Page 7 of Pack Scratch Fever

PIPER

I can’t sleep.

I have a bad habit of staying up all night replaying every mistake I’ve ever made in my head over and over until shame threatens to swallow me whole.

I stay in my nest, cuddling a pillow and groaning into the plush fabric.

It seems as if my body is finally rejecting the suppressants and my hormones are spiking.

I need to be up in four hours, too, if I want to make it to the rescue on time.

What a nightmare.

I should have crashed at Blair’s place. Her apartment is on the other side of town and much nicer than mine. She even has a guest bedroom, which I utilize more than I should.

The last twenty-six years of my life play in my head over and over.

No matter how much I love the rescue, it doesn’t impress my parents or my sisters.

As far as they’re concerned, I wasted the money my grandparents left me for college on a mediocre life, running a nonprofit with no means of getting ahead.

What should have been tuition for a prestigious university now goes to rent and basic necessities.

I turn over and bury my face in the pillow, groaning in frustration.

I need to sleep.

I have to be somewhat alert to interact with the cats and check off everything that needs to be done tomorrow. Today , technically.

And I need to not think about the Alphas, either.

If I’m not beating myself up about my life choices, then my mind drifts to Poe, Avery, and Maddox.

Stop thinking about them. Get some sleep.

Or here’s an idea—just stop thinking.

I exist in a state somewhere between half awake and half asleep until my breathing finally evens out and my mind quiets.

But then a buzz jolts me back awake.

“Who the fu—” Irritation races through me, and I answer my phone without checking the number, holding it to my ear with my eyes still closed. “Hello?” I say, my voice hoarse.

“Hey,” a deep, smooth voice says. “It’s Maddox. We met earlier at the rescue. I brought in a kitten with Avery. Sorry to wake you up like this.”

My eyes snap open, and I roll onto my back; unsure I heard him correctly.

“What?” I stare at my ceiling, my brow furrowed. “How did you get this number?”

“We need your help,” he says, completely ignoring my question.

My head spins; my brain is still fuzzy from sleep. “With what?”

“There’s a kitten rave in our backyard.”

“Huh?” My mind clears and I sit up, frowning.

“We have at least…oh, fuck, ten kittens freaking out in our backyard.” There’s a voice in the background, and I recognize it as Avery’s. “I know you were sleeping, sweetheart, but I was wondering if you had any advice at all.”

I rub at my eyes, annoyed that he called me sweetheart.

“What are they doing exactly?” I move off my mattress and grab a pair of sweatpants, my fatigue dissipating.

“Crying at the door to our backyard. So, Pipe, do you have any sage advice for us?” I can practically hear the smirk in his voice.

I roll my eyes. “It sounds like you have at least one colony back there,” I huff. “We need to trap the mom cat and those kittens.”

“Wait, how do we do that?” Avery’s voice says. “Hi Piper, sorry to call you so late. You’re on speakerphone.”

I quirk my lip and make a quick decision. “I can come over if you want,” I sigh. “I can show you how to set everything up. Depending on the age of those kittens, we can get them fixed, too. Or we can find a foster for them, if you can’t do it.”

“Oh,” Avery says. “We couldn’t ask you to come over right now?—”

“Come over!” Maddox yells, and I hold the phone back from my ear. “Fuck yeah, cat lady, let’s do this.”

“Maddox,” Avery warns, and I huff.

“Text me your address, and I can be there in a bit. I haven’t been able to sleep tonight, so this will give me something to do,” I say.

I ignore the little flip of excitement in my stomach.

I’ll get to see them again.

But that’s not the important part.

What matters is that there is a cat colony, one that will grow more out of control if we don’t contain it.

“Holy shit, Pipe, thank you so much?—”

“My name is Piper ,” I correct Maddox as I pull on my sweatpants. “And I won’t be the only one coming. I’m bringing Blair too. If this is what I think it is, I won’t be able to do this all by myself.”

The thought of being alone with Avery and Maddox is both thrilling and anxiety inducing.

My hormones are out of control, and the last thing I need to be doing is perfuming around two Alphas at three in the morning by myself.

“Piper,” Maddox says, his voice low. “My mistake. Thank you again.”

My heart beats rapidly in my chest, and I swallow nervously. “It’s fine. I’m happy to help the cats.”

And myself, my inner voice supplies. I’m going to see two Alphas!

I’m there for the cats. Not them.

After hanging up the phone with Avery and Maddox, I place my phone on speaker and call Blair.

She doesn’t answer, so I call again.

And again.

