Page 7 of It’s Kind of a Bunny Story (Hey There, Hop Stuff #3)

I fought to keep the drool in my mouth as Copeland stood and stretched. “I hate to stress you when you’re sleeping so well, but we need to consider getting a move on.”

A yawning pit opened in my stomach, and my mouth went dry. Move where?

My thoughts spun at a dizzying pace. How angry was the alpha over the attack? I’d brought trouble to the pack’s doorstep, and I wouldn’t blame him for tossing me off his land. For all I knew, the burrow might be bombarding him with threats in an effort to force my return.

I’d never heard of a female escaping the burrow who managed to evade the council permanently. The few who tried were dragged back so the leaders could use them as an example of what would happen if anyone else tried to leave.

As though the council could somehow see me, I shivered, feeling naked and exposed. Pushing to my feet, I found my raggedy, oversized shirt. I’d hoped the guys hadn’t noticed the trembling of my hands, but as I slipped the shirt over my head, I found Fletcher’s gold eyes watching me.

“Come here, love.” He opened his arms.

I accepted his offer, sighing in relief as he wrapped me in a protective embrace.

Tucking my head under his chin, he whispered, “No matter what the future holds, you aren’t alone. Remember that.”

Fletcher didn’t offer me pretty promises or assurances that nothing bad would ever happen. He offered me something more precious, a truth I could cling to.

“He’s right,” Copeland agreed, crossing his arms over his chest as though daring anyone to argue.

Linc’s dark chuckle caused the three of us to turn and stare at him. “And if they somehow take us out, we’ll drag an army of them down into Hades with us.”

I hadn’t expected such honesty. Caught off guard, a laugh escaped my lips. How could he be so playful and scary at the same time?

“Maybe it would be better to assure our mate we won’t let anything happen to her?” Copeland snapped, unamused. “Violence isn’t going to make her feel better, idiot!”

Linc shrugged. “I’m just letting her know if the worst-case scenario happens, we’ll hurt more of them than they hurt of us. We have her back in life, or death, if it comes to it.”

Copeland pinched the bridge of his nose. “There’s something wrong with you.”

“Probably.” Linc smirked as he met my gaze. “I’m just the right amount of wrong, and I think our mate likes it.”

My heart fluttered at the glint in his eyes that told me of all the wicked things he wanted to do with me. It was at that moment I realized I was into bad boys.

While I’d known I was in love with Fletcher for years, I’d never considered what other types of men I’d want in my fluffle. Why bother when you knew choosing who would be your mates was a dream you couldn’t have?

I never would have guessed it, but I couldn’t deny I was drawn like a dung beetle to elephant crap? when it came to Linc. Something about his rough edges and bluntness made me feel safe.

And he was right. I relished knowing that if the council took me down, they’d do it at the cost of their own lives. Revenge was supposed to be beneath me, but I considered this more along the lines of returning a favor.

“Stop looking at her like that.” Copeland waved a hand in front of Linc’s face. “We need to stay focused and get packed up. No distractions!”

My inner bunny perked up her ears, knowing exactly what type of distractions he was talking about.

Fletcher cleared his throat. “Have you heard anything from the pack about the coyotes or our old burrow?”

“Yes, and what about the fire? Is it still burning?” I added, almost afraid to know the answer.

“The pack put out the fire and relocated everyone to a more protected area,” Linc assured me.

“Wolves are still stationed around the cave, although there weren’t any disturbances overnight.

The burrow hasn’t reached out to anyone in the pack yet.

As for the few coyotes who survived, they hightailed it off pack lands and disappeared. ”

“That’s a relief.” I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “How mad is the alpha that we brought trouble to his doorstep?”

“He’s not mad at you,” Copeland gave me a small smile.

“You weren’t hopping around starting fires or threatening the lives of his pack.

The coyotes and your old burrow are the ones responsible, and they are the ones he’s directing his fury toward.

Stop trying to take the blame for things you had nothing to do with. ”

My laugh came out dry and brittle. “That’s a lot easier said than done.”

