Page 123 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)
AUDREY
“Hey, gorgeous,” Bishop said a moment later from somewhere behind me.
I turned around, my heart skipping a beat with joy as I saw him and the heated look in his eyes.
“Hey,” I replied, suddenly feeling shy, my cheeks warming.
He held up two paper bags in one hand and a large paper cup in the other. “I’ve got lunch. Have you found us a place to sit?”
“Sit with me,” Quinn said from a nearby bench. “I’ve got twenty minutes and wouldn’t mind the company.”
“Do you need lunch?” I asked as we sat beside her. “We can get you something if you can’t leave.”
“Nope,” she said and jerked her thumb toward the park’s entrance just as Zavier hurried inside. “All taken care of.”
“But I can’t stay,” Zavier said, rushing over to us. “My shift starts in two minutes and I need to be on the other side of the festival.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” Quinn laughed, taking the bag and making a shooing motion.
Zavier huffed and she flashed him a brilliant smile, making him huff again before taking off.
“Thank you. You’re the best!” she called after him and I couldn’t help but wonder just what their relationship was.
Bishop pulled a sandwich out of one of our bags and handed it to me, while Quinn carefully pulled out a steaming meat pie.
“Sisters, I love these pies,” Quinn sighed, staring at her food. “But they’re only ever made during the summer festival.”
“So, ah…” Did I dare ask? It was kind of a personal question. “That was awfully nice of Zavier to bring you one,” I said instead.
“Yeah, he’s the best.” She glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. “And whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong.”
“How do you know what I was thinking?” I asked, making Bishop chuckle.
“Kind of obvious because it’s what all of us have been thinking for years,” he said.
“He’s practically my brother,” she shot back.
“But not.” Bishop waggled his eyebrows at me and flashed me a wicked smile. “Zavier’s family took in Quinn when her parents were killed. You guys were what? Five or six?”
“Seven,” Quinn corrected, “and, no. I don’t care what everyone has been saying for the last five years. He’s my brother.”
“But you’re so good together,” Bishop pressed.
“Because we’re family.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s a watchman because his father, his uncle, his grandfather, and who-knows-how-many other relatives are. It’s what’s expected of him, but I know he’d rather become a hunter or a merchant or anything that will get him out of this town.” Her expression turned wistful, but I couldn’t tell if it was because she wanted to join him or if she was in love with him and knew she couldn’t be what he needed. “I’m happy here with my kids. I’ll help Zavier make his dream come true and I’ll find a nice guy or—” she winked at me “—a couple of guys to settle down with to have my own pups.”
I took a bite of my sandwich, a creation loaded with chicken — or the equivalent of it in this realm — a few grilled vegetables, and a delicious spread that tasted like a spicy mayonnaise, hoping it wasn’t obvious to Quinn how I felt. I could see why everyone thought they’d mate. Even from the first moment I’d seen them, I could tell they were close and they both seemed to look at each other with something more than brotherly or sisterly affection. Of course, I doubt either could see that, and if Quinn was so sure that they wanted different things then nothing would happen between them.
“So, the pups really liked your flipbook,” Quinn said, not even trying to hide her change of conversation. “I have a feeling we’re going to be making them for the rest of the festival.”
“A flipbook?” Bishop asked.
“Show him,” Quinn insisted, holding out my flipbook to me.
I set my sandwich back in its bag, took the book, and flipped the pages. “I was making it for you to explain how movies work.”
“That’s amazing.” He took the book from me and flipped the pages. “And you said the pups are making them?”
“Audrey showed them how.” Quinn nudged me with her elbow. “You know if you haven’t figured out what you want to do with yourself, you should consider becoming a teacher. You were so patient with the kids and they loved you.”
“I, ah…” It was a kind offer and a part of me loved the idea, but another part was afraid of angry parents. Sure the parents at the craft tables had warmed up to me but not everyone would and I doubted they wanted someone like me spending all day with their children. Half an hour in the park, sure, but not a whole day at school.
“No need to decide now. Just wanted to suggest it.” Quinn finished her pie, stood, and brushed the remaining crumbs from her dress. “Are you going to the dance later?”
“Of course we are,” Bishop said.
“Then I’ll see you there.” She hurried back to the craft tables and was met with bright smiles and cheerful hellos from the children.
“Almost done?” Bishop asked me as I took my second to last bite of my sandwich.
I nodded and his smile deepened.
“Good, because there’s so much more I want to show you.”
For the rest of the afternoon, we strolled through the festival’s winding streets, looking at all the amazing things for sale, eating far too many treats, and playing all the games.
At the beginning, I was still far too aware of everyone staring at me, but as the day wore on and people stopped asking Bishop who I was, I stopped noticing their stares. I was having too much fun with Bishop, laughing at his bad jokes, cheering him on when he tried to win me prizes, and overall feeling amazing.
I’d never felt so happy and by the time we’d made our way to a big square lit with fairy lights and lanterns, my cheeks were sore from smiling so much.
The square was filled with people dancing, others watching the dancing, and those just standing around chatting.
“Dance with me,” Bishop said, tugging me closer to the dancers.
They were gathered in paired lines and were stepping and spinning and hopping in a crazy pattern that everyone seemed to know.
I slowed down, pulling back from the group. “I don’t know the steps.”
“It doesn’t matter. Look.” He pointed to a preteen who obviously didn’t know all the steps but everyone around him didn’t seem to care. They were all laughing and having a good time.
Alright, maybe I could join in. And really, after its initial rocky start, I was having a great day. So great, I didn’t want it to end. “Okay.”
Bishop flashed me a heart-stopping smile and drew me to the edge of the bystanders. Beyond the dancers, on the far side of the square, were the musicians on a raised platform. They were a mix of hand drum, some kind of flute, and two stringed instruments that looked like guitars but had more twang, and they laughed and sang while they played. The music was upbeat and folky and the drum was like a steady heartbeat urging me to move within seconds of listening.
A moment later, the song came to an end and Bishop led me to the back of a line beside an elderly couple who’d been moving just as sprightly as everyone else.
“Alpha!” the woman joyfully exclaimed, shifting to make more room for us. “I was wondering why you weren’t playing tonight.”
“You play an instrument?” I asked.
The man chuckled. “He plays all the instruments.”
“But not at the same time,” the woman added, making the man laugh louder.
“No,” the man replied, “but that would be something to see. I’m Guthrie and this is my mate Embry.”
“Audrey,” I replied, my insides tightening as the conversation moved from Bishop to me.
“Are you enjoying your first festival?” Embry asked with no sign of wariness or disgust in her expression.
“I am,” I told her, still a little hesitant.
The band played the first few cords of the next song telling the dancers to get ready. Bishop held both my hands, the look of happiness and love in his eyes making my shifter connection to him warm even more, and then we were hopping and spinning and laughing.