Page 28 of Violet Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #1)

twenty

Sera startled at a knock on the bakery office door, tossing the pen in her hand. Wilma appeared as the door opened.

“Your shift ended ten minutes ago,” she said.

Sera’s eyes snapped to the clock on the computer. “I’ll be finished soon, I just need to —”

“Whatever it is, I’m sure I can finish it. Besides, you have a visitor.”

“Hugh!” Sera realized, jumping up from her chair. “Yes, thank you. If you don’t mind finishing. It’s nearly done. I was just going through this evening’s orders.”

“Go, go.” Wilma shooed her out of the office. “I’ve got it.”

Sera thanked her and stepped out into the bakery to find Hugh peering at the treats in the case and chatting with Lock.

As he noticed Sera out of the corner of his eye, he turned and feigned disappointment, his smile betraying his true feelings. He touched his hand to his chest. “ Mon lou lou , did you forget about me today?”

“Never! Just lost track of time.”

“At work? What a busy little bee you’ve become.”

“I told you I was getting my life together. But Hugh!” She stepped closer so she could whisper. “I have news and none of it can be shared here or anywhere within earshot of here.”

“Then let’s not waste any time.”

“Wait, don’t you want something from the bakery?”

“Is the news delicious?”

“Yes,” Sera replied, eyes as wide as her smile.

“Then I’ve got all the treats I need. Let’s go.”

Sera kept a lid on her secret until they were seated in a back corner seat in their favorite coffee shop with her rose and vanilla latte and Hugh’s adorably small, but dignified-looking espresso. She was shaking with the force of her news.

“Hugh,” she said.

“Please, I’m dying to know. I have hopes but I’m not willing to entertain them until I know one way or the other.”

“Hugh,” she said again, beaming. She wanted to tell him. The words danced on her tongue. But she couldn’t stop smiling long enough to say anything.

“Save me from this anticipation.”

“We kissed.”

Hugh sat down his espresso with a clatter. “You and —”

“Yes.”

Hugh sat back in his chair. “I never thought I’d see the day.” He paused. “And everything you were worried about?”

“Still there. Still one hundred percent there and weird and stressful, but we’re going to figure out a way. Together.”

“My dear, I’m so happy for you. For her, too, but mostly for you. You know where my most treasured loyalties lie.”

“Thank you. It feels surreal.”

“I can imagine. You’ve certainly waited long enough.”

“I waited weeks. She waited years, Hugh. Decades.”

“What?”

Sera’s words spilled out faster the longer she spoke.

“She’s loved me for a long time and kept her feelings buried so she didn’t act on it.

And she said no at first, that it would be easy to shove down our feelings with time, but then I was brave.

Hugh, I was brave and told her that it’s okay to be selfish and want something and that love makes us stronger.

And she kissed me. Then, we went running in the woods. ”

“The mating habits of the modern werewolf.” He leaned forward with his arms on the table and smiled. “ Mon lou lou, I am over the moon. You deserve this, both of you.” He winked. “Also I told you so.”

Sera had known that was coming at some point. She puffed out a laugh. “Yes, you did. This is, honestly, in part thanks to you and your teasing.”

“Just let me be the first to speak at your wedding and we’ll consider us even.”

“Don’t jinx anything,” she warned. “I’m trying not to think about what happens if this all blows up horrifically.”

“And if it does — which it won’t — you’ll find a way forward. Together. Though, as we’ve just proven, I'm always right.”

“Sometimes.”

“Always. I know nothing is set in stone and forever is an awfully big word, but what you two have runs deeper than a surface-level connection that can be so easily broken.”

“I hope so, but the pack —”

“The pack will be there for you, too, just as you two help them.” His smile slipped into a sharp smirk. “Plus, you have no idea how many of them have been rooting for you two this whole time.”

Sera choked on her latte.

“I won’t name names, but they’ve been trying in their own way.” Hugh lifted his espresso to his lips. “Don’t you think it’s odd that you two always had the living room to yourselves when you needed it?”

