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When I woke up the next morning, Eli was pulling a shirt on. I watched the muscles in his back until they disappeared underneath the shirt. He didn't say anything or move and I tried to keep my breathing even.
"When you wake up, your heartbeat changes. It speeds up just a little bit. That's how we can tell you're awake," Eli said quietly. He stepped into his closet and came out holding a pair of boots. His hair was wet.
"I feel like that's cheating," I said.
He gave me a tight-lipped smile. "How are you feeling?"
I took stock for a moment before I answered him. "Fine. I guess all I needed was some sleep."
"Are you ready to do it again?"
"Are you asking me if I'm ready or if I'm able?" I said and pulled myself up into a sitting position. I realized I was in some pajamas and wanted to ask who changed me, but knew that it was only Eli that would have done that. Dante may be my other half, but he's too lazy to change himself into pajamas most of the time. He would've left me in my jeans and shoes.
"Either one," he said.
"Well, I've got to study. And if there are even more magic users here, I'm going to have to use as much as I can."
Eli sat down in a chair and pulled his boots on. He didn't reply as he began to lace them up.
"What about you? What are you doing today?" I said. I could already feel myself beginning to forgive him.
"Keep the house running, I guess. Make sure the other betas don't need anything or try to create any kind of havoc in town. This place wasn't built for so many werewolves in one place, so I'd like to go visit Azolata and Stephen. Maybe Billie and Artie will want to come with me," he said.
"Has Stephen even been home?" I asked and my eyes widened when I realized that I had referred to this place is home.
"He hasn't. I don't know what's going on with him and Azolata, but no one has seen them or heard from them all day yesterday. Billie doesn't seem too concerned, so I'm trying not to be. But I know Celia will ask me to go find them so that they can at least meet the other packs," Eli said. He didn't seem bothered that I referred to their house as home.
"What about Savannah?" I asked.
Eli looked up at me for a moment and opened his mouth. Then a look of confusion past his face. "I haven't seen her in a day or so. You know what? I should find her first. I don't want there to be any kind of problems with her and the others that came in."
He stood up and went for the door. "Your bag is just there. My bathroom is over there," he said and pointed to a door next to his closet. I don't know why he was telling me this, I had been in his room enough times to know that. "Use whatever you need. I'll see later."
"Wait," I said.
Eli wasn't quite to the door and he paused. He looked over his shoulder.
"Thank you. For taking care of me last night. You could've just pawned me off on Dante, but you didn't, so thank you," I said.
I felt like I should say something more, but I didn't know what else there was to say. There was something missing between the two of us, something that I felt like I should solve. It had more to do with me saying the words"I forgive you,” than anything else. But there was so much going on, so much commotion, so much chaos, that I hadn't had a chance to figure out and parse through what had happened.
Everything was moving so quickly that I wasn't sure where I should start.
"I’ll always take care of you. No matter what. Whatever happens between us, you can count on that," Eli said softly.
I looked down at my hands and the blankets that were still tucked around me. He had taken the time to make sure that I was covered because his house got so cold at night for the werewolves sake. Probably even colder now with more of them packed inside.
"Are you saying that because of who you are? Because as a Beta, that's what you do? Or are you saying that because it's me, because it's us?" I asked.
I didn't look up from my hands but I heard him approach the bed. He reached out and put one hand on my leg, palm up. It was an offering, I could see that.
I put my hand in his and looked up. Those warm green eyes that had captivated me from the first day I saw him in class studied me, and there was a peace there that I didn't know if I could find anywhere else.
"Maybe a little of both. Maybe I would take care of you if you were in trouble and we were strangers. Maybe I would do it more if I knew I wasn't pushing any boundaries. It's hard to say where my feelings for you and my instincts began. I'm not sure they are even two separate things," he said.
"Is that good?" I asked.
