Chapter 24 - Rosa

"I should go back to the serum again," I mutter, as I chop cilantro. For the past hour, Olivia has been mmhmm-ing and uh-huh-ing as I talk through my thoughts on the serum and antidote situation. After watching that shifter—Colin—react so poorly to the antidote we tested, it's making me feel like I'm missing something significant.

At Kaila's request, we're making chicken tacos, which takes me back to weeks ago when everything happened and Bigby showed up at our door. I'd never hated him more than when he took us, and now here I am, mulling over a future with him. And considering—just the tiniest bit—staying in Rosecreek to be with him.

"So, what, are you and Bigby together now?" Olivia asks, and I laugh, realizing she's probably sick of the chemistry talk.

"No," I say, shaking my head. "Yes. I don't know. He's—" I lower my voice. Kaila, Araya, and Byron are outside, playing catch, but I don't want to risk Kaila overhearing me. "—obviously Kaila's father. And I think having him in her life would be good for her. And we…the other night—"

"I knew it!" Olivia cries, pointing in my face. I roll my eyes at her and push her hand away. "Linnea owes me twenty bucks."

"Ew, Olivia, don't make bets on me."

"I can tell," she says, smiling to herself. "I knew better than the luna—and that's on best friend intuition."

"Congratulations," I deadpan. "But it was just sex. It doesn't mean anything. Besides, Bigby wants us to stay, and I can't do that to Kaila."

"Do what? Give her an amazing pack to grow up with?"

"Take her away from the ocean. Away from her home."

"The ocean is no replacement for a family. Or a life. Unless your father magically vanishes, I think Rosecreek is looking like a pretty attractive option."

"Oh, yeah? Is it Rosecreek, or Byron?"

"Byron is an asshole. It has nothing to do with him. It has to do with the fact that it's apparently impossible to find an alpha who doesn't have his head up his ass? Aris appreciates the women in this pack. He cherishes his wife. He's good around children, which sets the tone for the rest of the men around here. That bodes pretty well for the pack-mates here. And…Linnea has already extended an official invitation for me to stay here. Join the pack."

I take a step back from her, widening my eyes.

"First of all, I haven't received an official invitation ," I say, doing air quotes, "and second, I didn't realize you and Linnea were so close."

"Well, I have been staying at their place. I helped her set up her smart bulbs and switches, and we've talked a lot about what we want for the future what we think the pack should be like. And you don't need an invitation—Bigby is your invitation. They literally can't keep you out. The two of you are mates. You're already starting to smell like him."

I sniff myself like that's something I could smell, grimacing. That's why Linnea could feel my emotions so well the other day. I'm already assimilating into the Rosecreek pack because the mating bond between Bigby and I is growing stronger. Another reason he can give for why we should stay here.

"Olivia, I—"

I stop when the front door opens. Olivia and I turn together to see Bigby walking in, Kaila squirming in his arms, giggling when he tips her back. My heart warms. No matter where we end up, I know Bigby is a good influence on Kaila. I just have to figure out how to tell her the truth.

"It smells amazing in here," Bigby says, flipping Kaila and putting her on her feet. She runs into the kitchen, and she and Araya start chanting for food. Olivia and I quickly serve up the food. Kaila encourages Araya to try avocado on her tacos. Bigby takes the biggest bite he can to amuse the girls.

Byron and Olivia don't speak a single word to one another the entire night.

Just when we're finishing dinner, Aris knocks at the front door, and Bigby goes outside to talk to him. I strain to try and hear what they're saying, but the girls are loud enough that it's impossible.

Finally, when Olivia and I are doing the dishes, Aris and Bigby come back in.

"Alright," he says, "should we do a sleepover tonight?"

"Yes!" Araya says, then, turning to me, "Please! Can Kaila come?"

"Will Linnea be with them?" I ask, looking at Aris.

"The whole night, she doesn't leave Kaila's side when she's over."

"Okay," I say, which sends Kaila and Araya into a fit of giggles as they jump together, laughing. Aris and Olivia corral them to the car, and Byron crosses his arms in mock anger when he's made to sit in the back with the two girls.

When Aris's truck pulls away, I realize Bigby and I are standing alone on the porch. He takes his hand in mine, then pulls me until his arms are around me. He takes a deep breath like he's trying to inhale me.

"Dinner was amazing, thank you," he says.

"It wasn't for you," I say, smirking at him. "It was for Kaila."

"Either way," he says, running a slow circle on my back. "It was kind of a rough day, and those tacos made it better."

We go back inside, and he tells me about the day as we clean. I tell him what happened with the antidote, and he reminds me of the time he accidentally blew up a chemistry lab in college, making me feel better.

When everything is tidied and put away, I hop up onto the counter, grab a bottle of wine, and try to get the cork out.

"Here," he says, taking the bottle and taking a corkscrew from the fridge. He opens it for me, then pours it into a glass. I take a sip, savoring the flavor and letting it relax my body.

"You know," he says, smirking as he pours himself a glass of whiskey. "That wine is bottled right here in Minnesota. 7 Vines. It's the best wine in the region—and the vineyard is beautiful, I could take you."

He steps between my legs, and I shift closer to him.

"I don't know," I murmur, "I'm more of a bourbon girl."

"I'll find you bourbon," he says, determined. "I'll find you whatever you want if you stay here with me."

"Bourbon has to be brewed in Kentucky, you dork," I mutter. "Have you ever seen me drink bourbon in my life?"

"No, but I could have missed a lot. I want to know every part of you, including the new parts."

"Well, I still prefer wine. That's what happens when you grow up around vineyards."

Bigby drops his head, pressing his forehead to mine.

"Wine it is," he whispers. "I'll take you to every vineyard in Minnesota—in the Midwest altogether. Just stay, Rosie."

"I'm thinking about it," I say, finding it hard to focus on our conversation when he's this close. "But it's not just up to me. I won't do it unless Kaila wants it, too."

"I can respect that," Bigby says, a growl low in his throat as he steps even closer to me. I can feel him pressing against my core, and I bring my body even closer to his.

"How soon do you think it'll be until I can project to you?" I ask, tracing a finger over his chest. He inhales quickly when I pinch his nipple.

"I don't know," he says, closing his eyes. "It's different for every couple. My parents weren't mated, so I don't know from them. I feel like Linnea and Aris got to that point quickly, but we were also in a high-stress situation; they were blood-bonded, and he's an alpha, so it's a different situation."

"I'll do it first," I say, meeting his eyes.

"What—is that a challenge?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"No," I say, smiling and shifting my hips closer to his, waiting for the moment he trails his hand down, slipping his fingers up my skirt. "Don't worry about trying to beat me. We both know you won't."

"Oh, it's on," he says, and I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, digging my heels into his back until I can grind against his cock, which is already hard. I have half a mind to jump down from the counter, getting on my knees and taking him in my mouth.

"That's enough of that," he says abruptly, stepping away from me, the delicious pressure suddenly absent.

"What?" I say, setting my empty wineglass down beside me. "Where are you going? Kaila's gone for the evening."

"Yes, and I wish I had thought about that twenty minutes ago before I poured you that glass of wine."

" Bigby , come on, it's one glass."

"I want you here when I have you, Rosa. I want nothing less than all of you when I'm inside you again."

A shiver courses through my body at the thought, warmth spreading through my chest, and not just from the wine. Bigby leans forward, putting his forehead to mine again, lifting me off the counter and carrying me to bed—where we do nothing more than sleep.