Page 161 of The Forgotten

“What’s the pack name?” I ask curiously. I am softening more as I see how hard they’re trying. They’re upending their lives for me.

“Pack Thunder,” Storm says. “I’ll actually remember it since it’s close enough to ‘storm’.”

“Smart,” I say, enjoying how pink his cheeks get. “I’m going to go shower then.”

“I have a surprise for you when you come back down,” Lore says as I begin to walk out. As I glance over my shoulder, he shakes his head. “Nope. Not till after.”

It’s about three in the afternoon so I have more than enough time to get ready. Heading upstairs, I find the bathroom, and have to admit this brownstone is really nice. Whoever sold it tothem upgraded things for the next buyers, so they not only have the history of the building, but also have pretty hardware too.

This bathroom has a rainfall shower head with handheld combo, and I feel a surge of happiness. After the Haven’s finicky water pressure, I nearly squeal with excitement when I turn on the shower and find the complete opposite here. Pulling off my borrowed shirt, I press the material to my nose to inhale deeply.

The scent of caramel and salt fills my lungs, and I immediately know it belongs to Wilder. I haven’t wanted to nest in ages, and I certainly have never wanted to steal an alpha’s shirt. They’re making me lean into my instincts.

Forcing myself to put down the shirt, I look through the bag of toiletries and smile. They thought of everything. I take a long shower, shave, brush my hair out in the warm water, before finally getting out and drying my body. I’m naked and rubbing lotion into my skin when someone knocks on the door.

“Come in,” I call out, not having locked the door behind me.

Lore opens the door, and his eyes move over my body before he gazes at my pussy, since my foot is currently propped up on the toilet seat.

“I’m going to kidnap you,” he says softly.

“You can’t, you have to leave,” I say, winking at him as I put my foot down to do my other leg.

“You’re right, I do. I just don’t remember why anymore,” he mutters, moving to steal the lotion from me. “I’ll do that. Is this why your skin is always so soft? All the lotion?”

“I haven’t thought about it,” I say, shrugging. “It’s just something I’ve always done. I don’t like to have itchy skin, and it dries out easily at the hospital.”

Lore sits on the toilet seat and places my foot on his thigh instead. He’s wearing a pair of joggers and isn’t wearing a shirt. He looks really relaxed, and dare I say it? Normal?

That is, until you see how meticulous he is as he rubs the lotion into my skin, and the way his eyes move over me. I’ve never had anyone else look at me like this. This is the gaze of someone who notices everything, because if he’s distracted, people could die.

Damn, that got dark fast.

“You’re brooding,” he murmurs, his hands rubbing the leftover lotion into my hips and stomach.

“I am,” I admit.

“Why?” he asks, digging in the plastic bags for a pack of panties. Tearing it open, he pulls one out and helps me step into them.

“My brain is really busy,” I say, watching as he finds me a bra as well. “How did you figure out all of my sizes?”

“Storm is really good at guesstimating sizes. Though, he’s never had to use it like this before,” he says.

“Like what?” I ask, finding the bra fits perfectly as I put it on.

“He’s never bought a woman clothes before,” Lore says.

“Are you saying this so I won’t get jealous?” I ask. “I’m an adult. I do know that we all have pasts.”

“You’re way more of an adult than I am then,” he huffs out, handing me a pair of black cargo pants that fit perfectly. “I hate the idea of you being with another man.”

“It really was more for biological purposes,” I say, trying to make him feel better. “Tommy is a cock blocker, and having a heat alone is really painful.”

“Is that why you’re on blockers?” he asks.

“Mmhmm. Being around your scent matches but not being bonded to them can make heats even worse I’ve heard,” I tell him, pulling out a shirt to finish off the outfit. It’s a plain white t-shirt but it works.

“Explain, please,” he says, his arms folding over his chest.