“I thought that was because the pack puts distance between them and their Alpha.”

“I’m sure that’s partly true, but the other part is everyone who knows you both can see how much you mean to each other.”

Sera was equally touched and horrified that the others had known before she did and had been trying to push them together. “So that’s me. What’s new with you?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.

Hugh raised an eyebrow. “Not much. Just dealing with the rather eccentric new Creative Director over at the theater and, you know —” He shot her a look. “Basking in the glory of me being right about everything.”

“I feel like it’s been ages since we got to do this,” Sera said, body buzzing as Parisa took her normal seat across from her in the living room.

She’d gotten everything ready before Parisa arrived — added logs to the fire, steeped a fresh pot of tea, and placed a few tartlets from the bakery on a plate, one of which was missing because she had needed a treat while she waited.

Parisa sat at the edge of the sofa and reached for her tea. “Life’s been a little irregular lately.”

Sera’s stomach churned. She was part of that problem. In all her happiness, she’d thrown a sunshine-colored cover over the less than wonderful recent happenings.

“But good,” Parisa continued. “Sometimes change is good. It forces us to see things differently.”

“I need some more normalcy. I like my routines — our routines — new routines.” She kept correcting herself as she tried to land on what she wanted to say. “I want things to feel like before, but better.”

“Before but better,” Parisa echoed. “I like that.” She took a sip of her tea, then pinched off a bite of an apple tart. “I haven’t said a word to anyone yet. Have you?”

“Hugh,” Sera replied.

Parisa waved a hand. “That goes without saying. Although, that probably means the coven will know now, too.”

“Just Clemente!” Sera defended. “Hugh’s good with keeping secrets, but he does like to share the best with him.”

“And this is juicy gossip, I’d imagine.” Parisa paused. “I’d rather control the narrative, if possible. I worry about what Clyde will think. Our bonds with that pack are strong, but his ties to tradition are stronger.”

“He accepted you as a fellow Alpha, didn’t he?”

“After a lot of aggressive convincing. It wasn’t easy.”

“Then this might not be easy, too, but not impossible.”

“Just like the duel.”

“Right.” Sera nodded. “Like the duel.”

Parisa placed her palm on Sera’s knee and waited for their eyes to meet before she spoke again. “I’m in a very different place than I was a few weeks ago. It won’t be the same this time.” She squeezed her leg before sitting back in her chair.

“Do you still want me there?”

“There’s no one I’d rather have by my side than my Beta, eshgham .” There was a tender lilt in her voice for the last three words.

Sera felt heat in her cheeks. “You can’t just say things like that now.”

Parisa smirked. “I thought you said it should be like before but better. I’ve always called you my little pet names,” she repeated with the same tone.

“But not like that! You’re saying a new one. What does that mean?”

Parisa’s smirked slipped into a soft smile. “It means you have my heart and that I treasure you.”

“One word means all that?”

“When I say it to you, one word can mean everything.” Parisa smiled.

Sera’s cheeks were on fire. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

Parisa laughed. “Why?”

“Because now I feel all melty and gooey inside and there’s no way I’ll function now.”

“Good thing all you have to do now is enjoy your coffee and our little chat.” She drank some of her tea. “I finished another one of Edgar’s books, and I have a theory.”

Sera raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Have you noticed a common theme between the ones he lends us?”

“Besides romance and enough heat to cause a metaphorical burn? No, nothing.”

“Do you have the one you’re reading now nearby?”

Sera nodded and got up to grab it from another nearby table before taking a seat again. She held the book out for Parisa to take. “Have you read this one?”

“No, but I have to test something.” Parisa took the book and searched the front and back covers. “Mm, this one’s a bit of a stretch, but I think it still fits.”

“Fits what?”

Parisa held the book in her lap and turned to look at Sera. “I don’t think I’m the only one who knew I had feelings for you.” She tapped the book. “And I think we’ve had some well-meaning puppetmasters behind the scenes.”

