Page 4

“I guess the babies like him,” Psyche remarked.

Artemis chuckled. “Oh, they adore him. To them, he’s like a living teddy bear.”

Psyche glanced at Artemis and saw the faint curve of her lips—the kind of smile that invited a shared laugh. Psyche hesitated, then mirrored it, her own smile faint but genuine.

Artemis straightened, brushing her hands together. “They’ll be fine out here for about an hour as long as it doesn’t get too cold. After that, they’ll start becoming grumpy, and it’ll be time for their bottles.”

Psyche immediately pulled out her phone and set an alarm. “I’ve got it covered.”

Artemis gave her an approving nod. “Thank you. You’ve been a lifesaver already.”

She shrugged lightly, her gaze returning to the twins, who were crawling after Goat-zilla in delighted circles. “They seem easy to look after.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to it, then.” Artemis slung her bag over her shoulder and glanced back toward the house. “If you need anything, just call or text me—or Cade.”

“I will,” she assured her.

Artemis lingered for a moment, her expression warm. “Thanks again, Psyche. Really. I’ll see you later.”

As Artemis disappeared around the house, Psyche turned her full attention to the pen. The babies’ laughter mingled with the soft bleating of the goat. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

She settled onto the grass, then pulled her phone out and quickly navigated to her email, her heart sinking a little when she saw no new updates about her application to the dig site. Maybe tomorrow, she told herself, though the uncertainty gnawed at her. She put the phone in her pocket and glanced up, checking on the twins.

Phoebe and Liam were toddling around Goat-zilla, their laughter ringing through the yard. The goat eventually plopped down near Psyche, chewing contentedly as if he belonged there. Soon enough, the babies crawled over to them, watching her as they tugged at her shirt and patted her hands.

She remembered the parenting books she’d read before arriving. They emphasized engaging with young children to encourage their development. She reached for their toy blocks and started stacking them, encouraging Phoebe and Liam to join in. The twins giggled and copied her, their clumsy hands knocking over the small tower before eagerly building it again.

It was peaceful until a smooth, amused voice interrupted. “How pastoral. You with the babies here.”

Psyche stiffened and turned, her gaze meeting a striking figure. Eros stood at the edge of the pen, his golden hair catching the sunlight, and his trademark smirk firmly in place.

She frowned, trying to decipher his tone. Was he mocking her? Or just being…Eros? Either way, she decided to respond. “This isn’t pastoral,” she said flatly.

Eros chuckled, his smirk widening as he stepped through the gate and into the pen, his movements unhurried. “Really? It looks pretty idyllic to me.”

“Why are you here?” she demanded, her brow furrowing as she watched him warily.

“Why, can’t I be here?” he countered smoothly, spreading his arms as if to show he belonged anywhere he pleased.

Psyche narrowed her eyes. He was exactly the kind of person she avoided—too charming, too unpredictable, and too difficult to read. Still, she couldn’t ignore him, especially not here, when he clearly wasn’t leaving anytime soon.

Before she could reply, the twins squealed in delight and crawled toward him. Phoebe clung to his leg while Liam attempted to climb onto his knee. Eros let out an exasperated sigh but crouched to scoop them up, one in each arm.

“Really?” he muttered, though there was a trace of fondness in his voice as the twins tugged at his hair and babbled excitedly. He lifted them both easily, balancing their weight like it was nothing. “You two are relentless.”

Psyche blinked, trying to reconcile the sight of Eros—God of Love and Desire, known for his playful arrogance—patiently holding the twins while they giggled and grabbed at his face. “I don’t get it,” she said aloud, mostly to herself.

“What don’t you get?” he asked, his smirk resurfacing as he shot her a sidelong glance.

“How you can be…that.” She gestured vaguely at him. “Annoyed and affectionate at the same time.”

He chuckled, adjusting Phoebe on his hip while Liam tugged at his shirt collar. “It’s a gift. Besides, they seem to be entertaining in small doses.”

Psyche’s lips pressed into a thin line as she studied him. “You’re hard to figure out.”

“That’s part of my charm,” he replied with a wink, causing her to roll her eyes.

Still, as the twins shrieked in delight and Eros laughed despite himself, Psyche couldn’t help but think he wasn’t entirely what she’d expected. Something unfamiliar stirred within her, a strange sensation that settled low in her chest and radiated outward like the faintest ripple in still water.

She couldn’t identify it—it wasn’t anxiety, though it made her hyperaware of his presence. It wasn’t annoyance, though his smirk and ease with the twins should have irked her. Instead, it was a quiet unease, a sense of being slightly off-kilter, as if the ground beneath her feet wasn’t quite as steady as she’d assumed. It was strange, but she tucked it away, certain it wasn’t important.

The twins’ energy was boundless as they climbed over Eros, giggling and shrieking. Even Goat-zilla joined in, bleating as Phoebe tried to crown him with grass between his horns. The noise and activity amplified, their laughter echoing off the backyard’s fences until it seemed to press in on her from every direction.

