10. Frost

Chapter ten

Frost

“ F rost?”

“Fuck,” I blurt out, dropping the screwdriver and swaying where I stand on this ladder. I look down where Elias is standing, smiling up at me.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you heard me walking over to you!”

“It’s okay,” I say right away. In truth, my head was a million miles away. The dream from last night has been playing on repeat today. I can’t stop thinking about what it felt like to be chased by Avery, to have him against my body, to feel his mouth against my skin. I can’t stop thinking about the confession I made to him and how I’d run the fuck away in the light of day.

Fuck, I’m a coward. But I can’t in good conscience start something with him before I tell him I’m a dreamwalker.

“My mind was a million miles away.”

“Everything alright? How’s the new sleeping arrangement going?”

I curse the fact that my cheeks heat as I think about the way I woke up curled around Avery’s body. I swear I can still feel his heat despite the fact that I’m standing on a ladder, repairing a gutter, with the cold wind blowing through my hair.

“Everything is well,” I tell him, nodding my head. “Avery and I are getting along really nicely.”

“Theo had a feeling you would,” Elias says with a grin, giving me a little wink. “He’s quite good at nudging people where they need to be.”

“Just him?”

“Okay, I may or may not enjoy a bit of matchmaking as well. Are we far off?”

I bite my bottom lip, careful not to nip my piercing. “You’re not,” I confess softly. “I’m glad you nudged the two of us together.”

“That makes me really happy,” Elias tells me. “Who knows what can happen in the next few days.” Elias gives me a pointed look before he’s on his way to wherever he’s going.

His words play over in my head. Who knows what can happen with the time we’re both here. Sure, when everything is said and done, he’ll be back to his pack and I’ll be back on the road. Does that mean I shouldn’t even try? Does that mean I should keep my dreamwalker side a secret?

Fuck, why does all of this feel so important and confusing? Why do I suddenly long to stop running and settle down?

I push the thought away, doing my best to focus on the task at hand. I clean out the gutter and make sure it’s secured. With the snow storm coming, the last thing Theo and Elias need is for gutters to get full and fall under the weight of the snow.

As I’m finishing up, Theo walks by, whistling to himself. “Hey, Frost. Catch!”

I raise my hand more out of instinct than anything, grabbing the key from the air that he tosses in my direction. I stare down at it. “What’s this?”

“Key to the dome. I think you should take Avery to check it out tonight. Supposed to be clear until the snow starts falling in the morning. Might be fun,” he says with a shrug. I can see through this whole innocent act but I can’t find it in myself to call him out on it.

“That sounds like a great idea. Thank you, Theo!”

“You’re very welcome.” He gives a warm chuckle that reminds me just a little bit too much of Santa. I don’t know what it is about these owners, but they see people, cut through the bullshit, and somehow know exactly what they need. They’re good people.

I put the tools away and head back to the cabin. I look up at the sky, finding it clear. There’s not a single cloud in the sky. The perfect night for stargazing.

“Avery? I’m back,” I call out as I walk into the cabin. Avery pops his head up from the couch, smiling at me. My stomach swoops almost violently. What would it be like to come home after a long day and have Avery waiting for me? What would it be like to have dinner ready for him at the end of a long day of being the pack medic?

Fuck, why am I even having these thoughts?

“Welcome back! How was work?”

“Good,” I say with a chuckle. “I fixed a lot of gutters today. And Theo gave me a little present!”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” Avery asks, excitement clear on his face.

“It’s a secret.” I look out the window, the sun is going to set soon. “Bundle up, grab some blankets, and let’s pack a basket with dinner.”

“You’re not planning on leading me out into the woods to kill me, are you?”

That startles a chuckle from me. “Nah. I have a feeling your wolf would outrun me.”

Avery bites his bottom lip, looking shy for a moment. He surprises the hell out of me when he retorts, “Damn right I would.” This man continues to surprise me. That’s what I like about him.

And yes, I can admit, I like Avery. I’m developing a true, certified crush on the man. He’s hot and kind and soft in all the right ways. Plus he smells so fucking good.

Avery gets off the couch, making his way to the bedroom. “I’m gonna get changed. Do you wanna pack a basket since this whole surprise thing is your idea?”

“On it!”

It doesn’t take long for us to get dressed, a basket packed, and some blankets ready. As we step outside, the wind blows, making both of us shiver. The sun is getting ready to set which is perfect. I want to watch it set while in the dome.

“How was your reading?”