“Pick up,” I growl, throwing on an oversized sweatshirt. It’s grey with purple paw prints all over it and likely the most unflattering item of clothing I own.

“Pipe?” Blair groans into the phone. “What’s going on?”

“Cat colony,” I say. “Do you have traps or are volunteers using them?”

I hear her rustling in bed. “I have all mine, including kitten traps. Where are we going? Do you want me to pick you up?”

This isn’t the first time Blair and I have made a late-night visit somewhere. We’ve answered calls at all hours, and we’ve been overdue for cat chaos for a while.

A backyard in a residential area is child’s play compared to where we’ve rescued and trapped animals from.

“Pick me up,” I say, pulling my hair into a ponytail and sighing. “There’s at least eight kittens where we’re going.”

“Okay. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

Blair won’t stop laughing.

“It’s not funny,” I mutter, staring out the passenger side window as she navigates us through town.

“It’s hilarious,” she says. “ Of course the cat colony is at their place.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not there for them ,” I say. “I’m there for the cats.”

“I’m just saying,” Blair murmurs. “It’s an interesting turn of events.”

I make a face. I’m no longer tired. Instead, anticipation of what’s to come keeps me awake and alert.

I’m going to see Maddox and Avery at their home.

I’ll be able to enjoy their scent again.

It shouldn’t matter.

They’re just Alphas, and I encounter those almost every day of my life.

Yet, this time feels special. I tell myself it’s because of my hormones, and that I’m due for a Heat.

“Hey,” Blair says after a moment of my sulking. “If you’re really uncomfortable about this, we can tell them that we’ll have Mari and other volunteers come tomorrow. You don’t have to be there. Or I can go on my own. We are doing them a favor by showing up like this.”

I shake my head. “I’d rather get it done with now,” I say. “Get the traps set up as soon as possible so this doesn’t turn into something worse.”

“Are you sure?” Blair asks softly. “I know I’ve been teasing you, but if I’m being cruel about it, please let me know.”

I almost smile. Blair has a talent for being hyper-aware of other’s moods, especially mine. She’s playful, but she’s also considerate.

“I don’t mind the teasing,” I admit. “I need the push. But this time feels...different. I’m nervous.”

She turns off the freeway. “What about?” she asks gently.

This isn’t our first time showing up at someone’s home in the middle of the night, and it’s not the first time we’ve been around Alphas.

Yet I have a strange feeling.

“Don’t laugh,” I start, “but it seems like everything is about to change. Like if we go to that house, there’s no going back.”

“Uh, that sounds pretty ominous, Pipe. I’m not sure I like where this is going.”

“No, I mean this is a pivotal moment.” I wave my hands frantically. “It’s not a bad thing. It just seems like change is coming, for me,” I ramble. “It doesn’t make sense. I haven’t slept enough,” I add quickly.

Blair yawns. “Me either,” she agrees. “But hey, maybe you’re right. We can all use a little change.”

“Or maybe I’m just perfuming everywhere. I haven’t had a Heat in forever, and I’m finally losing my mind,” I say.

“Honestly? That sounds more likely,” Blair confirms. “By the way, you finally stopped taking those suppressants, right?”

I hesitate. “…yes?”

The lie is evident in my tone.

“Damn it, Piper,” she sighs. “You’re just going to make it worse.”

I nod. “I know.”

“The longer you put off your Heat, the more insane it’s going to be.”

“I know. ” My voice comes out strangled while shame colors my cheeks.

My Heat is going to be ridiculous, long, and intense.

I’m not looking forward to it.

Blair sighs. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs. “You’re my best friend, and you’re easy to love and even easier to worry about. And if you would just listen to me, everything would be fine.”

“Maybe,” I say, knowing she’s right.

One thing about me, though, is that I’m stubborn to a fault.

Even when it hurts me.

“I’m going to ask you again,” Blair says as we turn into a residential area, “are you sure you want to do this? I will turn this car around.”

I shake my head. “I’m sure. Besides, don’t their scents affect you, too? I mean, I can’t be the only one that smells how good they are, right?”

Blair hums. “They smell nice,” she admits. “But not delicious. Not in a soul-shattering, soak-my-panties kind of way. If anything, they’re a neutral, safe scent.”

I nod. “Well, that’s good, at least. I don’t feel that way about them either.”

Her answering silence tells me she doesn’t believe me.

Liar, my inner voice chides. This is the most you’ve been affected by a scent in a long time.

“We’re here!” Blair announces, rolling the car to a stop next to the curb. “Three-four-three Chestnut Way. Holy shit, that’s a nice house.”