“Then we’ll keep reminding you,” Copeland teased gently. “We know it is stressful to move you during your heat, but even Monroe and the alpha feel we need to move from the cave to the house as soon as possible. The cave sits on the pack boundary, making it easier for them to attack.”

“But where will we go?” I twisted the ends of my hair around my finger, unable to sit still thanks to the powerful combo of anxiety and hormones pumping through my veins.

“Home.” Instead of his trademark smirk, Linc’s smile was soft. “We’re taking you home.”

“I like the way that sounds.” Smiling at the men, I fought the urge to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Fletcher’s muscles flexed, his arms tightening around me.

“Just because Charlee is doing a little better and can go longer between breedings, doesn’t mean it’s safe to move her.

The strain on her body could cause her to relapse and lose the progress we’ve made.

Giving her body time to rest and recover is the most important thing right now. ”

Linc lifted an eyebrow, ready to challenge Fletcher. “You think we don’t know that? Keeping our mate safe—and alive—is our top priority.”

“Relax, you two. A fight will definitely stress our mate out.” Copeland moved between the pair, using his bulky frame to block their line of sight.

“Our house is deep inside pack land. It’s surrounded by thick forests and deep ravines.

The coyotes or burrow will have a hard time traversing that area if they decide to take another shot at kidnapping Charlee. ”

“How long will it take us to get to your house?” Fletcher asked, voice flat and unconvinced.

“From here?” Linc rubbed his jaw. “Three hours if we walk in our human forms. This cave is too remote to access with a vehicle, but we could walk to the nearest road and have a car meet us there. Even with a Jeep, it will take about two hours to get to the house. The road is unpaved and winds around the mountain, rather than being a straight shot. It’s much quicker to make the trip in our wolf forms, which is how we usually get back and forth, other than a monthly supply run. ”

Fletcher narrowed his eyes, already having figured out where this was headed.

Copeland stepped in. “Listen, if you two shift to your rabbit forms and let us carry you, we can cover the distance in less than an hour.”

My stomach churned. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea?—”

Fletcher cut me off. “Done.”

“Are you crazy? Why would you agree so readily?” I scrambled off his lap and stood, glaring at him. “You’re seriously considering this?”

Fletcher calmly listened, then spoke. “If they were craving rabbit, they had ample opportunity to eat me yesterday. You trust them, right?”

“Of course I do! But that’s not the?—”

“Good. Since we both trust them, the decision is simple. Your body needs to rest, and the shorter the trip, the better. That is worth sacrificing my dignity for an hour.”

I wanted to argue, but looking at Fletcher’s bloodshot eyes and remembering the way he’d winced when moving around the cave made me swallow any further protests.

He’d never admit that he wasn’t up for the journey, but he needed rest just as much as I did.

Especially after his desperate run the day before.

Turning away from the guys, I ran my fingers through my hair and worked to steady my nerves. The plan made sense and would make things easier for all three of my mates, so I’d put on my metaphorical big girl panties and suck up any discomfort.

Linc appeared at my side, towering above me. “What do you need packed? You should rest while we take care of it. We’ll just take the things that are valuable to you. I’ll return later to do a full cleanup.”

A snort escaped before I could stop it. “I have nothing.”

Linc’s eyes scanned the tiny confines of the cave as though sure he’d misheard me. “Nothing?”

“Monroe sent everything that’s in here. Not even the shirt and pants are mine. Fletcher grabbed those from a metal giveaway drop-off bin in the last town before we got here.”

“I’m sorry, sugar.” Linc scooped me into his arms. “We’ll make sure you get everything you deserve once you’re settled in at home.”

His cheek rubbed mine, the touch calming some of the anxiety that was searching for a foothold inside me.

“It’s okay. I didn’t really want to bring anything from the burrow. We keep things to remind us of good memories, and I have none from that place.” Glancing at Fletcher over Linc’s shoulder, I added, “There was only one thing there that brought me happiness, and I brought him with me.”

“We won’t forget him here then.” Linc grinned at me. “Now, is there anything else you want to take with us?”

I took in the cave, pushing back the sadness at the thought of leaving it. It was pathetic, but this was my nest, and leaving it was no easy feat. “The top blanket, please.”

