Page 25 of Stuck with my Pack
I’d never even needed suppressants. But this…this feels like something living under my skin, stretching and unfurling with an insistent hunger that I don’t know how to handle.
I try to focus on my breathing, willing the ache away, but it only makes me more aware of the slick beginning to gather between my legs. My scent feels like it’s spiraling out of control, thick and cloying in the air around me.
I squirm in the bed, my hands itching to wander to my clit, to ease the unbearable ache somehow. My fingers hover at the waistband of my shorts before I yank them back, growling in frustration.
“What the fuck is wrong with me?” I mutter, kicking the blankets off entirely.
Sitting up, I rake my hands through my hair and glance at the clock. The morning is nearly gone, and my throat is parched.Coffee and fresh air—that’s what I need. Anything to distract me from this…thisthinghappening inside me.
The house feels strangely empty as I make my way downstairs, the creak of the steps echoing in the silence. I expect to see Brodie, Tyler, or Ethan lingering in the kitchen or on the porch, but the note on the front door catches my eye instead.
We took the day off. Hope to see you later at the festival.
Brodie
Their absence should feel like a relief, but instead, it leaves a hole in my chest. My body aches with this foreign, restless energy, and without them here, the quiet feels oppressive.
I grab my coffee and step onto the front porch, hoping the cool sea breeze will clear my head. But it feels humid and stifling. Even the rolling hills stretching toward the cliffs and the ocean sparkling in the distance doesn’t settle me.
I sit down on the porch steps, wrapping my hands around my warm mug. The air smells of salt and pine, crisp and clean, but it does little to calm the storm brewing inside me. My mind keeps circling back to the three men who’ve upended my life in the span of weeks.
Ethan’s steady, intense presence. Tyler’s teasing smirks and playful touches. Brodie’s quiet strength and the way he watches me like he sees right through to my soul.
Their scents linger in the house, woven into the fabric of my days. Even now, I can almost sense them—Ethan’s smoky cedar smell, grounding and strong; Tyler’s sharp citrus scent, sparking against my skin; Brodie’s warm amber eyes, soft and unyielding all at once. Together, they feel like home.
But that thought scares me as much as it excites me. It’s only been a week. It seems far too soon for them to be so important in my life.
I sip my coffee, forcing myself to focus on the present. I need to move, to do something before this restless energy consumes me. I sit on the porch, my phone clutched in my hand. My mind drifts to Lily, and a wave of guilt washes over me.
It’s been too long since we really talked, and I hate how I left things all those years ago. But if there’s anyone who might help me sort through this mess—my body, my mind, and all the emotions clawing at me—it’s her.
Taking a deep breath, I type out a message.
Sophie:Hey, Lily. I hope this isn’t a bad time. If you’re free, I’d love to see you. Maybe grab coffee or go for a walk?
I hit send before I can overthink it. Almost immediately, my phone buzzes with a reply.
Lily:Sophie! You’re never a bad time. I’d love to see you. I’ve missed you!
Her words make my chest tighten, a mix of guilt and relief washing over me. I quickly type back.
Sophie:I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out.
Lily:Don’t even worry about that. We’ve got plenty of time to catch up. How about we meet in an hour? At the coffee stand at the festival?
I smile, feeling a little lighter for the first time all morning.
Sophie:That sounds perfect. I’ll see you there!
Lily:Looking forward to it. And Sophie? I’m glad you texted.
Her words linger with me, warming something deep inside of me. Maybe it’s the reassurance I didn’t realize I needed, the gnawing restlessness in my chest eases just a little.
Lily’s always had that effect on me—steady, warm, and grounding, even when I didn’t deserve it.
I tuck my phone into my pocket and head inside, already planning to shower and throw on something that doesn’t scream that I justrolled out of bed.
Ten minutes later, the fresh air hits my face as I step off the porch, deciding that walking to town is exactly what I need. The hour-long trek will help clear my head, and maybe by the time I see Lily, I’ll have sorted through at least some of the chaos swirling inside me.
