Loving Her Alpha

6. Thunder Snow!

Later that night a clap of thunder woke Everly. She sat upright in bed. It was thunder snow! That was so rare and she had to see it! Quickly, she wrapped her ankle for support and pulled on the sweats and flannel Whitney left. She was halfway down the hallway when another door opened and Declan stepped out.

“What are you doing up?” Declan looked at Everly suspiciously.

“Thunder snow!” she explained in an excited whisper, “it’s so unusual around here. I must see it.”

Declan looked confused, “Thunder snow?”

“Didn’t you hear it?” At that exact moment, another boom of thunder crashed. “See!” she practically squealed, “c’mon. Let’s see if there’s lightning!” She started hobbling down the hallway towards the elevator.

Declan chuckled, “the storm will be over by the time you get there at your pace. How about a piggyback ride?”

Everly readily consented without even thinking. A thunder snowstorm was a once in a season occurrence, if you were lucky.

Conditions had to be just right with warmer air and the proper cloud cover to cause the storm above the colder air which caused the snow. Climbing on Declan’s back, she hugged his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder. It felt familiar, somehow. As they walked, she found herself wondering what his skin would taste like underneath her lips. She had the sudden impulse to kiss her way down his neck and whisper a few dirty words into his ear. The thought caught her by surprise and she shifted uncomfortably on his back. Was she that desperate for male attention? Declan’s grip tightened making sure she didn’t fall.

Seemingly unaware of her attraction, Declan walked briskly down the hall and the stairs, taking her through the common room to a large set of windows across the back of the house. Carefully, Declan set Everly in front of the windows in a chair he turned around so she could watch the storm. He started to walk away, but she stopped him, “where are you going?”

“The kitchen.”

She grabbed his hand, forcing him to stop, “You’ve got to stay here and watch this for a minute. It’s so cool!”

Declan seemed to hesitate, but didn’t drop her hand, “fine.” He pulled up a chair, just in time for the next flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder. The snow was coming down in swirls, the wind blowing it around. With the mountains in the background, it was an incredible sight.

“Wow,” he muttered, “this is pretty cool.”

“Told you! Nature is amazing!’ Everly exclaimed. “That’s one of the reasons I’m studying weather patterns. The power of the earth when it shakes and rattles and rumbles, it makes me feel small and reminds me that my problems aren’t that bad. I love how the seasons change like clockwork—how the light of the sun and pull of the moon make plants literally change their colors and life cycles it produces. How winter reminds us every year that dead things can come back to life and spring tells us new beginnings are expected. The whole thing … it’s just, well it’s my favorite and I’m passionate about it.”

Everly looked down at her hands, twisting them in her lap, blushing. She hadn’t meant to get so carried away talking about a storm, but her nerdy side came out and she couldn’t help it. She rarely talked about her passion for storms, but her enthusiasm was apparent.

Declan looked pensive as he stared out the window and watched the storm, “what does summer tell you?”

“That when you are patient, light and warmth always come. The softness of grass as it tickles and the sweat that drips down your back right before you jump in water—it’s what makes the harsh cold fade.

“And fall,” he pressed.

“Fall,” she sighed, “fall gives us a reprieve. It allows us permission to reset and regroup. It’s like twilight which twinkles and whispers a warm glow over your soul. Fall forces us to pause and breathe and might be my favorite of all. It's crisp and happy and full of pumpkins and apples, and Halloween, of course—my favorite holiday."

“I’ve never heard anyone describe the seasons quite like that,” Declan mused.

Everly shrugged, “I’m guessing you haven’t had many environmental engineers with an emphasis on climate change around this place. It’s literally my job to think about it.”

He laughed, “Not many, no.”

The couple sat there in comfortable silence for a while longer until the thunder and lightning seemingly passed.

“Hungry?” Declan asked, “I was coming downstairs to make a snack before this.”

“Starving,” Everly admitted. “I fell asleep before dinner.”

“I noticed,” Declan cleared his throat, “I mean, Whitney wanted to bring you a tray when you didn’t show up.” He didn’t want Everly to think he was watching for her or something, even though he kind of was. Holding out a hand, Declan helped her up,

“Think you can walk to the kitchen or do you need another ride?”