At first, Psyche tried to focus on her breathing, taking steady, deliberate inhales and exhales. It’s fine, just loud. It’s fine. But the sounds didn’t fade—they layered and overlapped, overwhelming her senses until her skin prickled and her head buzzed with static. Her fingers rapidly tapped against the grass as she fought to hold herself together.

She knew the signs: if she didn’t remove herself soon, the frayed edges of her calm would disappear, and she would have a meltdown.

She stood abruptly, the motion catching Eros’s attention. “I need to go to my room to get my earphones,” she said quickly. “The noise is making me over-sensitized.”

Eros straightened, still holding Liam. “What’s up?” he asked, his brow furrowing. His tone wasn’t teasing this time—it felt curious, genuine.

Frustration bubbled under her skin as she realized she’d have to explain. Just get it over with. “I have Autism Spectrum Disorder,” she said, keeping her gaze on him. “The sounds are…a little too much right now.”

She braced herself for the look of pity, the awkward pause that usually followed when she disclosed her condition. It always came, that fleeting expression that seemed to say, Oh, I’m so sorry for you.

But Eros didn’t give her that look. Instead, his head tilted slightly, and his eyes remained steady on hers. “I don’t know much about it,” he admitted. “But if you need to step away, that makes sense.”

Psyche blinked, caught off guard by his straightforward response. “Okay,” she said after a moment, the tension in her chest loosening slightly. “It shouldn’t take me long. I’ll be right back.”

Eros gave a small nod, his attention shifting back to the twins as if her explanation was simply another piece of information, not something to be pitied or dissected. A sliver of relief coursed through her as she quickly walked away.

A sense of calm settled over her as soon as she stepped into her room, soothing her nerves instantly. The walls were painted in muted tones, and her things were arranged in perfect order—her suitcase neatly tucked away, and her laptop resting on the small desk. Here, everything was predictable, controlled. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as her breathing began to slow. Safe. Quiet. Okay.

Quickly crossing the room, she opened the drawer where she’d stored her earphones. Sliding them in, she felt the tension melt away, the sounds of the world outside replaced by the comforting silence the buds provided.

Before heading back, she checked her email again—a habitual part of her routine. Her pulse quickened when she saw the new message from the dig site manager. Finally. It’s happening. She had to be at the site for orientation the next day. A grin spread across her face, small but genuine. She didn’t linger long, though—the babies needed her.

The steady hush of her earphones dimmed the world around her. The distant chatter and rustling wind softened to a muted hum, creating a cocoon of quiet as she made her way back. She saw the twins still swarming Eros, their giggles and shrieks muffled now but still visible in their bright smiles. Goat-zilla stood nearby, occasionally nudging Eros with his nose as if demanding attention too.

Psyche felt a flicker of amusement at the scene. Eros looked exasperated but was clearly enjoying himself, his hands deftly keeping the twins from climbing too high or pulling too hard on his hair.

With a deep breath, she stepped into the pen, her movements calm and deliberate. The earphones helped her focus, and she felt ready to face the chaos again. As she settled near the twins, Eros glanced up at her, his expression unreadable but his smirk unmistakable.

“You survived,” he quipped.

Psyche just shrugged, her gaze shifting to the twins. “I got what I needed,” she replied simply.

The muffled sounds of the twins’ laughter and Goat-zilla’s occasional bleats were manageable now, giving her the reprieve she needed. She stayed at the edge of the huddle, content to observe from a comfortable distance. Liam, however, had other ideas. He plopped himself onto her lap and looked up at her with expectant eyes. Psyche instinctively held him, her arm wrapping around him, and she found herself smiling softly.

Just when the hour she had set on her alarm was up, Artemis and Cade strolled into the backyard, their faces flushed from the run but glowing with satisfaction. Psyche stood carefully, balancing Liam before setting him down, and greeted them with a nod.

“I got an email,” she announced. “I can leave for Denali tomorrow.”

Artemis’s face lit up. “That’s amazing! Congratulations, Psyche. I knew it would work out.”

Cade nodded, his expression warm. “Good news. It’ll be an adventure.”

As the twins clamored for their mother’s attention, Artemis added, “Eros will help you get there. It’ll be an easy trip.”

Eros straightened from where he’d been lounging by the pen’s fence and then strolled over. “What now?” he asked lazily.

Artemis repeated herself, but Eros’s face twisted into a look of theatrical dismay. “Me? Why me? I’m not some commuter airline.”

Cade’s expression darkened slightly, and Psyche noticed his posture shift, exuding the quiet authority of an Alpha. “Because it’s a long drive, and you can get her there faster. You’re not doing anything else.”

“I could be doing something else,” Eros rolled his eyes, unfazed by Cade’s growing annoyance. “Like, literally anything. Why not have one of the pack’s scouts do it?”

Psyche blinked at his audacity. Talking back to the Alpha was unheard of in her pack—it was the kind of thing that could lead to swift consequences. Yet, Eros didn’t seem the least bit concerned. His tone was casual, bordering on disrespectful, and she couldn’t understand how he thought this was acceptable.

Cade’s jaw tightened, his gaze locking onto Eros. “Because I said so. And because Artemis and I trust you to handle it.”

