Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

H arper

I shower with a massive grin on my face. Dress with a massive grin on my face. And am about to drive all the way over to the Pack Stanton house with a massive grin on my face, when my plans are hampered by Molly blowing up my phone and insisting I meet her forthwith. As I owe her big time, I’m unable to refuse.

I pack the cakes up in a cool-bag and drive straight over to Molly’s. I don’t want to be one of those girls who dumps their friends as soon as they bag a boyfriend. Plus I should also attempt not to seem overly keen with the pack. Playing it a little cool never hurt anyone.

Molly meets me in the driveway, grabs my wrist and hauls me inside.

“Tell me everything,” she says as she drags me into the living room and shuts the door behind us.

“Where is everyone?” I say.

“I sent them all out. Mini Harper has developed this habit of listening in to conversations. Yesterday I caught her hiding under the sofa so she could spy on my phone call to my sister-in-law. And, as I predict this conversation is going to be a tad x-rated, I thought it best to take precautions.”

“Very x-rated,” I tell her.

She rubs her hands together. “Oh goodie! Tell me everything!” I go to open my mouth and she holds her hand up. “But first, I have to say, I knew this was going to happen.”

“That I was going to fall into heat unexpectedly?”

“You know I have this little theory ’bout that – one the doctors would probably dispute – but I think when you meet the really hot ones, your body just decides, screw this I’m taking things into my own hands. Or into my pussy.”

“Molly!” I giggle.

“But you do find them sizzlingly hot, right? I knew it the moment I saw you with your brother at that home-coming party.”

“Step-brother,” I correct.

“There was something in the air. An electricity.”

“It was probably a thunderstorm.”

Molly frowns at me. “Be serious, Harper. It was hot.”

“Very.”

“Good,” she says. “I think you needed to get that out of your system. Everybody needs to fool around and make a few bad decisions after they come out of a long-term relationship. And now you’ve put those alphas to bed, you’ll be able to move on. I think it was good for the soul.”

“Move on?” I murmur.

“Yeah, screwing around a bit after you’ve had an almighty heartbreak is the perfect cure. And then you’re in a much better place to go out and find your forever-guys.”

I go to correct her, to tell her the truth, that I won’t be moving on, that I’ve already found my forever-guys, but something stops me. A little niggle of doubt. We made the decision to give it some time before we tell our parents. Maybe I am best doing the same with Molly. Her assumption has unnerved me.

I thought she’d been pushing me in the direction of Daxton, Owen and Wyatt with all those suggestive little comments she’d been dropping into our conversations. But she obviously saw it as a fling thing, not a forever thing.

“Anyway,” Molly says, leaning in closer, “tell me how it happened.”

I tell her about bumping into the Stanton Pack on my way out to my date and everything that happened subsequently. Molly squeaks and squeals at all the appropriate places.

“So,” she says, “was it even better than the last time?”

“Last time?” I say. “The last heat I had was back in Paris and I spent most of it alone.”

“Where was Laurent?”

“Exactly!” I say. “Probably off screwing someone else.”

“Urgh!” Molly says, “if I ever meet that dude, I will personally scratch his eyes out.” She shows me her claws. “But, anyway, that’s not what I meant. Was being with Daxton, Owen and Wyatt better than the last time you were together?”

I curl my hair behind my ear and nod.

“Harper Hall, don’t go all coy on me now!”

“Both times were hot but this time … we’re older. More experienced.”

“Experienced,” Molly says wistfully, “experienced is so damn good.”

“Uh huh. Plus, we did stuff I’ve never done before.”

“The double P?”

I nod again.

“Also so damn good, right?”

“I’ve been wanting to try it for so long and, oh, jeez!”

“It sounds like you had an incredible heat, Harper. Didn’t I tell you heats were better with a pack?”

“A million times better,” I confess.

“Which is why we need to find you a permanent one. I talked to Pack Frimpton, told them about your heat situation – although obviously didn’t tell them how you were spending your heat,” she says, waggling her eyebrows. “They were very understanding. They still want to meet you. And my brother, Angel, came up with a few more suggestions. I can show you their details now.” She drags her phone out of her pocket.

“No,” I say, waving my hands around wildly. “No dates.”

Molly looks up from her cell with surprise. “Why not? Didn’t you just say you wanted a pack?”

Did I?

“Erm, no, I mean, I do eventually. But I think I need some time for myself. To get my head straight. I think I’m rushing things.”

Molly lowers her phone. “You think so?”

“Yeah, what’s that saying about needing to love yourself before you can love others?”

Molly frowns. “That ex-boyfriend was a jerk. Want my pack to arrange for him to be eliminated?”

“Can they do that?” I say, eyebrows racing up my forehead.

“Well … not really, I suppose … but it’s nice to fantasize about it. Personally, I’d make him eat his own testicles.”

“Molly,” I giggle, “that is gross.” I pause. “And probably what he was hoping to achieve with all that yoga.”

Molly makes a gagging sound, and we both burst out laughing, so hard it makes my stomach ache.

Eventually, when we’ve caught our breaths back, Molly takes my hands in hers. “You look good, Harper Hall.”

“That’s what my mom said.”

“I think lots of sex suits you. But if you need a bit of time to yourself, I totally get it.”

“Uh huh,” I say, way too stiffly.

I hate lying. I am so bad at it.

Can we really keep this a secret?