“I can walk. Any chance you guys have some crutches around? It’s a little embarrassing to be carried around,” Everly asked with a rueful smile.

Declan chuckled, “Whitney probably has some stashed somewhere. I’ll check. In the meantime, I’m making my special ‘fluffy fresh pancakes.’ My son loves them.”

“You have a son? Is Whitney your wife?” Everly’s heart unwillingly clenched at the thought.

“No. My ma … my wife died when Maddox was a baby.”

The look of anguish on Declan’s face was heartbreaking. Involuntarily, Everly reached out and squeezed his arm, “I’m so sorry for your loss. Truly.” Everly knew what it was like to lose someone you love, and she wouldn’t wish that pain upon anyone. There was another spark of static electricity again when their bare skin touched and Declan made a note to find some static guard or something.

Declan grunted his acknowledgement as he turned to grab a bowl from the cupboard. Inwardly, Everly cringed, now things were awkward. “You know what? I could go for some hot chocolate…adult style. Surely, there is booze around this incredible lodge?” She stated, breaking the tension.

Declan nodded towards a set of doors, "Yeah, booze sounds perfect. I think there's some in the pantry on the top shelf."

She hobbled over to the pantry and found exactly what they needed. There was already a kettle on the stove top, and soon the cheerful whistle of boiling water was echoing through the large kitchen.

“Peppermint schnapps or RumChata?” Everly asked Declan.

He snorted, “Do I look like a schnapps kind of guy?”

Everly giggled. He did not. In fact, he looked like a straight whiskey man. “Hmm ... maybe RumChata but with double whip cream?” she teased.

“Double seems about right,” Declan smirked, flirting just a little.

Everly didn’t respond, but blushed as she fixed up the drinks while Declan made a total mess mixing up pancake batter. Easing on a stool next to the massive island in the kitchen, she tried not to laugh at him while he cussed his way through whatever recipe he was attempting. At one point, Declan dumped the flour into the bowl with too much force and a cloud of flour billowed up and coated him. Everly almost fell off the kitchen stool laughing.

“Do you want a hand?” she gasped.

Declan looked sheepish, “Normally this goes much better for me.”

“This seems fine. Pancakes are best when the flour is outside the bowl …” she teased.

He took a deep breath, “It’s a new method I’m trying. Working great.” Declan laughed at himself. “Could you grab the butter and syrup from the refrigerator?”

After a few more minutes there was a stack of “fluffy fresh” pancakes in front of Everly. She took a bite and moaned, “these are amazing! So good.”

Declan grinned, “thanks. Cooking is a new thing for me. I’m still figuring it out.”

“Well, if these pancakes are any indication, you’re going to be great.”

Somehow, over pancakes, syrup, and hot chocolate, leaning against the kitchen island, Everly and Declan started talking. They spent the next hour chatting about nothing and everything. All the personal stuff was left out and they talked about the best meals they had ever eaten, favorite cocktail, strangest nature experience, most exhilarating hike … the conversation never paused. Soon, Everly’s eyes started to droop despite her best efforts. Declan also yawned, “guess we should head back upstairs,” he started.

She looked up at him, “Do you think … I mean … could you carry me again?” She was embarrassed to ask, but the lodge was huge and it would take her forever to walk all the way back to her room and she was feeling a little tipsy. That booze had gone straight to her head.

Declan didn’t respond, he just leaned forward and swept her into his arms. Everly almost squealed in surprise, but kept her composure and wrapped her arms around his neck like it was totally normal for the two of them. They were very close this way, which was Declan’s intent, and he found himself enjoying her closeness. Everly surprisingly wasn’t nervous and it didn’t feel awkward. In fact, she liked it. She could have been imagining things, but it felt like Declan was walking slowly, maybe prolonging their moment. She tried not to stare, but his lips were so close it was hard not to. She fantasized for a minute about what it might be like to kiss him—like really kiss him. At that moment, Everly could have sworn that Declan’s eyes were changing color or something and that he was smelling her, her arousal, because she was definitely turned on by this experience.

