Page 19 of The Bunny Blues

“Leave them alone, Reese.” Monroe laughed. “I’m happy to see Ellora will be safe with them. Their wolves don’t appear to want to eat her.”

“Oh, I don’t think it is the wolves who want to eat—” The rest of Syrus’s words were unintelligible, thanks to Monroe’s hand over his mouth.

But the wink Syrus sent my direction made it clear he knew what was up with Quin and me.

We were saved from further teasing by Stella, who bustled into the room with a large cloth shopping bag.

“Here we go! I packed plenty of leftovers so the poor thing can eat a snack later.” Stella eyed my brother and me. “I also packed enough so you boys will be well-fed and not tempted to nibble.”

“Oh, they are definitely tempted to nib—oof!” Syrus grunted as Monroe’s elbow connected playfully with his ribs.

Ignoring the beta, Quin reached out and took the bag from Stella with a murmured thank you.

We weren’t idiots. Stella’s food was well known in the pack, and there was no way we’d turn it down.

Ellora yawned, and her tiny nose twitched.

I stood slowly, trying not to jostle her. “I think we should go. Ellora needs rest.”

Stopping at my side, Quin held open the bag. With a sigh, I reluctantly lowered the black furball into it. Once Ellora was settled, Quin lifted the bag to his shoulder, and with a nod in the alpha’s direction, he headed outside.

“Thanks, bro!” Reese threw her arms around my neck.

Chuckling, I hugged her back. “Always happy to help.”

Reese lowered her voice to a whisper. “If you hurt the bunny, you know the alpha will kill ya, right?”

I glanced over her shoulder at the alpha and betas who watched me. They’d obviously heard her whisper. Cillian’s arm tightened around Monroe’s waist, and Rig stood just behind the pair, running a finger across his throat in a warning gesture.

“No one is going to hurt Ellora,” I assured Reese while maintaining eye contact with the alpha and betas.

“Good, because family meals will be awkward if it’s just Macarius and me.” Reese released me and stepped back.

“That’s the truth.” I chuckled, and with a wave, I headed outside and hurried to catch up with Quin.

We were lucky Macarius was traveling. Macarius was the oldest among the siblings and had raised us after we lost our parents. And he was known for basically disliking everyone. Heck, sometimes I thought he only tolerated us because we were blood.

When we’d been in school, Quin, Reese, and I had always hung out at our friends’ houses because we knew bringing strangers into the house—his personal space—was something he’d never allowed. Reese had been brave enough to try sneaking a boyfriend into her room a handful of times, and I believe the only reason she was still alive was because he had a soft spot for her.

So yeah, it was a massive relief that Macarius was traveling and not due back for a while.

But it was only putting off the inevitable since we were still going to have a problem when he returned….

Because whether he liked it or not, Ellora was a treasure. And I never planned to let her go.

Any sane rabbit would have been too on edge to sleep in an unfamiliar house with two predators, but apparently, I wasn’t sane. Because by the time Quin lifted me from the cloth bag, my eyelids were heavy, and I was fighting to stay awake.

Quin leaned against the counter, cradling me against his chest while Coda removed the plastic containers filled with food from the bottom of the bag.

“It looks like she needs sleep,” Coda commented, opening the refrigerator door and placing the food containers inside. “I can give up my room and sleep on the couch if she wants to rest in there.”

Coda’s words were directed toward Quin, but he watched me for a reaction. The reaction I could manage was a soft grunt of displeasure.

I wanted to stay right there, cuddled in Quin’s arms and savoring the heat radiating from his body. Unfortunately, the only way to voice what I wanted would be to shift back, and frankly, I was too exhausted to work up the energy needed to switch forms.

Although, let’s be real. Even if I could’ve shifted, there wasn’t a chance I would have found the courage to tell these men I wanted to be snuggled. It didn’t matter that I felt safe in Quin’s arms or how content I’d felt with Coda’s face buried in my fur. Despite the weird closeness I felt to them, they were strangers.

“Why should she get to sleep in your bed?” Quin’s chest vibrated with displeasure. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it isn’t cool.”

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