“So good,” Avery says with a grin. “I’m getting to the best part. The enemies have become lovers but they’re still fighting their feelings and pushing each other away. It’s so juicy and dramatic and perfect.”

I listen to Avery describe the story, warmth growing at the center of my chest. His voice is full of excitement and it makes me so happy just to sit here and listen to him talk about something he’s excited about.

Avery looks over at me and pauses. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Sorry. You’re just really cute,” I confess softly.

Avery’s cheeks turn bright red and he quickly looks away. I find his shyness incredibly adorable. The things I would do to see him blush and flustered are innumerable.

“Oh,” Avery says, shaking his head. Then he chances a glance in my direction. “Thank you.”

The dome doesn’t take us long to find. It’s located behind the cabins at the top of a hill. Using the key that Theo gave me, I unlock it and crawl inside. Avery follows behind me and I close the door behind us. The dome is about the size of an average tent so we both fit inside but I have to duck so my head doesn’t hit the ceiling.

“You know,” Avery says slowly, a small smile playing at his lips. “Elias gave me a key to the dome as well. I don’t know what those two are planning but for some reason, they really wanted us to spend time in here.”

I can’t help but chuckle, shaking my head with amusement. Those meddling matchmakers. If this all goes well, I’ll have to make sure to thank them.

Avery quickly pulls the blankets out, laying them on the ground for us. One is for us to sit on, the others are to wrap around us. It’s incredibly cozy in here. Theo was on to something when he suggested this.

With the two of us closed in like this, it’s easy to breathe in Avery’s scent. His warm peach cobbler scent washes over me, making me feel safe and turned on at the same time. Our scents are mixing as well, dark chocolate and peaches. Why do our scents smell so good together?

Avery wraps one of the blankets around his own shoulders before doing the same for me. I give him a smile in response as I pull the basket out, popping the top open to show him the food I’ve brought for us to share.

“This is the food Elias dropped off,” Avery says with a grin. “When I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do was make little sandwiches. I’d even force my mom to cut my bread into little squares, otherwise I wouldn’t eat it.”

I can’t help but smile, imagining Avery as a child. He must have been so carefree, to have parents who indulged him in the little ways. I’m almost jealous, but then again, Avery isn’t like me. He was allowed to be a child and do the silly things children do.

I chase my dark thoughts away, focusing on the here and now. I pull out the crackers and cheeses and sausages, putting them into little piles. Then I pull out the bottle of mudslide that was left for us.

“I forgot to grab glasses,” I say, looking over at Avery.

“That’s okay. We’re on vacation, we’re allowed to drink straight from the bottle.”

“I like the way you think,” I tell him with a grin. I crack open the bottle and take a sip of it, letting the chocolate alcohol slide down my throat. It’s so sweet and delicious against my tongue and I hum happily. “Oh, this is delicious.”

“Don’t hog it,” Avery says, grabbing it from my hand and taking a drink himself. I watch as he drinks it, his throat bobbing. I bite my bottom lip, thinking about how good it would taste to lick the chocolate from his lips.

Okay, we’re in a tight space, I can’t be stinking the dome up with the scent of lust!

I make myself a little cracker sandwich, watching as Avery does the same. It feels so silly but at the same time, it’s so fun. I like that I can be silly with Avery. I’ve only known him for a day, but already, I feel like being in his presence heals something inside my chest. There was an ache for companionship, a bone deep loneliness that he’s slowly filling without even trying.

I truly am obsessed with him. Is it possible to fall for someone in the span of a few days? A few conversations and a few dreams? Because if it is possible, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what’s happening to me. If Avery turned towards me and asked me to mate with him, I think I would actually say yes, no questions asked.

Gods, I am so thoroughly fucked.

“Tell me about your pack.”

Avery finishes the little sandwich he was eating. He leans back on his hands, his head tilted up towards the sky. The sun is just starting to set, the sky turning light pink and purple as it dips lower and lower.

“They’re wonderful,” he says with a small smile. “They’re like this giant, mismatched family all coming together. We’re not all blood-related obviously, but we all have decided to be family and be there for each other. A community who’re ready to throw hands or offer shoulders to cry on or cook for each other. Whatever needs to be done.”

I hum as I listen, that ache in my chest becoming a chasm. Is that what I’ve been missing out on? “That sounds really nice,” I say, doing my best to keep the longing from my voice. I’m not sure I do a very good job.

“Ellie is my best friend and she’s part of the pack as well. Her old pack was kinda shit, to be honest. They drove her out because she’s not actually a wolf. Apparently her mom had a one night stand with a bear shifter and oops, turns out Ellie took after her dad instead of her mom. The moment she met us and joined, we gravitated towards each other and we’ve been joined at the hip ever since.”

