Clover
Clover walked around the house, not knowing what to do while Patrick slept on the couch. The little guy crashed within seconds after lunch, but Ash still hadn’t come home. She wondered what took him so long, but she forgot to get his number to ask. Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it up to find a text from Tara on the screen.
‘How is Ash’s house?’
Clover sighed and looked around. ‘Boring as hell. He left hours ago, and Patrick is asleep. I don’t even have a good book to keep me company. :(’ She sent it back to Tara. Clover sat at the table and waited for Tara’s reply.
‘Get your ass over here then.’
Clover sighed, she really did want to talk with her friend. ‘How? I don’t have my car.’
‘I’m a few blocks away.’ She could almost feel the sarcasm coming from the phone in Tara’s message.
‘Patrick is asleep. And I’m not waking him up, he looks too damn peaceful. He deserves more peace right now.’ Plus, carrying him once had been enough for a few days.
‘Give me a minute and I’ll be there. You can hold him on the short drive to my house since I don’t have a car seat.’
Clover smiled, Tara was a great best friend and came to her rescue a few times. She returned the favor when the heat of the cops wanted her car for street racing. Tara loved adrenaline so much and Clover didn’t think any guy would be able to truly handle her.
After a few minutes, a knock on the front door made Clover jump to her feet. She checked through the peephole to make sure it was Tara before she opened the door.
“Hey, sweet cheeks.” Tara winked and scooted in. Warmth filled her chest at the nickname her friend picked. They always had a tendency of more banter than serious conversations.
“Hey, sugar pie.” Clover winked back. They giggled and glanced at Patrick. Her arms tensed up, the little pup deserved better than losing both his parents.
“How are you doing?” Tara hip-bumped Clover then looked around the house.
“I’m here. Just a little confused on my place in all this mess.” Clover sighed. She didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes or mess up Ash’s life as he transitioned from single to guardian.
“Let’s get back to my house and you can spill while you bake a pie.” She rubbed her hands together with a big grin on her face. The idea of losing herself in baking helped her to relax.
“Better have the right stuff for freaking cherry.” Clover giggled as Tara tapped her chin.
“I think I have some just for you.” Tara snickered while Clover carefully picked up Patrick. She didn’t want to wake him after all he’d gone through. Slowly, Clover made her way to Tara’s Mustang and sat down with Patrick still secure in her arms.
“Drive careful. I don’t want him hurt.” She glared at her friend. After a moment she noticed a house she’d seen before on the other side of the street. Man, I should’ve realized how close they lived before.
“Don’t worry, sweet cheeks, we’ll be at my house in two minutes flat.” True to her word, they pulled into her driveway two minutes later. “Put him in my bed and I’ll hear him when he wakes up.” Tara motioned toward the hallway.
Clover nodded and walked around Tara’s house with ease. She had spent many hours with her wolf friend in the little house. Yet her sense of direction had been mocked many times by her friend since she managed to get lost like a newborn baby. When she set Patrick down, her heart tightened. The way his sweet little face held no worries while he slept gave Clover peace. And the peace pulled at her heart more than she would tell anyone.
She sauntered into the living room and plopped down on the sofa next to Tara.
“What’s wrong?” Tara rubbed Clover’s leg. She had no clue how to tell her best friend she both wanted and didn’t want to imprint with the sexy Ash. I mean, he’s fucking gorgeous.
“I…” Clover sighed and rolled her shoulder.
“Did you imprint with Ash?” Tara raised an eyebrow and Clover shook her head. Maybe I should have at least tried to touch him earlier. The thought flew around her mind.
“Nope.” Clover pushed her hair back and didn’t meet her gaze.
“But you want to, don’t you!” She gripped Clover’s knee making her wince.
“You’re stronger than me, woman.” She tapped Tara’s hand and completely ignored her question. Part of her had futile hope her friend would drop it, but then again, she knew better.
“Spill it.” Tara pointed her finger at Clover.
“Look, I may like to stare at Ash, but I don’t know if I want him as my…” She struggled for the right word to say.
“Mate?” Tara supplied for her. Clover bounced from side to side as she tried to avoid the damn word.
“And if we aren’t, then I’ll be getting attached to a little boy who I’ll probably never see in a few days.” She scrunched up her nose and glanced down the hall half expecting to see Patrick run up to her.
“Don’t be a soft dick. Get in there and touch him. If you’re not mates, then you can move on.” She pushed her hands out like she controlled the wind or something and pushed it away from her body.
“You’re a bitch sometimes.” Clover shook her head.
“You know you love me.” Tara did an air kiss and grinned. “Now stop beating around the bush. What are you going to do?” She placed her hands on her hips and gave her the I-know-what’s-best look.
“I’m not sure, damn it.” Clover put her hands over her face. “I don’t understand why I want him so freaking bad. I shouldn’t though.”
“Why not?” Tara paused. “You racist twat.” Her serious face turned into a smirk.
“I love wolves, bitch.” Clover smacked Tara’s arm and they giggled for a few moments. The tension in her shoulders eased like it always did with Tara around. After a few moments, Clover sighed and met Tara’s gaze. “Fine, tonight after dinner I’ll touch him somehow, but if I don’t imprint with him I’m coming after your ass.”
“I think I can handle a little human like you.” Tara winked, and Clover stuck out her tongue. Her best friend always had a way of making her feel like a teenager again, but it felt good to not have to worry about life’s problems when they hung out.
“So, when are you going to find your mate?” Clover grinned pushing the one button Tara had. The smile on her friend’s lips flattened into a glare.
“I’m still looking. Unlike humans, I must deal with heat, but you will too.” She started giggling as her nose flared out for a moment or two.
“What do you mean I’ll have heat?” Panic tightened around her stomach making it turn.
“If you stay close to him, then you’ll go into heat. No werewolves live near you every day but that’s changed.” Tara shrugged like it was common knowledge that human women went into heat. Apparently, it was all about the proximity.
“If I don’t imprint with him, I’ll be out of his house in a few days.” Clover tried to push back the worry but Tara nibbled on her lower lip.
“Yes, but…” Tara tapped her nose making Clover’s stomach drop. “Sweet cheeks, you’re about a day, two if you’re lucky, from being fertile.”
“Fuck me sideways. Are you sure?” She turned her head to her shoulder, half expecting to catch whatever her friend caught. Not a wolf, you dumb ass.
“Oh, I’ll let Ash do it, and yes I’m sure.” Tara leaned back into the couch while Clover processed the information.
“Clover?” Patrick’s little voice called out from the doorway.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” Clover adjusted on the couch to find Patrick waddling down the hall.
“Where are we?” Patrick rubbed his eyes and his nose sniffed the air. “Tara?” His eyes focused on Tara on the couch.
“Hey, pup. Get over here and give me a hug.” Tara opened her arms and Patrick ran over to her.
“Mommy and Daddy with Grandpa and Grandma,” he said while he rubbed his nose against Tara’s chest.
“I know, sugar, but you’re safe.” Tara rubbed Patrick’s back before he wiggled out and crawled over to Clover.
“Safe,” Patrick whispered and fell back to sleep. Clover sat there in utter shock trying to think of what to say as her friend lifted her brow.
“See! Right there, he’s already bonded to you.” Tara stood and walked to the kitchen. Clover knew the little werewolf had her heart. But does Ash want me? Or do I really want him?