“This ok?” he asked, his voice lower and huskier than before.

She hummed, “Mmm hmm,” not trusting herself to talk in her flustered state.

They reached Everly’s door where Declan put her down and paused. Slowly his hand came up to her cheek as he cupped it and ran his thumb across, “you have a little flour …” he whispered. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, and just nodded. He leaned forward, but just as their lips were about to connect, there was a tiny thump followed by a wail. Declan abruptly pulled away,

“Maddox!” he explained and walked down the hallway towards a different bedroom.

Quickly, Everly opened the door to her room and stepped inside. Her heart was pounding. Had Declan almost kissed her? She wanted it, she wanted to feel his lips against hers. She imagined, for a moment, how it would feel and if it would lead to more. It had to, right? With a man as attractive as Declan, he would have certain expectations. Expectations Everly found herself wanting. Everly didn’t linger on her desire because there was a more pressing question: what was happening between them?

After Declan settled Maddox, he went back to his room and laid back in bed, staring at the ceiling. He was conflicted over the feelings that were starting to surface. Declan went from annoyed about the normal staying at the pack house to almost kissing her in the hallway. It felt like his emotions were getting jerked around and he was all over the place.

Declan couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed a conversation as much as the time he just spent with Everly. Listening to her voice was soothing and did something to his insides. Besides her scent and captivating eyes, there were no other signs she was his mate. He again wondered at their connection, it was not intense like a mate bond, but there was something. His wolf hadn’t chosen her, but their interest was piqued, and he wasn’t going to let other males have a chance to get close to her. On that fact, he and his wolf were 100% in agreement.

Earlier tonight when Jake was prepping Everly’s food, he practically growled at the warrior. Was it jealousy he was feeling? Or was it that Declan didn't want any other male to get attention from Everly? It had been a long time--too long since he had faced any sort of real emotional turmoil. After his mate died, Declan basically shut down and had been on emotional autopilot for several years. This "feeling things" was going to take some work on his part and he wasn’t even sure he wanted it.

Restless, he flipped onto his side. Everly was gorgeous. It was natural that she captured the attention of the unmated warriors. What Declan didn't understand was why it was bothering him so much. He wasn't sure he had any right to be jealous. As far as he knew, his wolf hadn't claimed Everly, the animal was just curious and interested in her. So was Declan; happiness having eluded him for so long.

One thing was clear to Declan as he carried Everly to her room, she was not a normal. Everly was a witch but she was masking her powers somehow. Declan would not have caught it if she wasn't close to him, but when he picked her up, there was the tell-tale shimmer of her magic hovering just over her exposed collar bones. He wasn't imaging the swirling eye color previously. They really did change with her emotions. It also made sense as to why he felt the energy shift in the pack house earlier. It wasn’t the storm, it was her.

Whatever magic or cloaking or spell Everly was using was impressive, which meant she was pretty powerful. Declan had a nagging feeling that her story was more complicated than she was revealing, but Halloween being her favorite holiday made total sense. It made him wonder what else was being concealed by her magic. Could her cloaking be strong enough to hide the fact that she was his mate? He had never heard of such a thing, but it might be possible. He decided to do some research into witches to get some idea of what he was dealing with.

Declan thought about confronting Everly about who she was, but he was more curious as to why she was hiding it. He decided to let it play out a little while he kept a close eye on her--something that brought his wolf joy, especially since it meant they would be spending time with her over the next few days. He wondered if Everly knew who and what he was. That would be an interesting conversation if it ever came up. Maybe that's why Everly didn't want to reveal her identity. Perhaps she was afraid Declan would be hostile to the fact that she was a witch or that her safety was at risk being within his pack.

As he drifted off into a restless sleep, he decided he wasn't interested in complicating his life by getting involved with a woman, even a woman as lovely and funny and passionate and smart as Everly. Hardening his heart against his growing attraction to the woman, he decided to focus on Maddox and the pack, while keeping a close eye on the witch to make sure she didn’t hurt the pack. Even as his eyes closed Declan knew he wasn’t being completely honest with himself, but it was the best he had at the moment.