Page 72 of Secrets and S'mores
Gently, I lay her out across the bed and pull a coverlet over her.
“I’ll rest here a bit, but I really am hungry,” she says, a yawn breaking her words in half.
Food, provide, protect.
Marigold sits on the kitchen counter with her phone in her hand.
“I’ve almost got the grocery order done and it’ll be here in an hour. I’m glad they have delivery. One of the benefits of a bigger town, I guess.” She looks up and smiles at me. “You look happy,” she notes.
“Yeah,” I say. “Everything’s going to be fine now.”
They had to tolerate my incessant worries over the last few days as we put together a plan, negotiated with Zephyr to help, and I healed from the beating I took.
“Thank you, Goldie,” I say quietly.
She slides off the counter and pats my arm fondly. “She’s your mate, so she’s family.” My stomach swoops at hearing her called my mate. It’s not official, not yet, but I love the sound of it. “Hazel is probably going crazy right now. We’d better text her.”
The Alphas had to stay behind. They couldn’t be involved in our smash and grab plan. And despite his grumpiness, Slate was supportive. Somewhere along the line, Ember won him over, or he knew Hazel would strangle him if he didn’t help get her back.
“I even got you s’mores supplies,” Marigold says with a wink before walking into the living room where Jasper sits perched on the edge of the sofa, texting on his phone.
“Oh, here,” Jasper says, pulling Ember’s phone from his pocket and tossing it to me.
“Thanks,” I say, tucking it away for later. Right now, I need to secure sustenance for my girl.
There isn’t much in the house, just a few basics the host was kind enough to stock, and a few random items previous guests had left. I find a box of crackersin the pantry that weren’t expired and didn’t seem too stale. It’s better than nothing and I’m not about to leave her to go pick something up, not when food will show up on our doorstep in fifty minutes.
Clutching my box of crackers in front of me like I had gone out and hunted wild game for my beloved, I stride back into the bedroom.
Ember is sleeping peacefully. She’s thinner than she was before. I hate the dark circles under her eyes and the hollowness of her cheeks. She’s still beautiful and always will be, but the signs of her mistreatment make my stomach clench.
Setting the box on the side table, I stretch out beside her and tug the blanket over my own chest too. She lets out a tiny noise and turns in her sleep until she’s tucked up against my chest.
A short nap won’t hurt. Especially right now when Jasper and Marigold are here too. With her in my arms, it’s all too easy to drift off.
“Dinner,” Marigold calls, waking us. Ember startles in my arms, looking around wildly. I run my hand down her arm, soothing her until she locks eyes with me and relaxes.
“It’s okay,” I murmur. She lets out her breath slowly, her brows furrowing. “Come on, I know you’re hungry.”
“Yes, please,” she says, climbing off the bed and rolling her shoulders.
Marigold, Jasper, and Cedar sit at the little kitchen table. Cedar is perched on a stool because thereare only four chairs. Ember presses her lips into a thin line as she picks up a plate from the counter and slides into her seat.
She devours two grilled cheese sandwiches before she slows down. Marigold happily piles more tater tots and carrots onto everyone’s plates. She must have used an entire loaf of bread to make enough sandwiches for five shifters.
“There’s lots of easy-to-make frozen stuff in the fridge, like chicken tenders and lasagna. You guys should be fine,” she says.
“Thank you,” Ember says.
“Of course!” Marigold chirps, beaming at her.
Ember sets a tater tot back down. “So what did I miss while I was gone?” Her eyes meet mine, wide with guilt.
“I made it home and they patched me up,” I say gently.
“He was yelling about going back for you pretty much the entire time,” Cedar adds.
“We had to convince him a little strategy was needed,” Jasper explains.
