Brothersong (Green Creek 4)

“Easier?”

“Completely.”

“Okay,” Gavin said. And he walked right by me without so much as a look in my direction.

Gordo grinned. “I like him.”

“I hate everything,” I mumbled as I followed Gavin back to the truck.

LATER THAT NIGHT, Gavin sat on the edge of my bed. He’d been quiet since we’d gotten back from our little excursion. I wanted to push him, to find out what was going on in his head, but figured it was better to wait.

The sounds of the house moved around us as the pack settled in. Bambi, Joshua, and Rico were staying over in the blue house with Robbie and Kelly. Ox and Joe had turned Ox’s old room into a nursery for them as a gift. They had their own place, Rico having moved in with Bambi last year, but the Alphas wanted them to have space here too, if they ever needed it.

Chris and Tanner were bunking up in one of the rooms down the hall. I’d heard them laughing through their closed door as I passed by from the bathroom. I shook my head, wondering at them and the decisions they’d made. They seemed happy. That was the most important thing.

Gavin looked up at me from the bed. Usually by now, he’d shifted to his wolf. Most nights he’d sleep on the bed, stretching out until I was hanging off the side, trying to protect the little corner I’d made for myself. I’d tried pointing out that the floor was readily available, but he’d just yawn at me and turn his head away.

But here he was, still human.

I was nervous for reasons I didn’t want to focus on.

I threw my clothes in the laundry bin, looking down to see a pink sweater sitting on the top. The scent of the old-growth forest was thick. I tried to breathe it in without him noticing.

Which was apparently not the best idea I’d ever had.

“You smell me,” he said.

I stiffened. “What?”

“You smell me,” he said again, as if that explained everything.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He snorted. “Yeah, okay.”

I shook my head. “You need to stop hanging out with Gordo. You’re starting to talk like him.”

“He’s my brother.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I guess he is.”

“What does it smell like? Me. To you.”

Shit. “We really don’t need to talk about this.”

“Why not?”

“It’s late.”

“Tomorrow’s Christmas.”

“It is.”

“I haven’t had Christmas in a long time.”

I turned around. He was looking down at his hands. He was wearing a pair of sleep shorts. They belonged to Joe. Rico had bought him new sleep clothes along with everything else, but Gavin had yet to wear them. I didn’t ask because I understood. They smelled like an Alpha. Like pack. It was comforting. “Well, you can have one here. Tomorrow. I don’t know how big it’s going to be. Ox and Gordo are leaving in a couple of days. Joe and Robbie too.”

“Kelly going.”