"Should I carry her majesty up to her rooms?"
I shook my head, smiling, and pulled my blanket away. I twisted just enough to wrap it around both of us. Though the chill in the air still didn't bother me, it was nice to have the trappings of a cool early spring night. At first, I'd gotten a few odd comments here and there when I'd been spotted without a jacket out in the snow. Apparently, people notice when it’s 10 degrees out and you’re still not cold.
But I still wanted to snuggle down in a blanket, have my hot cocoa, and wear fluffy jackets during the colder months. Maybe some part of me would always remain a little too human for conservative packs, but for my pack? I was the perfect fit.
In the end, I fell asleep against Hudson's chest and he carried me upstairs anyway. I only knew it because I woke up in the morning to an alarm clock that had been unplugged, the batteries removed from the device. I rolled out of bed, wandered through my usual routine of showering and feeding the pups before I fed Tommy and myself. The pack had decided I'd work from home until I'd fully recovered; and after that?
Lillian yawned as she walked past me, her hair a fluffy mess. "Hey, you need anything from the store today?"
She tickled Analise's chin before moving to grab a mug of coffee. I offered one out to her, already made the way she liked it. At once, she relaxed and took the cup from me.
"I don't think I do, but I'll check the list. Last I knew, we were pretty well set. There are three new dogs coming in today, though. I could use your help getting them settled in," I told her.
She sat down at the kitchen table and yawned again. "You got it."
It'd taken time, but it had turned out that Lillian had grown out of the convent life. She was still searching for what she wanted, but being surrounded with her own kind once again had helped her personality a great deal.
Trust was something that was earned, but she'd more than done her fair share. I left her alone with the kids, knowing deep down that she would never hurt them, and went out onto the deck once more, bringing my laptop with me. The world breathed rest, relaxation, and renewal. I had everything I needed; kids I loved, animals to care for, and a pack that adored me.
And I, them.
I inhaled, exhaled, and sat my cup down on the frostbitten deck. Then, I picked up my laptop and opened it up. My driving force in life had been, for as long as I remembered, to make the world a better place. I channeled it through my animal rescue, my passion, but there was still so much left to be done. There was still so much good that I could do for the world at large. I pushed the power button on the laptop and smiled.
It was time to get to work.
About the Author
Katelyn Beckett is the kind of woman who likes her coffee black, her stories dark, and her heroines strong. When not writing, she's usually busy adding to an endless pile of useless knowledge such as exactly how much force a couch can withstand and how to break out of cable ties. Katelyn writes Reverse Harem Romance with Happily Ever After endings guaranteed... eventually.
You can find Katelyn on Twitter @Kbeckettloves
Or on Facebook at Katelyn Beckett’s Lovelies
Looking for another sweet temptation? Click here to head back to Katelyn’s author page to find something else to make your toes curl . Look for On Wings, Book 2 of Her Secret Menagerie featuring Eskal and his Nightflight out September 26th 2020! Pre-order available now! Click here to grab your copy today!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
About the Author
