opens the garage door for us. I take a deep breath when we step outside, the cold air stinging my nose.

“Here, let me help you put on your gloves. It’s pretty cold out,” Chase says, reaching into my pockets and pulling out my gloves.

Despite how quick and efficient his movements are, like he wants to make sure I’m covered up as soon as possible, I can’t help but blush again. The touches are brief, but they feel intimate.

I glance up at two of them, a smile I couldn’t keep hidden if I tried appearing on my face. Their consideration is making me melt, despite the cold.

More snow has fallen overnight, so it’s actually a bit of a struggle to walk. These boots are far heavier than any of the shoes I wore in my previous life before they rescued me, so it’s a bit hard to get used to them.

The two alphas by my side seem to sense that I want to at least try to make it up to the top of the hill in their enormous backyard without their help, because even though they stay close enough to catch me if I were to fall, they let me make the climb alone.

“Almost there,” Chase says as we near the top of the hill. “I promise the way down is a lot more fun than the way up.”

I clap my hands when we make it to the top. My breath fogs in front of my face, coming a lot more quickly than I would’ve liked. I need to get into better shape.

“We made it!” I pant out.

Madden’s not breathing hard at all, and he’s carrying both sleds. He’s not even dragging them on the ground. I wouldn’t expect anything less from him, considering he’s an absolute wall of muscle, but it’s still impressive to me nonetheless.

“I call first dibs,” Chase says, reaching up and tugging one of the sleds off Madden’s shoulder.

“First dibs?” I ask.

“I get to ride with you first,” Chase says, winking as he extends a hand to me. “We can raceMadden.”

“Fine, you can ride with Luna first, but the winner gets to ride with her next,” Madden says, crossing his arms over his chest. The grin he’s wearing is confident. It tugs on the scar on his cheek, but that does nothing to take away from how handsome I find him.

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Chase says, rolling his eyes. “We’ll totally win, Luna.”

He sets down the sled at the top of the hill, gesturing for me to get in, his eyes twinkling with excitement. It’s a bit scary when it shifts underneath me when I take my first step in, but Chase holds the sled steady as he slides in behind me. His body presses against me, his legs and arms holding me tight to him.

“Ready, set—” Chase shoves us down the hill. “Go!” he yells, a good couple of seconds after we’ve already started barreling down the hill.

“You fucker!” I hear Madden call from behind us, laughter in his voice.

I let out a scream of surprise, the wind hitting my face so hard it feels like I’m flying. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this alive in my entire life.

CHAPTER 20

Luna

I’m in Kane’s library, on the seat that’s quickly become mine, when I hear something strange coming from downstairs. My body is still a bit sore from playing in the snow a couple of days ago with Chase and Madden, so I’ve been taking it easy recently.

We called it a day when I accidentally tripped in the snow and fell flat on my face. Even though the fall knocked the wind out of me and made my ribs start aching again, it was still the best day ever.

I set my book down when the strange noises from downstairs continue. It almost sounds like someone’s really upset.

The skirt of the sundress with lilacs on it swirls around my legs as I open the door to the study. That’s when I hear, very clearly, that the sound is coming from a woman.