Page 103 of Power Shift

I’m a morning person. There’s something special about being awake to watch the sunrise through the tall windows in the kitchen with a hot cup of coffee in my hand. For an hour every day, I feel completely at peace. Before meeting Briar, this was the only time I could have that.

Now, she is my sunrise.

Tucking her into bed in her nest was even more amazing than I could have dreamed. The last thing I wanted to do was leave the room once she dozed back to sleep, but I knew there would be time for us to spend long nights tucked up beneath the same covers, her body tucked into the curve of mine. I’ll do anything to make that happen.

I take a sip of my coffee and stare out the window at the pink and orange, cloudless sky. The sweet taste warms my stomachas I get lost in a world of possibilities. With Briar, we could do everything we’ve ever wanted to. The dreams we had could include her, and I don’t think there’s anything better than that.

The thought of waking up before dawn’s cracked to find her beside me, her eyes closed and lips parted on soft, even breaths, feels closer than it did even yesterday morning.

Finally, we’d have some use for the giant custom bed in the nest. I had it crafted with the hope that five of us would one day get to use it together, as long as our omega approved of that, of course. Briar calls the shots, and I’m more than happy to give her full control over every aspect of our relationship. Emotionally and sexually, we’re hers to command.

Having her asleep upstairs as I sit down here alone in my thoughts is a tease worse than any other. I came right downstairs once I woke, knowing that if I checked on her in the nest, I’d end up stuck there watching her sleep. It’s too early for her to think I’m such a creep.

I blow out a breath over my mug and watch as the surface of my coffee ripples. It’s enough of a distraction that I almost miss the sound of the front door clicking shut. Turning on the bar stool beneath me, I set my mug down, waiting.

Ronan’s slouched frame comes into view when he starts my way. I know he hasn’t realized that I’m here, and that makes it easier to examine his demeanour. It’s the deep blue bags beneath his eyes and the way he rolls his neck to work out either a knot or lingering tension that concerns me most of all. His clothes are wrinkled, and despite Landon constantly harping on him about wearing his boots in the house, they drag on the floor. At least they look clean.

He stares at the ground and reaches up to wring the back of his neck. I watch, confused as to where he was and why he’s only coming home at six in the morning. My gut tells me that it wasn’t for anything good.

“Want a coffee?” I ask.

Eyes flying up, he jumps, scared by the question. He blinks quickly and drops his hand.

“Forgot how early you’re up in the morning.”

“Is that why you didn’t use the back door to sneak inside?”

“Are you going to ground me?”

“I’ll let it go this time,” I tease, lifting my mug. “So, coffee?”

“Coffee,” he confirms.

I get off my stool when he takes the one beside me and move to the fancy coffee machine Dash bought for himself last Christmas. The expensive pods are perfectly organized in the drawer beneath it—Landon’s doing—so I grab the darkest blend and slip it into the machine.

“At least you were quiet coming in. Briar needs sleep after last night,” I say, sliding a matte-black cup off the rack beside the machine and clunking it in place before the coffee starts spurting out.

“I’m not sure she got any. I took her out in the middle of the night.”

Spinning around, I press back against the counter and frown. “Why?”

“Did her phone ringing not wake you up?”

“No. I had the sound machine on.”

The guys tease me for it, but I’ve always had problems sleeping in the silence. There’s a time and place for it, and apparently, for me, that isn’t after. I save that for my mornings.

Ronan shakes his head, eyeing the stream of coffee coming out of the machine. “There was an emergency with Sadie, and she needed to go to her place. I brought her there and then home to her apartment.”

I shove the disappointment away that springs to life as I realize I missed out on a chance to be with her. “When was this exactly?”

“A little after two.”

“And you’re just getting back now? What happened?”

My hand shakes as I tug his mug away from the machine and rest it on the countertop. I rip open the fridge door and grab the milk with a sweaty palm.

“She’s okay, Jas.”

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