Chapter 18: Ember

Chapter

Eighteen

EMBER

T he aroma of freshly brewed coffee pulls me from sleep, mingling with the scent of pine and cinnamon that's permeated the house since Dad insisted on putting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. For a moment, I'm disoriented, my body expecting the firm mattress of my apartment in Sterling City instead of the soft give of my childhood bed.

Reality crashes back as excited squeals drift up from downstairs, followed by the telltale sound of wrapping paper being shredded.

Christmas morning.

The day of the big festival in town.

I groan, burying my face in my pillow.

The memory of last night floods back.

Saying goodbye to the guys after a perfectly normal dinner where we somehow didn't let anything slip, watching them pile into Carter's SUV and drive away. The ache in my chest as their scents faded, leaving me feeling oddly bereft.

"Stop it," I mutter to myself, throwing off the covers. "You're being ridiculous."

But as I pad downstairs, following the siren call of caffeine, I can't shake the feeling that something's missing.

That I'm missing something.

The living room is chaos incarnate. My niece and nephew are tearing into presents with wild abandon, squealing with delight at each new toy revealed. Mom and Dad are curled up on the couch, matching Santa hats perched jauntily on their heads as they watch the carnage unfold. Matt is filming the kids' joy on the brand new camera Taylor must have given him as a gift, considering there's still a big red bow attached to the box on the table.

And Taylor...

"There you are, sleepyhead," my sister says, materializing at my elbow with a steaming mug of coffee. "I was about to send a search party."

I accept the mug gratefully, inhaling the rich aroma. "My hero," I mumble, taking a long sip.

Taylor grins, linking her arm through mine and steering me toward the kitchen. "Come on, let's let the kids have their fun. I want to hear all about last night."

I let her lead me away, grateful for the relative quiet of the kitchen. We settle at the breakfast nook, and I cradle my mug close, savoring its warmth.

"So," Taylor says, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement. "Spill. How did it go?"

I take another sip of coffee, buying myself time.

How do I even begin to explain last night?

The nervous energy thrumming through me as I got ready.

The way my heart skipped a beat when I saw the pack standing in the living room, looking equal parts excited and nervous.

The easy way they integrated themselves into our family dynamic, as if they'd always been a part of it.

"It was... nice," I finally say, aiming for nonchalance and probably missing by a mile.

Taylor snorts. " Nice ? That's all you've got? Em, they were a hit. Dad's still going on about how Mason fixed the garage door that's been glitching for years in five minutes flat. And Mom? I swear, if she gushes about what a 'charming young gentleman' Jayce is one more time, I might gag."

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "Jayce? A gentleman? He must have been on his best behavior."

"Oh, he was," Taylor assures me. "They all were. It's obvious how much they care about you, Em. The way they look at you... it's like you hung the moon and stars."

Heat creeps up my neck, and I duck my head, focusing intently on my coffee. "They're just being nice," I mutter.

"No," Taylor says, her voice soft but firm. "They're smitten. And from what I saw last night, the feeling's mutual."

I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my tongue.

Because she's right.

As much as I've tried to fight it, as much as I've told myself it's too soon, too fast, too much ...

I can't deny the way I feel about them.

The way my heart races when they're near.

The comfort I find in their scents.

The sense of rightness I feel when we're all together.

And after a night spent tossing and turning, wishing they were here with me...

"Tay," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't... I can't just go back to Sterling City and pretend they don't exist."

My sister's eyes widen, and for a moment, I think I've shocked her into silence. But then a slow smile spreads across her face. "Of course you can't," she says. "They're your mates, aren't they?"

I blink, startled. "How did you?—"

"Oh, please," Taylor scoffs. "Give me some credit. The way you all gravitated toward each other last night? The little touches, the shared looks? It was obvious. Well, to me, at least. Mom and Dad are still blissfully oblivious."

Relief washes over me, followed quickly by guilt.

I hate keeping things from Taylor.

She's always been my confidante, my rock.

And now...

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," I say. "I just... I didn't know how to explain it. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it myself."

Taylor reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. "Hey, no apologies necessary. I get it. This is huge, Em. Life-changing. It's okay to take your time processing it."

I nod, grateful for her understanding. "They're my scent matches," I admit, the words feeling both foreign and right on my tongue. "All four of them. I've never... I didn't think it would ever happen for me, but…"

"But here you are," Taylor finishes for me. "Oh, Em. I'm so happy for you."

She pulls me into a tight hug, and I let myself melt into her embrace. It feels good to finally say it out loud, to share this with someone who knows me better than anyone.

But as we pull apart, Taylor's brow furrows. "Wait, why do you look like someone just told you your favorite skates are discontinued? This is amazing news!"

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "It is. It's just... I'm scared, Tay."

"Of what?"

"Of how attached I already am," I admit. "They say all the right things. They're supportive, and kind, and so fucking perfect it's almost unreal. But... so was Jake, at first. What if they change? What if?—"

"Stop right there," Taylor interrupts, holding up a hand. "First of all, Jake was never perfect. He was a manipulative asshole from day one, and we all saw it except you. Because for some reason, you didn't believe you deserved better back then."

I wince, but I can't argue with her.

She's right.

"Second," she continues, "did you ever feel this way with Jake? This... drawn to him? This connected?"

I think back to my relationship with Jake, trying to remember if I ever felt even a fraction of what I feel for the pack. The answer comes easily. "No," I say. "Not even close."

Taylor nods, as if that settles everything. "Then you owe it to yourself to give this a chance, Em. Especially since you're not that insecure girl who lets everyone walk over you anymore. Don't let fear rob you of something beautiful."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from my lungs. She's right about that, too. Of course she's right. I've spent so long guarding my heart, protecting myself from getting hurt again, that I've almost forgotten how to let anyone in.

But the pack...

They've already wormed their way past my defenses.

And the thought of pushing them away, of going back to a life without them in it...

"You're right," I say, the words feeling like a weight lifting off my chest. "I want to try. I want to see where this goes."

Taylor's face lights up, and she pulls me into another hug. "I'm so proud of you," she murmurs. "And I'm here for you, every step of the way. We all are."

"I know," I say quietly. They always have been.

As we break apart, a commotion from the living room draws our attention. Dad's voice rings out, full of mock outrage. "What do you mean, Santa's not real? Who do you think ate all those cookies last night?"

Taylor and I exchange a look, dissolving into giggles. "We should probably go rescue him," she says, standing up.

I nod, following her lead. But as we head back to the chaos of Christmas morning, I pull out my phone. My fingers hover over the screen for a moment before I start typing.

"Merry Christmas," I write. "Any chance you guys want to meet up at the festival later?"

I hit send before I can second-guess myself, my heart pounding as I wait for a response. It comes almost immediately, my phone buzzing with four separate replies in quick succession.

ADDER: Wouldn't miss it for the world.

CARTER: Name the time and place.

MASON: I’ll bring the hot chocolate!

JAYCE: Last one there buys the first round of eggnog haha :D

A smile spreads across my face, warmth blooming in my chest.

This is the start of something new, I realize.

Something terrifying and exhilarating and potentially amazing.

And for the first time in a long time…

I'm ready to embrace it.

To embrace them .

As I pocket my phone and rejoin my family, I can't quite keep the grin off my face. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, but this year?

This year, it feels like magic.