13. Chapter Thirteen

Since my lack of a wardrobe was an issue, Ewan declared a shopping trip was in order. While clothes were the primary motivation for our foray into town, he also believed this was a good chance for the pack to see me out and about.

In preparation for this outing, I drank two jars from the fridge, each one a cocktail of Ewan’s blood, tonic, and Essie’s tea. The blend wasn’t my favorite. Still, I downed them both.

Apparently my performance the night before hadn’t convinced Ewan that I would behave around the pack. At least, that was why I assumed Birch showed up to accompany us.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you.” Ewan placed his hands on my shoulders as we stood in the entryway with Birch, who actually cracked a smile as his best friend tried to reassure me. “Everything is going to be fine. He’s just along for the ride.”

“I like women’s fashion.” Birch shrugged, expression never changing. “Think of me as an advisor.”

I turned away from Ewan and reached for the doorknob. “Whatever. Let’s just go.”

The town was cute, very reminiscent of Arcane Landing in some ways. There were shops that sold beauty products enhanced with fae magic. Candle shops where all the wax creations, when burned, emitted a specific type of magic into the air. One in the window promised to enhance fertility.

But does it work if both halves of the equation are vampires? I wondered, a pang in my dormant womb.

Ewan squeezed my hand as we walked, concern flashing in his crimson eyes when he glanced over at me. I forced a smile. It wasn’t like he didn’t know children were off the table. Still, I wasn’t ready for this conversation.

It was still early in the day and many of the retail stores were just opening their doors. The two coffee shops in town had been serving caffeine for hours, and the lone diner had a line out the door.

People moved to let us pass on the snowy sidewalks, lowering their eyes out of respect. A few brave souls muttered greetings, though Ewan never responded. So I did. My manners might not have been the best, but it was just common decency to answer when someone said good morning.

“Is there a reason you’re in such a shit mood?” I asked him once I realized his lapse in verbal communication wasn’t a one-off. “We had an enthusiastic start to the day, after all.”

Birch choked on the coffee he’d stop to buy, clearly not missing the innuendo in my comment. Ewan smacked him on the back.

“Don’t feed the peasants, Zara. They’ll never stop picturing you naked,” Ewan grumbled.

My face screwed up. “Seriously? Just because you’re cold, doesn’t mean you need to be cruel.”

“He means me.” Birch coughed to clear his throat. “I’m the peasant.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Well, you’ve already seen me naked. I’m sure most of these people will too in time.”

Ewan’s head whipped around. “Why? Why would you think that?” He seemed genuinely curious.

“I mean, that’s just how life in a pack is. People wolf-out, and then they change back and don’t have clothes.” I glanced between the two men, who both wore identical perplexed expressions. “Oh, come on. Don’t look at me like I’m the weird one.” I focused on Ewan. “I saw you naked before our first time.”

“That’s different,” Ewan said, choosing his words carefully.

I shook my head. “No. No. It’s not.”

Ewan sighed, growing exasperated. “You’re my mate. When was the last time your mother ran around naked in front of the Geminis?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. She doesn’t really shift much anymore.”

His jaw worked back and forth. “You’re missing my point.”

No, but I was being intentionally obtuse.

“I totally get it.” My withering glare made alarm spike through the bond. “Now that I’m your mate, it’s not appropriate. You, of course, can run all over these mountains with your goodies hanging out and that would be okay.”

“Zara,” he warned, gaze cutting to Birch.

The other man shook his head. “Don’t worry about me. This is the best reality show I’ve seen in ages. Real Housewives of the Zodiac.”

“There are rules and protocols.” Ewan’s teeth ground together. “Established a very long time ago to maintain order and decorum in the packs.”

I stopped walking and spun to face him. “You don’t need to remind me. I was there when a fae king decided what was best for the shifters.” I lowered my voice, tone growing icier, and jabbed his flannel-covered chest. “Never again.”

He grabbed my finger. For a second, it looked like he wanted to break it. Then his shoulders relaxed, and he brought my knuckles to his mouth. “Did we just have our first marital fight?” he murmured.

A smile tugged at one side of my mouth. “I hope so, then we can have makeup sex.”

Birch snorted into his coffee cup.

Ewan laughed. “Definitely a fight, then.”

Birch cleared his throat. “First stop is on the next block.”

Ewan slid his fingers through mine as we resumed our stroll. Birch directed us toward a store called Moon Cycles, a cute, rustic boutique that sold everyday clothes like jeans and sweaters, as well as more formal attire.

The woman behind the counter was around my age, with strawberry blonde hair and light eyes. She greeted us with a pleasant, though obligatory smile. Then she realized we weren’t the average customers.

Her gaze went to the floor. “It’s an honor to have you in my store, Alpha.” She turned to me but didn’t look up. “You as well, Luna.”