“Oh, trust. How touching. I feel so honored. But how am I supposed to leave when you’ve set boundaries for me?”

“I’ll expand it. You’re free to move between here and Psyche’s dig site, plus any place she needs to be.”

“Great.”

“Starting tomorrow,” the Alpha quickly added. “In case you had any bright ideas about making a run for it.”

Eros huffed. “Fine.”

Artemis sighed, placing a hand on Cade’s arm before addressing Eros. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. It’s one trip. Help Psyche out and stop acting like it’s a life sentence.”

Eros’s smirk wavered, and for a moment, Psyche thought he might actually push back. Instead, with a dramatic sigh, he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine. But I’m charging overtime.”

“Good luck with that,” Artemis laughed, shaking her head.

Cade’s voice dropped, low and authoritative. “You can charge whatever you want in your head, Eros. Just make sure you’re ready to leave on time.”

The tension between them was palpable, and Psyche felt her heart beat faster as she tried to decipher the subtle cues in their body language. Cade’s frustration was obvious—his stance firm, his shoulders squared—but Eros seemed almost amused by it, as though pushing boundaries was his favorite pastime.

Finally, Eros shrugged. “Alright, alright. I’ll be there. Relax, Alpha.” His tone seemed teasing, almost mocking, and Psyche couldn’t believe her ears.

Artemis sighed. “That’s enough, Eros. Don’t push your luck.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied smoothly, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

She gestured to Cade and the babies. “Come on, they’ll need to eat soon.”

Psyche stayed back, stunned by what she had just witnessed. When Eros turned his gaze back to her, she couldn’t hold her tongue.

“Why are you like that?” she asked, her voice sharp. “You don’t follow acceptable social norms, and you’re rude to the Alpha. That’s a big deal.”

He chuckled. “Maybe in your pack. I do things my way.”

She stared at him, baffled by his confidence. “It’s not just about the pack. It’s basic respect.”

He tilted his head. “Respect is earned, not blindly given. Trust me, I know where the lines are.”

She clenched her fists, frustrated by his cavalier attitude. “Well, you should think about crossing fewer of them. It would make things easier for everyone.”

“Why would I want to make life easier for other people? Sounds boring.”

“Because it’s called being considerate. It’s what people do to coexist without driving each other crazy.”

“Hmm. That’s an interesting theory. But see, I don’t feel the need to fit into a neat little box just to make people comfortable. I’d rather be authentic.”

“There’s a difference between being authentic and being difficult for no reason.”

His grin turned wolfish. “Who says it’s for no reason? Maybe I just enjoy watching people squirm.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she shot back. “It’s immature and, frankly, exhausting. Do you ever think about how your behavior impacts others?”

“Not really. I find most people overreact anyway,” he straightened slightly, his playful expression faltering for just a second before his mask slipped back into place. “Besides, I don’t care about them.”

Psyche’s frustration bubbled over. “Well, you should. It would make life a lot easier—for everyone.”

His smile turned sharp, his eyes glinting with mischief. “That’s not my problem,” he said, crossing his arms.

Psyche stared at him, her mind working through the interaction. He was so at odds with everything she valued—order, predictability, logic. And yet, she couldn’t completely write him off. That strange, unsteady feeling from earlier returned, but she pushed it aside. She had more important things to think about, like the dig site and getting through tomorrow’s trip with him.

She pressed her lips into a firm line. “Whatever. I have more important things to focus on.”

“Like your dig?” he asked, his tone softening slightly, though the teasing lilt remained. “I’m sure you’re thrilled to get out of here and into some dirt.”

She blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone. “Yes,” she replied cautiously. “It’s what I’ve been working toward for years.”

He studied her for a moment, his gaze less mocking now. “Good for you.”

She focused on regulating her breathing, letting the lingering frustration ebb away. The frustration was still there, but not to the point where she needed a break to recalibrate. She reminded herself that clarity would come if she stuck to her process.

“How long will it take for you to fly us to the Denali National Park?” she asked, pulling out her phone to check a map app.

Eros leaned over slightly to glance at the screen. “About an hour, give or take.”

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “An hour? That’s so much faster than driving. The roads to get there take forever.”

“Flying does have its perks.”

Psyche ignored the smirk she could sense in his voice and refocused on organizing her thoughts. “Alright. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.” She double-checked the time on her phone. “That should give me enough time to get ready.”

Eros nodded. “Twelve it is. Don’t be late.”

“I’m never late.”

His grin widened. “Good. I like punctual people.”

She sighed, feeling her patience wear thin. “Just make sure you’re ready tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry, I always keep my promises.”

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, his stride relaxed but purposeful. Psyche found herself watching him as he left, trying to dissect the odd mix of feelings he evoked in her. It wasn’t just his arrogance that unsettled her—it was how he seemed so completely unbothered, like the world and its expectations barely registered for him.

Psyche frowned, shaking her head to dispel the thought. Focus on the dig, not him. There were more important things to think about, like preparing for tomorrow, and the opportunity she had been waiting for, for months was finally here.