Chapter 26

Anna

 

Sam slipped out while the guys were still smothering and squeezing me. The twins picked me up as soon as I made it down to the kitchen.

“Anna!” Jason yelled and ran towards me. He spun me around in a circle until Mason demanded he hand me over. Both of them squeezed the life out of me before I could tap out. Just like with Sam, I could sense their presence in a new way.

“Guys…” I managed to get out.

“Sorry, Anna.” Mason backed off a little but didn’t let go. “Promise you won’t ever scare us like that again.”

I sighed and gave him another hug as he nuzzled my hair. I couldn’t promise not to scare anyone again. Scenes from that night flashed through my mind. I could still smell the charred flesh…

“Anna!” I heard Caleb’s voice coming from the patio as he opened the door and let my puppies in. I smiled at him and greeted my pups, who beat him to me. When he reached me, Caleb wrapped me in a hug that was much more gentle than the twin’s had been. “I missed you.” He murmured to me.

“I missed you, too.” I whispered back, enjoying being wrapped in his scent. I could feel his presence, too. I mentally compared him to the twins. Was this what everyone had been taking about with sensing power levels? Did breaking that barrier make me whole?

“Sleeping beauty awakes!” Cody teased me as he walked into the kitchen from the direction of the war room.

I laughed as he wrapped me up in a bear hug. “Speaking of sleeping beauty, I heard there’s a ball I have to go to.”

“Later.” He grumbled before kissing the top of my head. “I’m not ready to let you out of my sight yet.”

I smiled at him and searched his eyes as he pulled away from me. I saw relief, happiness, but also some worry. What I didn’t see was blame, horror, or disgust. He was there that night, he knew what happened. How could he still look at me the same?

He gave me a questioning look when I stared at him for too long, so I just gave him another hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.” I told him quietly. This time when I pulled away I just gave him a smile and he looked satisfied with that.

I heard James clear his throat from behind us. I turned to look at him and ran my eyes over him critically. He looked tired, his posture wasn’t as ramrod straight as it usually was, and his eyes were closed off to me.

I sighed with sadness. This was how it was going to be now? I started to turn away so he wouldn’t see the hurt in my eyes.

“Ah, fuck it.” I heard him say before he strode over to me. “I fucking suck at this shit.” He told me as he pulled me into his arms. “But never doubt how I feel about you.”

“I like you too, James.” I teased him, trying to lighten the mood.

I saw one corner of his mouth start to turn up in the beginnings of a smile before he got a serious look on his face again. He looked deep into my eyes. “We need to talk later.”

I nodded and started to pull away, but he ran his hand up my back to cup the back of my head. His lips brushed mine gently and with unexpected tenderness. It was a sweet and small kiss, but I knew how difficult that must have been with everyone standing here. That was the equivalent of James shouting from the rooftops that he loved me.

A smile spread over my face and I heard Jason in the background. “So, we’re allowed to do that now?”

James and I separated in time for me to see Mason punch him in the arm out of the corner of my eyes, but my attention was still fully on James. He gave me one last half smile before stepping back.

“I have shit to do.” James told me before turning and walking out of the room. I looked after him, still with a smile on my face. I blushed a little when I realized the rest of the guys were staring.

“Jason said you guys were getting close, but I would never have expected that.” Cody told me seriously.

I started to turn bright red. “Um, yeah. What do we have to eat?”

The twins laughed but everyone stopped being weird and starting talking about food. I decided to make myself a giant turkey sandwich, despite it being nine in the morning.

Caleb gave me a hug from behind and a kiss on top of the head. “I gotta get back to work, Anna. But I can’t wait to see you dressed up for tonight.” I gave him a shy smile as I blushed. Thanks to Reagan, I would have something to wear tonight.

The twins grabbed their lunches and started to hustle out the door.

“Shit!” I exclaimed in shock. “If it’s been two days, then I missed work!”

“Language, Anna.” Jason teased me.

“Relax.” Mason reassured me. “Austin got some paperwork to say that you were on medical leave.”

“What did Austin tell them is wrong with me?” I asked cautiously. I hoped he didn’t tell them anything that would make my coworkers worry about me.

Cody frown. “Aus said they aren’t allowed to ask why since you’re a civilian. You just need a doc to sign off to say that you aren’t fit for duty.”

I relaxed a little. My job was safe, but my supervisor was going to be pissed when I got back. The twins stopped to give me more hugs before they left for the morning.

“Is Austin busy doing council member stuff?” I asked curiously as I layered the turkey on my bread.

“Yep.” Cody answered while putting a couple of extra slices of cheese on my sandwich for me. “He’s coordinating the security for tonight.”

I sighed. “Where is this ball, anyway?”

Cody grinned. “It’s going to be at the fancy house of one of the lamia.”

My jaw dropped. “But it’s a council thing?”

“Sure is. But they will be so busy with the lamia and all the backstabbing they do, that they will probably ignore you most of the night.”

I smiled at him. “You know just how to reassure a girl.”

He bopped me on the nose with a grin. “I know how to reassure this girl.”

“True.” I grinned at him. It really was a relief that I would not be the center of attention. I would be more than happy to fade into the background until this was done. Social events were not my forte.

Cody eyed my sandwich when I finished making it and added another piece of turkey before giving the final nod of approval. I sat down at the counter and started to inhale my food. I was probably super low on calories from not eating for a few days and from other things I would rather not think about.

I stopped to take a breath when I realized that he was staring at me. “What? How would feel if you didn’t eat for a couple days?”

Cody looked concerned. “Do you need another sandwich?” He asked me seriously.

I grinned. “Nope.” The sandwich he had helped me make was pretty large, even by Cody standards. I took another bite, starting to eat a little slower now that my initial feeding frenzy had passed.

Cody made his own sandwich and sat beside me. “Austin is going to be your official date tonight.” He informed me.

I nodded. I had expected that, but I was worried about seeing Austin after everything that had happened.

“Each of the council members is going to have three other pack members attending the ball with them. The rest are going to be working security along with representatives from the lamia forces.”

“Do I count as one of the three?” I asked curiously.

“Nah, only the males count.” He told me with a smile. “They won’t consider a pretty girl like you to be a threat.”

I swallowed a bite and set the sandwich down, no longer feeling hungry. They would consider me a threat if they knew the truth.

“The twins and I are going with you.” Cody continued, oblivious to my discomfort. “Caleb is going to be geeking out with Emerys over security stuff in one of the back rooms. He’s going but he doesn’t have to dress up.” Cody made a face.

I bumped his shoulder. “I think you guys are going to look nice, all dressed up.”

He grunted and took another bite of his sandwich. I heard the front door slam and Quinn shout out. “Anna!”

“In here!” I yelled back.

Quinn paused at the entrance of the kitchen for dramatic effect. “I heard we have an excuse to make you fabulous today?”

“Not until tonight.” I told him.

He frowned. “You have to leave here at five. That gives us less than eight hours to get ready.”

I looked at Cody. Was Quinn being serious right now? Cody just shrugged.

Quinn set down the bag he was carrying. “Don’t worry, I already called for backup. My friend Bea is on her way to pamper us.”

“Us?” I laughed.

Quinn gave me a grin. “I am also in desperate need of a mani, pedi, waxing, and pampering.” He looked at Cody. “I can take it from here.”

Cody looked a little embarrassed as he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m with Anna all day today.”

Quinn looked taken aback for a second but then smiled mischievously. “Perfect. I will let Bea know that we need mud facials for three.”

Cody gave a sigh of resignation and I grinned along with Quinn. If I had to suffer through a day of beauty treatments, at least I would be entertained by watching my giant wolf get a pedicure and a mud facial.