Page 37 of Violet Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #1)

twenty-six

Sera woke up in Parisa’s bed, dressed in one of Parisa’s sweatshirts and little else. She rolled her head to the side to find Parisa reading next to her — one of Edgar’s books if she was judging correctly by the saucy cover.

Parisa noticed her stirring and set down her book. “Hello there.” She smiled and pressed a kiss to Sera’s forehead.

“Hey,” Sera whispered as a smile took over her face. Parisa was adorable with her hair mussed first thing in the afternoon.

“I hate to have you wake and leave, but I’m already running behind. I was waiting for you to wake up.”

“You didn’t need to wait for me.”

“I didn’t need to, but I wanted to. You look extra sweet when you first wake up, especially when you wake up in my bed.”

Sera struck a pose, throwing her arm over her head and resting it on the pillow.

“I am rather dashing in the afternoon glow, aren’t I?

” She laughed, reaching up to stroke Parisa’s cheek.

“Nothing compared to you, though.” Shifting closer on the bed, she threw an arm around Parisa’s middle and rested her head on her chest. “Where are you off to so early?”

“Crooked Creek. I’m telling Clyde about us.”

Sera pulled herself up onto her elbow to look Parisa in the eye. “Already?”

“Chances are he’s already heard something. I’d like to not give him too long to stew in his own thoughts.”

“Guess we can’t remain in our little pack house bubble forever.”

“No, I’m afraid not.” Leaning on her palm, Parisa pressed her face closer, rubbing their noses together. “But I want to show you off, so this is an important step.”

“I don’t know what you’re showing off. Everyone’s always looking at you.”

“But I’m always looking at you.”

It was well after the lunch rush at Violet Moon, but the front of the store was packed. A tour bus had set its riders free and tourists crammed into the shop along with their regulars. The end of Sera’s shift had come and gone, but she wasn’t about to leave her pack to handle this without her.

In the middle of the crowd, over by Lock, stood two small siblings holding hands and clutching their animal-shaped change purses.

The hair color was wrong, but Sera’s chest clenched all the same.

From here she couldn’t even tell if the younger brother had freckles, but it didn’t matter.

Her mind was already not her own. Her breathing quickened.

Her hands shook. She forgot what she was talking about with the customer in front of her.

She smiled at the customer and ducked behind the counter to grab his order.

Taking her time behind the glass, she closed her eyes and took a breath so she could let the grief wash through her.

She didn’t fight it or try to shove it back in the locked box in her brain.

It stung, but she allowed it to hurt and when she stood she saw a face that rooted her firmly back in the present.

“Hugh!” She smiled, boxing up the customer’s order and handing it over. “Thank you. Come back and see us again.”

Jostled in the crowd, Hugh waved and smiled. “I came to see what was holding you up, but I think I answered my own question.”

“Tour bus.” She gestured across the street. “Your coffee shop looks about the same.”

“Luckily, I’ve already taken off my customer service face for the day.”

“I was supposed to be gone by now.”

“Go!” Lock walked up behind her, planting a hand on Sera’s shoulder. “We got this. Get out of here before we kick you out.”

‘But I —”

“Need to leave, I know. I was serious about kicking you out.”

Sera grinned. “Fine. I know when to take a hint.”

“It’s not a hint if it’s a threat.” Lock laughed, turning towards the next customer in line and putting on his brightest smile.

“Guess I’m free now,” Sera said, swinging around the edge of the counter.

He held out a hooked elbow for Sera to loop her arm through. “Shall we?”

Sera stepped beside him and joined their arms together with a laugh as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Feels like we’re on a date when we walk like this.”

“I’m flattered, but you’re not my type.”

Sera smacked his arm. “Cheeky.”

Hugh smirked.

“So, how’s your newest, little vampire, Eugene?” Sera asked with a teasing lilt to her voice.

“Now who’s the cheeky one?” Hugh shot her a look. “You used to avoid all romantic talk unless I brought it up for decades. You finally get together with the love of your life and now that’s all you want to talk about.”

“That must mean the gossip is good.” Sera waggled her eyebrows at him.

Hugh sighed. “There’s nothing to discuss.”

“Yeah, that means it’s good.”

“Fine, mon lou lou . Then how have things been for you two between the sheets lately?”

“You know what? Excellent. Outstanding. Mind-blowing and I’m not even ashamed to admit that out loud.”

Hugh laughed. “That’s growth.”

“What? To be able to talk about my sex life?”

“Well, that, yes. But also, look at you. If you got stars in your eyes when talking about her before, now you’re glowing. Your smile’s so wide I wonder if your face hurts.”