A little jealous growl leaves me before I can stop it. My cheeks heat with embarrassment. Shit. I don’t actually have any sort of claim on Avery. I don’t have a right to be jealous .

Avery stares at me for a long moment, like me being jealous about some hypothetical mate is hard for him to believe. Does he not realize how wonderful he is? Does he not realize how fucking hot he is?

“It’s okay,” he says eventually, putting his hand on my thigh and squeezing. Despite looking shocked by my jealousy only a moment ago, it appears maybe the fact that I’m into him has finally settled in. Not only that, it seems to me like he welcomes it. Fuck, that’s good because I want him. I want him badly . “We’re not each other’s types.”

“Sorry,” I breathe out, feeling embarrassed by the outburst. Yet, warmth pools in the pit of my belly at Avery’s gentle touch.

“It’s fine. The growl was kinda hot,” Avery says in a rush before jumping back into his story before I have time to comment on that. How does this man make my head spin so thoroughly? One moment he’s acting like there’s no way I could possibly be interested in him and the next he’s flirting and calling me hot?

He thinks I’m hot! Well, my growl, but my growl is part of me and therefore he thinks I’m hot. That’s what I’m going with anyway! Fuck, I feel overwhelmed with excitement. Maybe I stand a chance with Avery.

“The only downside is the fact that my mother wants to set me up with the pack alpha. He’s nice enough but we have zero chemistry.”

“What a shame, truly,” I deadpan, making Avery giggle again.

“I’m sure you’re very broken up about that.”

“Very much so.”

There’s a tentative understanding forming between us. Without saying it outright, we’ve both implied we’re interested in the other. It feels like we’re circling around each other, gauging the water, trying to figure each other out. I know it would be easier just to blurt it out, but there’s something exhilarating about this, about being playful and teasing and flirting.

I want him and this conversation, along with the fact that Avery is suddenly moving even close,r tell me that maybe he wants me too. Maybe he craves me just as much as I crave him. Avery tilts sideways until he’s leaning against me. My entire body warms at the contact.

“What’s life like as a drifter?” The question startles me and Avery is quick to add, “If you want to talk about it. If it’s something that makes you uncomfortable we can talk about something else.”

“No, no,” I say quickly, wrapping my arm around his back to keep him exactly where he is. “I don’t mind talking about it.”

“Okay,” he whispers, scooting even closer until we’re fully cuddling under our blankets. I like this. I like this more than words can say.

I think for a moment on what I want to say. I could make something up. I could tell Avery all the good things about being on the road and the people I get to meet because I’m always moving. But there’s a pain inside my chest that I want to show him. I want Avery to know the real me. I want him to know everything.

Will he accept me? I have no fucking clue, but for the first time in a long time I feel brave enough to show myself fully. I still don’t know why I feel like this about Avery after knowing him for such a short time, but I have a feeling if anyone will see the whole me and accept me, it’ll be him.

I take a steadying breath. “I’m not really a drifter by choice.”

Avery pulls away just enough so he can meet my eyes. His eyes are soft with concern. “What do you mean?”

“I used to be part of a pack, just like you. Though I guess my pack was more like Ellie’s pack than yours,” I say with a dark chuckle. “They found out I wasn’t like the rest of them and they kicked me out. They have superstitions about people like me and they didn’t want my ‘dark aura’ around them. They thought having me around would bring about nightmares or something.” I shake my head. “To keep the pack happy, my parents sent me away and as long as I stay away, they put money into an account for me. It’s how I can just keep moving.”

“Oh, Frost,” Avery whispers, his voice mirroring the pain I feel in my chest. He wraps his arm around my middle, gently squeezing.

“Yeah,” I say, looking up into the sky and trying to ignore the warmth gathering behind my eyes. I won’t cry! I won’t, damnit!

“What are you?” Avery asks after a long pause. “Why did they think you’d bring about nightmares?”

This is it. This is the moment of truth. I’m going to bare my heart and Avery has the power to caress it or stab it.

“I’m a dreamwalker, Avery. I don’t dream myself, only experience the dreams of those around me.”

The confession is soft, barely above a whisper. I brace myself for rejection but instead, I feel soft lips press against my cheek. I suck in a sharp breath, turning my head to stare at Avery with wide eyes.

“It’s okay. I don’t understand what that means exactly but I can tell that’s something you’ve held on to for far too long. It’s okay, Frost.”