"I wouldn’t offer to defend and kill and die for just anyone. So if you are asking if you are special to me, I’m going to tell you yes. I don't know what it is that you want to label us as, but whatever it is, I’m going to tell you yes. I just want to know that you are safe, always. And if there's anything that I can do to keep you that way, then I will do it. Whatever it is, I will say yes."
I stared at him and it felt like we were crossing the threshold into something more, like we were both willingly diving off a cliff into something unseen.
"So, if I want to introduce you as my boyfriend, I can do that?" I asked.
Eli leaned forward and kissed my cheek and my chin. "Lou, I said yes."
I returned the small kisses and then bumped his nose with mine. "Are we still fighting?"
"That's up to you. I'm the one who screwed up. I thought I was trying to keep you safe, but lying to you just made it worse. I'm sorry and I will try my hardest not to do it again. But I don't always do the right thing, so I can't guarantee anything," he added quietly.
"I understand. And it goes both ways. I'll apologize, but I'm not always sure I'm doing the right thing," I said.
Eli pulled away and cupped my face in his hands. He stroked my cheekbones with his thumbs and smiled at me. "I trust you."
I swallowed and nodded. "Go find Savannah. Make sure no one is being mean to her."
"Someone being mean to Savannah? I doubt it. We haven't seen anyone with any crossbow injuries.”
I chuckled. He had a point. If anyone could take care of themselves it was her.
“I'll see you later. I can come meet you guys in the forest after dark," he offered.
I nodded. "If it's anything like last night, I might need the help."
Eli kissed the corner of my mouth once more. "Then it's a date."
This time when he left, I felt lighter, like we had solved a world crisis.
I didn't stay in bed much longer. I got up and showered quickly and dressed. When I went downstairs, I could already sense that the entire house was pulsing with magic.
The first time I had walked into the Ortega kitchen, I thought that it was oversized. Now that I saw all of the packs there, I realized why.
There wasn't even enough room for everyone to sit. I saw Stephen in the corner of the room drinking a cup of coffee, Azolata next to him. Billie was speaking quietly to Stephen and he was nodding. She leaned into him, clearly missing him for the past few days. Stephen raised his cup of coffee at me when he saw me and Billie gave me a small wave but they didn't break away from their conversation.
Azolata was listening to Darla and Artie talk. Darla looked a little intimidated to be so close to Azolata and I wondered if she had been told everything about him.
Azolata nodded at me and pulled out a piece of paper. He gave it to Artie and Artie flipped it open. His eyebrows raised and both him and Darla looked at each other. I prayed that it wasn't another tattoo.
I saw Clint standing near Dante and they could have been brothers.
Not in the way they looked. But it was a feeling like they had been born and raised in the same environment. Both of them had those broad shoulders and eager smiles. I didn't know much about Clint but Celia seemed so at ease around him, I couldn't help but follow her lead. Ronnie was near the stove, grabbing a few more pancakes to put on her plate. She waved me over.
"You better grab a few of these before they are all gone," Ronnie said and handed me a plate.
"Oh. Thank you," I said and took the plate from her.
"You better pack on those carbs. You're going to need them," Sam said. I looked up and smiled at him.
"Sam, right? Sorry, I was practically unconscious when I met you guys last night," I said and stuck out a free hand.
"That's me. Ida over there is our Sentinel. She'll be going with you today." His huge hand enveloped mine and practically shook my arm out of its socket.
When he saw the look on my face he winced. "Sorry. I'm not really used to being around a lot of people that don't know my strength."
"Then you should get along with Dante great," I said.
Across the kitchen, I heard Dante and Clint laughed. They were getting along so well, I was starting to get jealous.
Christian came over and went around me, headed straight for the coffee pot. He poured himself a cup and Ronnie watched him, her blue eyes wide. "You are going to give yourself a heart attack at this rate."
Christian drink deeply from his cup. "I have two pots every morning before I even begin to function," he said when his cup was drained.
"At home, he has his own coffee area. Ida and I are not allowed near it," Sam confided in me.
"You should try the coffee shop downtown. They are fantastic," I said to Christian.
