After what felt like an eternity, we pulled up to her house. It was cozy, warm lights glowing from the windows, and I could already feel some of the weight lifting off my chest just by being away from the nightmare I had left behind.
“You can crash here for as long as you need,” Mia said, giving me a soft smile as she parked the car. “We’ll figure this out, okay?”
“Thanks,” I muttered, still trying to piece together everything that had happened.
We headed inside, and Mia led me to the guest room where I could drop my things. I barely paid attention to my surroundings, exhaustion starting to creep in, but Mia’s place was a far cry from the empty, cold house I had just left.
“Get some rest,” Mia said, giving me a hug before heading to her own room. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
I nodded, grateful but still numb. I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a restless sleep.
***
The next morning, I woke to the smell of something delicious wafting through the house. For a moment, I had forgotten everything that had happened, the scent luring me out of bed and toward the kitchen. As I rounded the corner, I saw a tall, muscular guy standing at the stove, casually flipping pancakes.
“Oh, hey,” he said, turning to look at me with a warm smile. His dark hair was messy in that effortless way, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “You must be Lila. I’m Ethan, Mia’s cousin.”
He was... well, undeniably handsome. Like, *alpha wolf* level handsome. My mind was still half-asleep, and I couldn’t help but stare for a second before I snapped myself back to reality.
“Uh, yeah,” I mumbled, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Lila.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ethan said, his smile never fading. “Pancakes? I made a ton, and Mia’s still dead to the world.”
“Sure, thanks,” I replied, sliding into a chair at the kitchen table. I felt awkward, sitting there in my crumpled clothes from the night before, but Ethan seemed completely unfazed, whistling softly as he plated the pancakes and set them in front of me.
“Hope you like them,” he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “I figured I’d cook while I’m spending the week here.”
“Oh, you’re staying here?” I asked, trying to make small talk despite the fog in my brain.
“Yeah, I needed a little break from pack duties. Figured Mia’s place would be the perfect hideout.”