The term sparked the glitches. Ewan’s hand moved to the small of my back, holding me as I fought the urge to close my eyes. I took several unnecessary breaths and contorted my face into what I hoped was an interested smile as the woman continued to talk.

Birch must’ve sensed something was off and drew the woman’s focus toward him. They started discussing the reason for our visit–filling my new closet. At some point the woman asked my size, but my mind was too fractured to respond. Birch scanned me with his eyes and rattled off my measurements.

The woman led Birch to a table of folded sweaters. Once she turned her back, I fell against Ewan. He wrapped me in his strong arms and kissed the top of my head.

“I’m right here, Zara.” He squeezed me tighter as if trying to hold together the pieces of all the lives flowing through my mind. “It’ll pass,” he whispered the words I chanted to myself.

Finally, the memories ceased. I straightened to stand on my own. Ewan cupped my cheek and searched my eyes for a second before leaning in to brush his lips across my cheek. “Better?” he asked.

“All good,” I assured him.

Birch cleared his throat, tone much more respectful than his usual dry delivery when he spoke. “Would you prefer to try things on here or should I have everything sent to the house?”

It wasn’t a hard question, but my mind blanked and I couldn’t make this simple decision. “Um, I don’t know.” I glanced at Ewan. “What do you think?”

The two men exchanged glances that I knew were about me. I didn’t know how much Ewan had told Birch, but he definitely wasn’t oblivious to my current problems.

“Send everything to the house. Zara and I have a busy day.”

Apparently Birch hadn’t been joking about being my fashion advisor. He made all the final selections on my new wardrobe, which was fine with me. The saleswoman rang up the transaction, and Ewan handed over a credit card.

The woman glanced up, and I caught her eye. My smile surprised her. I had been pretty aloof and stood idly by while the pack’s head enforcer picked out my jeans. In her shoes, I would’ve found myself pretty snotty too.

“I’m Zara,” I said before she could look away. “I missed your name earlier.”

“Jennifer,” she stammered, fingers fumbling the credit card when she held it out to Ewan.

I gestured to the stacks of clothes on the sales counter. “Thanks for helping Birch with all that.”

She lowered her eyes. “I’m always happy to help our Lu–”

Ewan cleared his throat. “Zara and I appreciate it, Jennifer.” He draped an arm over my shoulders and nodded to Birch. “What’s our next stop?”

“Shoes and underwear,” he replied.

“You can handle the shoes,” I told him. “I’ll pick my own bras and panties.”

Jennifer suppressed a giggle. I tried to get her attention, but she refused to meet my eyes again. It was weird. No Gemini treated my mother with this level of deference. They all showed her the respect due an alpha’s mate. But no one in our pack ever trembled before her to my knowledge.

Of course, my mom wasn’t a reincarnation of an original wolf–with fangs. That added a little something extra, I supposed.

Our trio left Moon Cycle and headed to Feet, where a fae man with an obvious foot fetish caressed my arches as I tried on shoes. Ewan got all growly. My glare did nothing to quell his temper. His crimson eyes turned murderous.

“You know her size,” he snapped. “Come on, Zara. Birch can finish up here.”

Birch nodded and started pointing to display shoes he wanted boxed and sent to our house. Fuming, Ewan waited for me to tie my boots. His touch was light on my back as he guided me toward the door.

“Overreact, much?” I teased once we were on the sidewalk.

He gave me a pointed look. “We’ve been over this.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe you should be drinking the tonic.”

He didn’t find me funny. I put a hand on his chest, over his heart. Ewan relaxed into my touch.

“Next time I need shoes, we’ll go to a woman,” I promised.

His lips twitched as his arms circled my waist and drew me closer. “Good. Now let’s go get you fun lacy things. I know where that store is.”

Ewan was way more enthusiastic when it came to picking out bras and panties. His requests made the saleswoman blush numerous times. By the time Birch met us, her cheeks had taken on a permanent redness that I worried might never fade.

“Why work in a lingerie boutique if talking about lingerie embarrasses you?” I asked once we returned to the crisp, midday air.

“She’s star-struck,” Birch said. “You two have that effect on people.”

“Not you,” I said.

He stared at me, expression deadpan. “This is my fanboy face. I have action figures of all the original wolves, trading cards too.”

Ewan nudged my hip with his as we walked. “He’s fucking with you.” He seemed to reconsider. “I think. Definitely about the trading cards. The actions figures, well, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Birch shrugged. “After this war, you all will either be the heroes or villains of the supernatural world. Either way, my collection will be worth a fortune.”

“...the heroes or villains of the supernatural world.”

I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. It was true. The outcome of a war with the Zodiac Councils would define the eternals and their protectors. We had been the villains of legend for centuries. Maybe, just maybe, in this life, we could finally be the good guys for once.