He turned and looked at me and for the first time, I was able to really see him. Just like Dante and Clint, he had broad shoulders, but where they tapered down at the waist, Christian did not. His muscles seem to have muscles and if I had ever met him on the street, I would probably steer clear from him. He looked like trouble, like he invited it.
"Oh yeah? Why is that?" He asked.
He was smirking at me and I realized that he was flirting. I turned back to the pancakes and grabbed three before I grabbed the syrup. "The family that runs it, they know exactly what you need. Even before you ask for it, they have a drink ready. And that's always the best. I would recommend the hot chocolate if you don't want anything else."
"Is there anything else you would recommend?" Christian asked. I didn't need to look over my shoulder to know that he was checking me out.
"Put the eyes away, Christian. He is very much attached to someone else," Ronnie informed him.
"Oh yeah? I don't see him here," Christian said and took a step towards me.
I was about to turn around and give him a snappy response but then Celia was at my side.
"Christian, darling. I hope you aren't hitting on my little brother's boyfriend."
Christian glanced between me and Celia and gave her the same cocky grin that I had seen on too many drunk men stumbling out of bars.
"Maybe I am."
"Give it up. I asked Eli to make out with me yesterday and even invited him to invite his boyfriend and he still shut him down," Ronnie said and shoved a pancake into her mouth. She stepped over to Celia's side, striving to be casual. But I could see that neither Celia nor Ronnie were actually relaxed.
"I hope you aren't going to be a bad guest," Celia said quietly to Christian.
Christian took another drink of his coffee and put his cup down. "I will be on my best behavior. But Glenwood Lock has always gotten to me like this."
I wondered if he was able to feel what I was feeling. It was like I drank too much caffeine. I wanted to run and jump and play. I wanted to do something with my hands, and burn off all the energy that was starting to run through me.
My mom was right. My magic was back, better and stronger than ever.
"Go play with Dante. That's what you're here for." Celia said.
Christian pretended to glare at her. "Are you ordering me around to now, Celia?"
He tried to step past her but was stopped when she swatted him on the ass. "You bet I am. Now go and see if you can teach Dante a thing or two."
As he walked by me, Christian winked.
I rolled my eyes and went back to my pancakes.
Everyone in the room turned towards the stairs in the second later, Eli jumped down the last half of them turned and ran for the front door. He left it open and Celia and I exchanged a look. I put my fork down and we both made for the front door.
I could feel Ronnie right behind me and I heard a few more people coming after us.
When we got to the front door, Eli was looking around. There were a few extra cars in the driveway, but other than that, nothing unusual.
"What's the matter?" Celia asked.
Eli looked up at her and his eyes were wide with worry. "Where Savannah?"
I looked over at Celia and she opened her mouth as though she were about to answer. Then I saw her eyes cloud over with confusion. "I haven't seen her since dinner when Clint arrived."
She turned and everyone behind us was looking either curious or worried or concerned.
"Clint, have you seen Savannah?" Celia asked.
Clint shook his head.
Celia stared him down. "Did you do anything to her?"
"I would never raise a hand to one of yours, you know that see," he replied.
Celia looked over to Azolata and he nodded. He turned around and went back inside, heading straight for the back door in the kitchen. I followed him along with Stephen and Billie and Artie. Everyone else lingered on the front porch or in the living room.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I can look for her in town and in the forest faster than anyone else. If I find her, I will return as soon as I can," Azolata said and grabbed his leather jacket from the back of a chair.
"Do you need help?" Stephen asked.
Azolata gave him a smile, a genuine one that I don't think I have ever seen on his face before. Just like Celia, it made him look younger, carefree. "No. I won't be long."
Stephen nodded and Azolata left out the back door. When I looked out the window, he was already gone.
Billie looked at me. "Will she be okay?"
"Savannah is a survivor, and as long as she isn't too deep into the forest, she should be fine," I said.
Billie was kind enough not to point out that I didn't answer the question.