88 | A MOMENT'S PEACE

“What was a Tiger shifter even doing on this side of the country?” I ask aloud, a hot shower and fresh change of clothes later. Blue sets a mug of tea in front of me and brings his own to his lips as he considers my question. I stare at the stuff that’s *not* the coffee I was promised and frown at my mate. Blue smirks back and pushes the cup of non-caffeinated stuff towards me again.

Behind him, two Wolven from my Pack are pulling various ingredients from the refrigerator and stocked cupboards. I already know it’s not enough to feed more than half of the thirty probably-very-hungry Wolven outside, but it should make enough to tithe them over till groceries arrive. With skill and an efficiency that lets me know they’re used to this kind of preperation, they begin chopping bacon, cracking eggs into a mixing bowl, and even have the coffee maker going in the background.

Part of me has a mental debate going about how I can switch my cup of tea for the good stuff I can now smell brewing, without offending Blue.

“Our - *Azure* - theory was that he was chased out of his previous Pack- I think the Cats call their Packs *Ambushes*.” My mate grimaces at the weird term and shrugs, setting his mug back down. “After what we heard from the *draki* about the Clans gathering, we also concluded that the Cat had no where else to go but East.” Blue shrugs and focuses on me. “I’m not sure how long he was ruling the Berner Pack, but I’m guessing he challenged the previous Alpha sometime in the last few months and took control pretty quickly.” The two Wolven don’t offer any specifics on the subject, and because of their slightly tensed and hunched shoulders, I don’t ask. It may be too soon to reflect on a time that clearly brings up painful memories for them. Through the Pack bond, flickers of fear float around at the very mention of their previous Alpha.

“I didn’t even think Cats could lead a Pack. Aren’t they supposed to be solitary?” I shift the subject a little, trying to recall the small amount of information I learned about other shifters. While I’d been researching for the Events, I’d come across the various shifter types known to exist in the States. The largest groups are Wolven, *draki*, then Cats. Wolven on the East Coast, Cats on the West Coast, and *draki* in the mountains.

“Males normally are, but it’s not unheard for one of them to get chased out of their territory if the leadership changes.” Blue shakes his head and leans on the counter. “But Hunters and Witches normally keep them to their half of the States - otherwise they go to South America in search of another Ambush. The situation with the *draki* must have a bunch of the supernaturals too busy to keep all their troublemakers from crossing the Midwest.” Blue frowns, his eyes slightly unfocused as he skims a few of his fingers over my hand, he’s tracing random patterns into my flesh with the lightest of touches. It’s oddly soothing, despite our current topic.

“That’s not good.” I mutter, frowning at how the *draki* issue has changed more than we originally thought.

“Yeah, we’ll have to be vigilant from here on out- at least ‘till the dragons get their shit together.” Blue agrees, blinking until his thoughts clear and he focuses on me with one of those unguarded looks that shows me exactly what he’s thinking. He’s starting to relax his guard around me more, trusting me.

“Bet you never thought you’d be saying that before you met me, huh?” I ask him with a knowing grin, talking about the sentence he’s just uttered.

“There’s a lot I never thought I’d say before I met you, Red.” Blue smirks and leans across the counter till we’re nose-to-nose. “*Alpha* Scarlett.” I shiver as his mouth ghosts along mine and skims up my jaw to my ear. “My mate.”

“Alpha,” One of the Wolven push another mug towards me, the rich scent has me lunging for it before Blue can manage a frown at the woman.

“I love you.” I tell the woman a second before almost burning my mouth with the freshly made coffee. Blue growls, shooting a glare at the beaming older woman.

“It’s just coffee, Alpha-” She tells me, her eyes low as she carefully avoids looking at Blue.

“Don’t go tempting my mate with promises of caffeine,” Blue growls at the woman, reaching for the coffee cup in my hands. I snap at him with my human teeth, not putting any malice behind the gesture, but making it clear he’s going to lose a finger if he tries to take the mug from me now. “Red, it’s way too early for coffee-”

“You said you would make me coffee earlier.” I point out, my muttering muffled by the rim of the cup as I take another gulp.

“Then I realized it’s *four in the morning*-” He argues with a hint of nervousness in his tone as he watches me. I know by the emotions churning on his side of the bond that he thinks his decision to give me tea instead of coffee earlier was the wrong one to make; and is something he’s now regretting. *Smart man.*

“A promise is a promise.” I shrug, making the decision not to hold this against him. I know he’s just looking out for me, in his own way, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get to have fun with this first. “Be happy I’ve gotten the proper drink now, mate.” I tell him almost imperiously, pretending to pat a crown on my head. The Wolven who gave me the coffee snickers, trying to muffle the sound with a hand. Blue growls at the woman, making her turn and go back to helping the other Wolven with preparing food.

“The power’s gone to your head.” Blue sighs after I take another, large sip. He comes around behind me drapes himself over my back, face pressing into my neck as I continue drinking the coffee. It’s nice to have him so close, but I know he’s also do this to make up for his previous blunder. “Remember the days when you used to tell me you love me?” He asks in a falsely-wistful voice. I snort into my coffee mug and he lets out another sigh. “Those were the days.” For a second, I think on that. Even if he’s joking, he’s right. I don’t tell him about my feelings towards him nearly as often as I should.

“I do, you know.” I mumble after a beat of silence. It feels weird to say it in front of an audience, but Blue’s watching me now. The heat of his silvery-grey gaze makes my cheeks burn, stirring up the aching deep in my core.

“What was that?” He asks too-innocently. I roll my eyes and fix him with a glare.

“I love you.” I grumble in a low tone, making sure it’s only just loud enough for him to hear. His eyes dance with delight, but he frowns, tilting his head.

“What was that?” Blue repeats, but I can hear the happiness in his voice, the bright emotions too brilliant to ignore through the bond.

“I love you, Zane Azure.” I tell him through my teeth, my entire face hot now. Blue blinks at me, then gives me that thousand-watt grin he seems to reserve just for me. My heart stutters in my chest, breathing stilling as the beauty of it seems to hold time captive. We get this perfect moment, a second where it feels like we’re the only two in the world and nothing will ever come between us.

“And I love you, Scarlett Holland,” Blue gently cups my cheeks and brings me a little closer for a kiss. I shiver, wrapping my arms around his shoulders reflexively, trying to bring him closer- but he pulls back with a mischievous smirk. I frown at him, but then feel something in my lap. I turn to see a little box that definitely wasn’t there before. “Happy birthday.” Blue murmurs in my ear, keeping his body close to mine as I pick up the cube coated in silvery wrapping paper.

I chew my lip as I stare at the thing that could literally be hidden by my cupped hands. Something in me knows what this is, hopes and prays it is what I want it to be and not some elaborate joke - for Blue’s sake. The other part…the one that’s scared shitless right now…well, let’s just say there’s more than one reason why my heart’s beating against my ribcage like it’s about to burst from my chest. The conflicting emotions have my hands trembling as I gently peel back the seams of the paper.

The moment I pop open the black box I feel all the anticipation drain out of me and frown.

“Blue?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at the two shiny objects in the box.

“Hm?” Blue asks innocently.

“What the fuck is this?”