Page 46 of Puck Your Bunny

A spike of guilt hits my chest. Memories of Hale and Emmett flash through my mind. I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing the feeling back. I need to keep living for Brendan. I plan to shield these three from the Bond Rejection sickness. The fever would kill them. I care about them, even with the age gap. I have alot of baggage to sort through. I will do the work. For them, for Brendan, and for myself, too.

Chapter 16

The alarm on Wally's phone buzzes at five in the morning. The bedroom smells like sex and sleep. Wally groans, pulling his arm back from where it stretches across Simon to grip Vayda's hip. He kicks Simon's shin under the sheets. Practice starts at dawn today.

I shift away from Vayda's side. My knot softened hours ago, letting me slide out of her tight heat in the middle of the night. I pull myself out of bed. My muscles ache, but my mind is wired.

We pull on our sweatpants and head out the bedroom door, leaving Vayda curled up in the center of the mattress with soft breathing.

Simon heads for the shower while Wally and I hit the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. I grab my mug and mosey down the short hallway to the front window to look out. The rising sun hitsthe concrete slab of the front porch. I look at the steep concrete steps.

How does Vayda navigate those steps with Brendan's wheelchair alone?

It must be a massive chore to do by herself.

Does she just keep him inside because of the hassle?

A soft shuffle from back down the hall breaks my focus. I walk back to the kitchen just as Vayda walks in wearing an oversized t-shirt with her hair a tangled mess, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

I grab the sweet cream from the fridge, pour a mug of dark coffee, and stir in a generous splash before sliding it across the granite counter to her.

"Thanks." She wraps both hands around the warm ceramic.

"I have a question for you." I point toward the front door. "How do you get Bren down those front steps when you go for walks?"

"We have a steel ramp. We haul it out of the closet, lock it over the concrete steps, and guide his chair down. It takes a lot of effort to keep him steady. I've wanted to install a permanent wood ramp for years, but it’s so expensive to hire someone. I have zero carpentry skills." Vayda stares at her coffee mug, her throat working with a hard swallow.

"I've got time this afternoon after practice. I can build a wooden ramp right over those steps today. I'll connect it to the concrete path in the front yard. That saves us pouring a new path, and keeps that steel track in the closet. I'll give it a clean, rich stain to match the porch, too. But I need your okay first, and I need to ask if I can use Hale's old shed. It's packed with gear. I can go buy my own tools, but having access to a table saw and a power drill right there saves me a trip." I take a sip of my black coffee.

"You can use the shed." She lifts her chin, her eyes finding mine. "Hale took great care of his tools. He hated seeing them gather dust. He'd want them used to help Brendan. You can build the ramp and use the shed for any projects you like. Better to put them to work than let them decay in the dark."

"I appreciate it. I'll take great care of his tools." I nod.

Simon walks into the kitchen, running a hand through his damp hair while Wally grabs his keys from the hook by the door.

"We need to hit the road, sweetheart." Wally leans in and presses a kiss to the top of her messy hair.

"Have a good practice." Vayda wraps her fingers tighter around her warm mug.

"See you this afternoon." Simon drops a kiss on her cheek.

"See you later." I step up and brush my lips against her temple.

Wally and Simon take his SUV while I grab my truck. I am glad I followed him over yesterday, keeping my own ride handy so I can head straight to the hardware store after practice.

My phone rings through the truck speakers, displaying Wally's name on the dashboard screen. I tap the answer button on the steering wheel as I merge onto the street.

"She gave you the green light on the carpenter shed. I heard her talking when we walked into the kitchen." Wally's voice fills the cab.

"Yeah. She told me I can use Hale's tools." I glance at the dashboard console.

"That's a big deal, Kel. Handing over her late Alpha's tools takes a lot of trust." Simon's voice breaks through the speakers.

"She wants us here." Wally's voice crackles over the line. "Last night was a major milestone. Sleeping with us outside of her heat proves that. Letting you use Hale's shed proves she trusts us to help provide for her and Brendan."

"It helps. But earning our spot takes time. She keeps her thoughts guarded." I accelerate onto the highway.

"She talked to me about the age gap. It messes with her head. She thinks she's too old for us." Wally's voice continues over the connection.