“Hugh said the same thing earlier.”

“See! I must be right. And if you look here, this book has two artists as the main characters, right? One is more well-known than the other. The other book had a captain and a first officer. Edgar has tons of books, but the ones he lends me always has two people with some sort of power dynamic —”

“But they meet on equal ground,” Sera said, realization dawning.

Parisa leaned closer. “Remind you of anyone?”

Sera froze, her heart rate picking up. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

Parisa laughed. “Despite everything I’m concerned about, it’s nice to know we have people in our corner.”

“How long do you think they’ve been doing this?”

Parisa patted the spot next to her on the sofa. “Does it matter?”

“No, I guess it doesn’t. I just feel foolish for not seeing what everyone else did.” Sera stood on shaky legs, heart hammering in her chest, then sat beside her with stiff arms and legs, leaving some distance between them.

Parisa shifted in her seat, closing the small gap, and placed a hand on Sera’s thigh, rubbing her thumb along her trousers. “Feelings make us all a little foolish.”

Sera’s leg tingled where Parisa touched. “Me more than most.”

“I doubt that. I think I’d tie for who let love make them the most foolish.”

At the word ‘love,’ Sera inhaled, her gaze snapping to Parisa’s face.

Parisa smiled and leaned in closer. She squeezed Sera’s leg. “I do, you know. Love you.”

Sera nodded, unable to find words with Parisa’s gaze so focused on her and only her.

Parisa’s hand slid up a little higher. Sera jolted as Parisa continued to move closer, their faces only inches apart.

Sera’s skin itched with anticipation, little pinpricks of nerves spreading throughout her body.

Parisa was so close and she loved her. She glanced down at Parisa’s parted lips and settled her hand on Parisa’s shoulder before slowly sliding it into her thick, brown hair.

Parisa’s eyes fluttered shut, a soft sigh on her lips, and Sera sealed their lips together.

Parisa was a stiff brick wall at first and Sera wondered if she’d misread the moment. She started to pull away, but Parisa grabbed onto her shirt, pulling her back into place. Sera smiled against her lips and let her eyes close so she could better feel everything Parisa was willing to give her.

Sera pulled back and smiled at the way Parisa chased after her lips.

“I love you, too — in case that wasn’t clear.

” Puffing out a soft laugh, she whispered, “Just because they’ve been trying to get us together doesn’t mean we should be doing this where everyone can see.

We can stop or we can —“ Sera grinned, imagination taking off with everything they could do now.

“I don’t know,” Parisa whispered, stroking her thumb across Sera’s cheek.

“Don’t know what?”

“If I’m ready.”

Sera placed her hand on top of Parisa’s and leaned into the touch on her face. “We have time.”

“I know, but there are things — Sera, I have so much that I want.”

“But you’re not ready?”

Parisa shook her head and cast her gaze to the side. “No. I’m tense and my stomach’s in knots. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Sera moved Parisa’s hand and crushed her in a tight hug, burying her face in the crook of Parisa’s neck. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

“It should be easy. Being around you is always easy.”

“We can take our time.”

Parisa waited a beat to respond. “I don’t want to, but I think I need to. At least for tonight.”

Sera pulled back from the hug to look Parisa in the eye. “Give me a good night kiss before you go?”

“Or —” Parisa started.

Sera held her breath.

“Or you could allow me one more selfish indulgence and stay with me tonight. Just to sleep,” Parisa added. “I don’t want to say good night yet.”

Sera sat back to see Parisa better and let her hands slide down Parisa’s arms to catch hold of her hands. “I’ll need pajamas,” Sera said, and immediately felt embarrassed after.

“Okay. I’ll make sure my room is — that it’s — that you can — that it’s neat.”

Watching her Alpha become more flustered by the second was a new experience. She liked it but it made her own cheeks flush hotter.

“Okay,” she echoed.

Neither of them moved.

The sound of a nearby door creaking open made them spring apart.

“Pajamas!” Sera yelled and rushed towards her room.