Copeland picked it up by the corner and wrinkled his nose. “It’s covered in muddy wolf prints, sweat, and… other things. We have much softer blankets at the house. I promise.”

Chewing my lip, I studied the blanket. Maybe they didn’t want it dirtying their house.

“That’s why she wants it.” Fletcher took the blanket and folded it neatly.

“Charlee started her heat without a nest, which is traumatic for a doe. Now we are making things worse by moving her before the heat is over. Having something from the original nest in the new one will help to calm her inner rabbit. It’s a type of marking a space as yours, and she’ll rest better surrounded by the scents. ”

“I didn’t realize.” Copeland bent and scooped all the bedding from the ground. “We’ll take everything. The last thing we want is to make things harder on you.”

Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him. “Put those down. One blanket is enough. Besides, I prefer being surrounded by the three of you.”

Copeland dropped the blankets and kissed the top of my head. “If you’re sure?”

“I’m positive.” Smiling up at him, I wondered not for the first time how I’d gotten so lucky.

“Good. Now let’s get this show on the road.” Linc scooped me up in his arms and headed out of the cave.

I blinked, my eyes struggling to adjust to the drastic change in lighting from the dark cave to the brilliant morning sun.

Not wasting time, Fletcher stretched, then turned to Copeland. “Try not to drool all over me. Okay?”

Copeland rolled his eyes. “Wolves rule, we definitely don’t drool.”

Fletcher closed his eyes and let the change ripple over his body. His human form seemed to shimmer and wavered as the magic shifted him to the smaller rabbit form.

I’d never get tired of seeing him in this form. His glossy fur was white, but he had the cutest black muzzle, tall black ears, and black spots sprinkled down his side like fairy dust. He was beautiful.

Copeland squatted beside Fletcher. “I didn’t get to tell you yesterday, but you are so adorable!” he cooed.

Fletcher gave a hard donkey kick to Copeland’s shins, eliciting a hissing curse from the wolf shifter.

“Looks like we’d better stop underestimating rabbits.” Linc threw back his head and laughed, while a gloating Fletcher sat back on his haunches.

“I see how it is,” Copeland grumbled.

“Haven’t you heard the old saying? If you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all?” I scolded Copeland, doing my best to look serious, but struggling to hide my smile.

“But I was being nice,” Copeland argued.

I snorted. “Uh-huh. Sure you were.”

The boyish grin Copeland gave me just before he shifted was entirely unapologetic.

The moment he was in wolf form, he lunged forward and scooped Fletcher up in his mouth.

Ignoring the rabbit’s angry grunts, the wolf darted into the forest, all the while his chest rumbled with the wolfy equivalent of laughter.

“He won’t eat him, right?” I asked, needing the reassurance. “Fletcher looked so tiny in Copeland’s jaws.”

“Bunny Boy belongs to you, so he is under our protection.” Linc followed that with a shrug, then added, “Besides, he didn’t eat him yesterday, so I’d say he can resist temptation today too.”

“Maybe you could come up with a nickname other than Bunny Boy?” Trusting my wolf mates, I turned away from the tree-line. “Your wolves are truly okay having a bunny as a mate? And being part of a fluffle that includes a male rabbit?”

These were questions I knew I should ask later. Time was running out before the next wave of my heat hit, but, unable to help myself, I continued stalling.

“Our wolves are getting used to the idea of sharing you, and our space, with a male shifter of another species. But our wolves wouldn’t hurt him for one simple reason: it would upset you, and that’s unacceptable.

Copeland would die to protect your rabbit male, so stop worrying.

The sooner we are out of the open, the happier I will be.

” He bent and laid the blanket on the ground.

“Shift and sit in the middle. I’ll pick up the corners and carry you back.

It’ll be more comfortable than being clamped between my jaws. ”

“Why didn’t Copeland do that for Fletcher?” I asked, wondering why I hadn’t thought of that sooner.

Linc chuckled. “Because he’s having fun messing with Bunny Boy.” He pulled me into his arms and nuzzled the top of my hair.

“You really need to come up with a different nickname before he smothers you in your sleep.” Happy to delay shifting, I cuddled against him, pressing my cheek against his stomach.