Page 104 of Baseball and Shifters

His arms tighten around me, and he buries his face in my hair again. “Always, Shadow Girl. Always.”

Once we are both clean, we exit the shower and Liam wraps me in a warm fluffy towel leading me to his bedroom. He offers me some shorts and an oversized shirt and I dress in silence, my body still humming with warmth.

Together, we make our way back into the living room. The others are all still sprawled across the big floor bed in a semi circle, my spot still available to me.

Despite the fact that we’ll be getting back up in just a few hours, Liam and I crawl back into the center of it all. As I snuggleinto Lucas’s side, the rest of the guys resume touching me as if drawn by magnets.

I’m warm and cozy. Safe. Home.

With a sense of contentment, lying between my men, I drift off into a dreamless peaceful sleep without fear.

Rachel

When I wake again, the light filtering through the window is warm and golden. My hair is a tangled mess, and my face is slightly puffy from sleep, but there’s a softness to the way the light touches my skin that makes me feel more human again. For the first time in what feels like forever, I don’t wake up afraid. I’m tucked between my twin wolves, warm, safe, the steady rhythm of their breathing grounding me.

I shift gently, careful not to wake them, letting myself savor the calm. Last night could have broken me, it almost did. But then Liam stitched me back together. I’m not whole, not yet. But I’m not shattered either.

When I finally sit up, Bas murmurs something in his sleep and slings his arm across my legs like he’s trying to tether me in place.

“I have to get ready,” I giggle, smoothing his hair away from his forehead. “But you can keep the blanket.”

I throw the blanket on my lap over him and struggle to get free until big, strong, arms lift me from the pile. Turning in Derrick’s grasp, I nuzzle into his neck and throw my arms around his shoulders allowing myself to be carried to the kitchen.

“You good?” he asks, as he sets me on a stool.

“I’m better,” I say honestly. “Still processing… but better.”

Derrick nods like he understands completely, and I know he does.

He kisses my temple, then moves to start the coffee.

One by one, the others rouse, drawn to the kitchen like sleep-rumpled moths to the smell of caffeine. Liam presses a kiss to the crown of my head as he passes. Lucas leans his forehead against mine, staying there for a heartbeat longer than necessary. Bas doesn’t say anything, just wraps his arms around my waist from behind like he’s trying to fuse us together and rests his chin on my shoulder.

No one brings up the interview. Not right away.

I think they’re giving me space to exist in the stillness a little longer. Letting me have these moments of normal before I step into something much harder. And I love them all the more for it.

But eventually, we’re all dressed, and ready to go when a knock sounds at the door.

Derrick opens it, revealing his dad in a sleek navy-blue jacket lined in subtle gold, a folder in his hand and his expression unreadable.

“They’re ready when you are,” he says gently, voice lower than usual. “The council team’s set up in the Dean’s conference room.”

I glance at the boys. I don’t need to ask if they’re coming, they’re ready to fight if someone tries to say they aren’t allowed.

“We’re ready,” I say, sliding off the stool.

Liam threads his fingers through mine, leading me out of the dorm and into the elevator. Bas, Lucas, and Derrick fall intostep, as we make our way out of the building and into the bright morning sunshine.

The quad is quiet as we walk the path between the dorms and the admin building. Most of the campus is still sleeping, unaware of what happened last night. I’m grateful for the silence, for the space to breathe. My fingers stay laced with Liam’s the whole way, Lucas is on my other side and Bas leads the way like a shield blocking any attack from the front. Their heads remain on a swivel like they expect my father or Trent to pop out at any moment. Derrick and Demi bring up the rear and I can hear them having some sort of discussion in low serious voices.

I turn to check on my dragon mate but instead of the stoic concern I expect, I see a wide grin and a spark of excitement fluttering in his eye.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Why are you smiling?”

“What, Emerald?” Derrick shrugs. “I can’t just be in a good mood?”

“Derrick,” I warn, dragging out his name. “You of all people would not be in a good mood right now… unless you know something I don’t.”

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