Page 56

I stilled, trying to remember if I’d ever given a career much consideration.

It just really hadn’t been in the cards for me.

I’d waitressed because it was a job I could consistently pick up anywhere, and they would often pay cash or only tips.

And ask no questions. “I’ve never thought about it,” I admitted, hating how pathetic that sounded.

“Maybe something to do with cars or bikes. I enjoy being in a workshop, though I’m not trained in mechanical work.

Or maybe baking. I do enjoy the art of creating food. ”

“And your sweets are damn delicious,” Hunter added, the warm rumble in his voice like a spark of fire in my chest. “You are smart and capable, Emmeline Anders. You could do anything you wanted, but all I care is that you’re happy.

I support whatever decision you make, but just know, there are no limits.

We have resources and money, and once I dispose of my father and destroy his fucked-up plan, you can take any path through life.

Think about it.” He tilted his head to the side.

“There’s definitely an opening for a bakery in the downtown now.

Since Chelsea’s Sweets mysteriously burned to the ground.

” He smirked over the word mysteriously, and I jerked up off his chest.

“It did? It fucking burned down? How did you guys manage that?”

That smug smile grew, but he didn’t go into detail. With a shake of my head, I relaxed back against him again, and his phone rang as I rested my head on his chest. Reaching out, he grabbed it off the side table, and after a quick glance at the screen, he handed it over to me with a wry grin.

I wasn’t surprised to find Kellan’s name and photo popping up with a video call request.

“Hey, Golden,” I said, pushing my damp hair back on the pillow. When his beautiful face came into view on the screen, a little of the ache in my chest eased. “We watched your game. Sorry about the last-minute loss, but you all played incredibly well.”

Kellan bore no signs he was upset by the loss, his smile beaming. “It was an unlucky break, Shortcake. But seeing your pretty face takes my mind completely off it.”

There was a low rumble from beside him, but I couldn’t hear what Finley said as Kellan turned the phone to show the bear shifter perched on the other hotel bed.

“Hey, Ice Queen,” he said, gaze locked on the screen.

Just like Kellan, he appeared unphased by the loss.

“We’re missing you. I’m not sure I want to stay away for the other games. ”

Kellan shouted from behind the phone he held. “Right there with you. Look at our mate, all snuggled up in bed. No fucking fair.”

Finley’s smile faltered briefly, and I felt a pang that we weren’t quite at the place where he could express his need as easily as Kellan. But at least we had the possibility that we would get there eventually.

“I miss you both too,” I said, letting my gaze linger on Finley’s eyes which were less gold than usual as tension lined his features. “Are you worried you won’t sleep?”

His struggles to sleep was a personal topic for Finley, and while his brothers knew, I wondered if he would brush it off in front of them.

“I’m going to struggle,” he admitted without any hesitation, and I stifled my sigh of relief that he was talking about it.

Therapy was shifting all our perspectives on what was a weakness and what wasn’t.

It’s not weak to speak was a slogan on Dr. Karen’s wall, and I wholeheartedly agreed.

“I’ve grown used to having your calming energy near me,” he continued, “and this distance bothers my bear. And me.” He swallowed roughly. “A lot.”

The urge to fly to them hit me hard, and when I turned to where Hunter was propped up on his pillow staring at me, I knew he’d take me if I asked. “Plane is always ready for you,” he confirmed, picking up on my emotions through the bond.

“We can come to you,” I said, pushing myself higher.

Finley shook his head. “No, Em. No way. It will cause you pain to leave Talon, and we can’t take him out of containment. But…” his voice broke. “It means the fucking world that you would drop everything and fly to us.”

I narrowed my eyes on him through the phone. “I know I don’t have much experience with packs or loving families, but I promise, if any of you ever need me, I will drop anything and be there. Even if I have to crawl, walk, or steal a damn plane.”

Finley’s expression lightened as he made a deep, rumbly round, and I could feel his bear in that response.

“What if I talk to you both until you fall asleep?” I suggested, not ready to let them go yet. “I could even practice my reading, if you guys don’t mind me stumbling over words.”

“Yes!” Kellan shouted again. “I just sent a new book to your reading app.”

Finley’s eyes shone, and he looked so happy that I was still considering getting on that plane and damning the consequences. “Yes, I’d fucking love that,” he said, and his rumble was a nice distraction. “Give me a minute to get ready for bed.”

He was still in his suit, and as he left the frame, Kellan turned the phone back on his face.

When he came into view I blew him a kiss, and he closed his eyes and popped out his bottom lip.

“Pretty mate, I’m going to need all the kisses when we get home.

I demand one full day of your time. Finley will want the next day. Maybe we should set up a schedule.”

“Not a fucking chance,” Hunter said from beside me, his face popping into the video frame to glare at his brother. “Everyone will learn to share equally, or I’ll make the schedule, and no one will like the way I divvy out Emme’s time.”

I wanted to laugh, but I also wanted to punch this dominant asshole in the side.

Kellan leaned into his camera, bringing his face much closer. “I’m a good sharer, Daddy Alpha. You already know that.”

Hunter’s lips twitched, and I knew our Golden had him there. “Just remember how quickly I can reach you, pup,” he muttered, but there was no real heat in those words.

Kellan shot us both a wink, but further replies were cut off as Finley stepped into view, wearing only a pair of boxer briefs. He crawled into his queen size bed, making it look tiny.

“Open your app,” Kellan said, drawing my attention back to him.

Luckily, my device was still in Hunter’s room from when I’d been reading earlier this week, so I handed Hunter the phone while I grabbed it from the drawer. It powered up and the new book was already in the library.

It had a dark blue cover, with stars and a huge moon above the title, A PackAge Deal: Shifter Pack Wars.

“Shifters,” I said, arching a brow. “Like us?”

Kellan’s expression relaxed as he leaned back in his bed. “I’m not sure if they’re exactly like us. I think this one is mostly about wolf shifters, and it’s no doubt written by a human, but the part you might find interesting is that it’s a ‘why choose.’”

I wasn’t familiar with that term, and as I squinted at him, he laughed. “It means that the female main character will end up with a pack of mates and she won’t choose between them. Figured you might enjoy the concept.”

Well, okay then. “I had no idea that was a genre,” I said, excited to see what it entailed in this fantasy world. “Now I’m going to have to search them all out. For research purposes of course.”

Hunter chuckled beside me. “You don’t need to research, baby girl. You know exactly what you’re doing.” My lower half clenched at the reminder of what had happened downstairs.

Clearing my throat, I flicked the pages until I reached the first chapter. “Chapter one. Being the outcast of a pack is never the role I expected to play. But here we were. Outcast. Rejected. And alone .”

My reading was slow, and I stumbled over a few of the larger words, but overall I managed to keep the story flowing well. Years of trying to learn, and struggling along, had given me the skills to do this. If I had the right font, background color, and line spacing.

As I continued, Kellan’s face was peaceful. When he shifted the phone toward Finley’s bed, my throat tightened at the sight of the bear’s serene expression, a hoodie in his hands.

Not just any hoodie—I recognized it as the one I’d worn yesterday, which he must have grabbed from my room before they left. As if he knew he’d need my scent to help him through.

Just the way I’d had to be in their clothes today too.

Fuck, away games sucked. Next time I was going with them, no matter what it cost.