Sera put the back of her hand to one cheek. “It does a little.”

“This is a much better change than a book about baking.”

“It is. It really is. And Hugh?”

He glanced down at her, patting her arm with his other hand.

“I’ve been working on changing in some other ways, too. Ways I don’t really ever talk about.” She paused as their steps slowed on the sidewalk. “Do you remember much of your past?”

“All of it,” he answered. “It might take some time to recollect, but it’s all there. I think it has everything to do with being made to be this way and never having been human. And you?”

“A blurry mess,” she responded. “But one I’m trying to make sense of in my own way now instead of shoving it down until it’s even foggier.

I see their faces in unexpected places — my family, my brother especially.

I can’t remember a lot of my life, but I can recall our home and the beach we used to visit.

I never wanted to remember what I’d lost, but now — Parisa called it ‘a good kind of hurt.’”

Hugh unhooked their arms and slid his hand down to hers, locking their fingers together. “My life is filled with that kind of hurt. It is good, even when it rips you to pieces sometimes.”

Sera nodded. “I feel more together now that I’m not ignoring it on purpose.”

“Because you’re no longer severing one part of yourself from the rest.” He squeezed her hand. “Every day you find more ways for me to be a little more proud to be your friend.”

“Even when I’m a mess?” Sera laughed.

Hugh smiled. “Especially when you’re a mess.”

“Welcome home.” Holding her coffee cup to her lips, Sera grinned as Parisa shook a few stray raindrops from her coat.

Beside her, she’d set up a fresh pot of tea, two white roses from the greenhouse, and some blobby, flat macarons she’d attempted to make with Emmaline earlier.

“Good to be home, eshgham .” Parisa shed her coat, revealing a dark green dress with embroidered details on the scalloped collar.

“How was Alpha Clyde?”

“Boisterous and opinionated, as always.” Parisa took her seat diagonally from Sera. She sighed with contentment as she sunk into her armchair. “Oh Sera, these are lovely!” Parisa dipped her head to sniff the roses up close. “Picture perfect.”

“Unlike the macarons.”

Parisa smiled. “No, those are perfect, too. Especially with a fresh pot of tea to warm me up after a chilly run.”

“So Alpha Clyde —“

“Was grumbling about traditions and rules at first, but he genuinely wishes us well. I barely had to argue. I think he’s a real softie now under all that beard.” Parisa poured herself a cup of tea and took one of the misshapen macarons.

“With him supporting us, it shouldn’t be too hard to deal with the rest of the local packs,” Sera said.

“I wouldn't go that far. I think we still have an uphill battle with some of them, but knowing the Crooked Creek Pack is in our corner does a lot to bolster my spirit.” Parisa leaned forward, a gleam in her eye. “Would you fancy a run tonight?”

“Isn’t it raining?”

“Hardly.” Parisa waved a dismissive hand. “And when has that stopped us before? I’m buzzing with energy and possibilities right now and I need to run.”

Sera smiled, setting down her coffee cup. “I’d love to.”

For the first time in years, maybe ever, she didn’t feel that insatiable urge to transform and leave this body behind. She would have been perfectly content to stay here — stay Sera — by the fire with Parisa.

Parisa stood.

“Wait, you mean now?” Sera balked.

“I can’t wait. I meant it when I said I was buzzing.” She bent over to plant a kiss on Sera’s lips and broke it off with a smile. “It’s a good thing. I just don’t know what to do with it.” She kissed the tip of Sera’s nose.

Parisa’s energy was contagious. As she got up, Parisa took hold of her hand and led her outside.

They ran through the misty drizzle to the stable where they caught their breath in between fits of laughter. Parisa was so bright when she was like this, Sera had no choice but to take her in her arms and kiss her smile until it melted into something sweeter.

Pulling back, Sera rubbed the tip of their noses together then nuzzled into the crook of her neck, dotting Parisa’s skin with gentle kisses there, too. Parisa giggled. Despite the chill in the air, the world felt warm and full of possibilities.

They snuck glances at one another as they shed their clothing, both grinning until the moment came to welcome the transformation.

Sera held onto herself, her own laughter, her own smile, until the last moment she could.

When the wolf finally claimed her, she stood on all fours feeling joyful and strong.

Parisa came up beside her, brushing their sides together before she playfully nipped at Sera’s fur. She jumped back, her tail wagging, and Sera leapt after her. Parisa took off running in the opposite direction, out into the night.

Sera followed after her — wild, free, and very much in love.