I let out a breath and it shakes through me. Avery’s eyes are locked on my face, watching me. There isn’t an ounce of hate in those eyes. Something breaks within my chest and I’m overwhelmed with his acceptance.

“I can walk into other people’s dreams,” I say slowly, needing him to fully understand. “I experience it with them. Sometimes I can walk from dream to dream. Other nights I find someone’s dream I enjoy and sit at the edges of it. Other times I--” I clear my throat and look away. “Sometimes I make myself known even if the person doesn’t believe I’m real.”

Avery startles, his eyes widening. He stares at me for a long moment, letting the words truly sink in. He opens his mouth to speak but then his lips snap shut. He shakes his head.

My insides are flipping wildly, nausea rising up until acid burns the back of my throat. I don’t think I’ll be able to handle him rejecting me. I think this might actually break me in a way I’ll find impossible to recover from. Whatever sort of relationship this was building towards between us will shatter with just a few words.

I turn my head away from Avery and start to get up but his arms tighten, keeping me in place.

“Please don’t go. I just need a moment to wrap my head around all of this.”

I do my best to swallow around the lump in my throat. “Are you upset?”

“No,” he says right away. The quickness of his answer leaves me frozen with disbelief. He’s not upset with me. He’s not angry. I try not to let myself hope but despite the fact that I want to hold myself back, I find myself hoping nonetheless. Hope curls around my heart, holding it gently.

“Are you--” I can’t find the right words to ask. Eventually I settle for, “okay?”

“I think so? I’m trying to wrap my brain around the fact that it was you. You’re the thing I’ve convinced myself I created with my own imagination. The alpha of my dreams. Oh gods,” he gasps out, looking at me with wide eyes. “That’s so embarrassing! I told you, to your face, that you were the alpha of my dreams!”

Ah, here it comes. Now that it’s settling into his brain, he’s getting ready to throw me away.

“You saw how much I wanted you. I danced with you. I held your hand! I even chased you through the woods! Gods, you must think so poorly of me.”

“Wait, what?” I readjust us so we can properly look at each other. “I don’t think less of you, Avery. I think you’re amazing. But surely, you think poorly of me for not telling you!”

“What? Why would you have told me sooner? It’s obviously something you think I’ll reject you for and you were waiting for the right time. I can’t fault you for that!”

We stare at each other, like two wolves circling and sniffing each other to see the other’s intentions. It seems we’ve come to a standstill.

“So,” I say slowly, “I’m not upset with you. You’re not upset with me. We’re,” I pause, “okay?”

Avery nods his head. “We’re good. We’re better than good, I think,” he says, giving me a small smile. “I still don’t really understand everything and I’d love to hear more about it. But that can wait until tomorrow.”

“You still want to spend more time with me?”

“Obviously,” he says, his cheeks flaming. “You are the man of my dreams after all.”

The hope that was tenderly holding my heart flares with excitement at the statement. It burns so bright I can feel it heating my face. He wants me. He still wants me! I’m so overjoyed that I do the only thing I can think to do; I kiss Avery.

Avery startles but quickly sinks against me, his body relaxing as I pull him against me. His lips press against my own and I’m completely and utterly lost. Kissing Avery feels like finding a home after being on the road for far too long. Kissing him feels like breathing after holding your breath so long your lungs burn. Kissing him feels right .

Avery’s lips are soft. They press gently yet eagerly. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a more perfect first kiss. If I’m lucky, maybe this will be my last first kiss.

I have no idea how this has happened. Somehow in the span of a few days, I’ve fallen for this omega. It doesn’t feel real and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was dreaming. But this is better than any dream I’ve ever visited because it’s real .

We pull away from each other, our eyes locking. I clear my throat. “I hope that was okay.”

“More than okay,” Avery whispers. He tucks himself against my chest once more and I carefully lie back so we can properly look up at the sky. During all of this, the sun has fully set, leaving the sky sparkling with bright dots of stars.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” I say, barely above a whisper, not wanting to disturb this wonderful little bubble we’ve made for ourselves.

“Neither have I. Whatever this is, it’s special,” Avery whispers back. “Oh, wow!”

I look up and find the sky splitting open with lights of neon green. Northern Lights dance across the sky. I feel like I can’t look away but at the same time, I can’t help but chance glances at Avery, wanting to see the look of wonder across his features. Both things vie for my attention, both things more beautiful than words could describe.

We watch the sky together. One moment, we’re enjoying the view. In the next moment, we’re still together but now we’re both in Avery’s dream.