A Pack for Winter (Cozyverse, #2)

by Eliana Lee

“Please don’t say I told you so,” I said weakly. The queasy topsy-turvy sensation was still careening around in my gut. “I would never,” he growled. Rome pressed three bottles of water into my hands he’d managed to magic up from somewhere. A bit excessive but appreciated nonetheless. I opened one and drank it in slow sips until that awful acrid taste went away. “Then why do you look so upset?” I asked, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, feeling my nausea subside. “Because I want to sue the living daylights out of this Kenny,” Rome hissed, lacing the name with acid. He was back to wearing a hole in the floor. “But I only have teacher money, not fuck you money,” Rome muttered to himself. “Maybe I should’ve become a doctor or lawyer like my dad wanted after all.” Despite logic telling me his reaction was really out of proportion with Kenny’s supposed crime, his outrage felt…nice. Like a secret, vengeful flame in my chest. “Are New Yorkers always so litigious?” I asked, trying to calm him down. Rome came to an abrupt stop. “Should I go fight him instead?” The tiny flame became a roaring inferno. What on earth?

The familiar chime of the door rang out and Ivy Winter stepped in. Or rather, was blown in from the buffeting wind outside. For some reason my ass was almost out of my chair to do god knows what — shield her? Help her get her hair off her face? Punch nature itself? I was a goddamn moron.

I made a circular motion with my finger to encompass all of us. “I think Ivy is our omega,” I repeated. Logan’s gaze ping-ponged between James and I. “You want me in your pack?” James tilted his head in my direction. “I think he’s finally getting it.” “Yes, I was getting a bit worried there,” I agreed. “But…” Logan shifted his weight and adjusted the way his shirt sat around his stomach. “She’s so smart and pretty and everyone loves her. Why would she look twice at someone like me?” “I can recommend some TikToks for you if you think women do not like a gruff man who’s good with his hands,” James offered. “What?”

I’d read the grandiose banner hanging across the town square several times already trying to make sense of it. “The Christmas Eve Eve Festival,” I recited slowly. “Why is ‘Eve’ on there twice?” Logan let out a deep sigh. “Well, it’s the 23rd today, isn’t it? It’s not the Christmas Eve festival. It’s the Christmas Eve Eve festival.” “Do you have another festival tomorrow for Christmas Eve?” I demanded. “Yes.” Logan’s mouth formed a harsh grim line. “I’m just as mad about it as you are.”

Rome shook his head vigorously. “Nope. No needles.” “We can glue it but your scar will be more visible and may not heal as cleanly,” Dr. Patel warned him. “That sounds great, I’m on board.” “No, stitch it up and make it clean,” James interjected, ignoring Rome’s protests. “Yes, Rome. It’s on your goddamn face, this is not the time to cut corners.” Rome turned to Dr. Patel. “I will pay you to knock me out. Because if you come at me with a needle, it will be like trying to cross-stitch a fish, just—” He flopped his hand around gracelessly before suddenly gesturing at me. “I was on a date with her tonight. Can you fucking believe, I mean, just look at her. I can’t even pretend I’m not afraid of needles to try and impress her so you’re gonna have to give me something, doc.”

It was probably a good thing I’d gotten the story out first with James. I was able to retell it feeling much more detached. Even so, by the time I was done, the alpha purrs were long gone and it felt like I was holding the leashes on two rampaging bloodhounds. “He’s fucking dead,” Logan growled. “Logan,” I gasped. “We’ll murder him so quietly for you, baby.” Rome’s purr was different now, like the rev of a car engine presumably getting ready to run Sean over. James yanked him back by his hair. “You are a music teacher,” he scolded his alpha. “Princess, I’ll find out where he lives.” Logan was undeterred. “A few little snips and his house will be back in stone ages. Maybe he’ll go into debt trying to fix it. Maybe it’ll be the first of many terrible incidents that eventually results in him living in a cardboard box somewhere.” “Logan, sometimes your inside thoughts should stay that way,” James said after a beat.