A Pack Of Vows and Tears

eneration hadn't used it, more girls would've been

"Then I'm happy it was used, because I don't wan

of his legs over my lower body and settled on top, bracing himself on his forearms. As he dipped h

at much of a tem

me. "Just like a thunderstor

re that's a

hispered, "From a man who loves storms, it is the greatest compliment."

I

I checked the time on my phone: six-thirty. The meager hours of sleep I'd g

de the circles beneath my eyes. I had my mother's eyes-cornflower blue-but whe

and tucked my comforter. I hoped no guests had come down for breakfast yet. I was sure we had the basics, but without Evelyn, the offerings wo

r the door, and the scent of caramelizing onions clung to the air. Was my uncle making himself a snac

lips arched up.

d enough to make me stumble forward. I cau

e shook her head, and her bottle-black hair danced over the apron protecting her jeans and red t

the back of the kitchen, I checked over my sho

pent th

lids, and it clattered lou

allen lid, she added, "I am not

hroat. "He-but

e grabbed both my hands. "Querida, you are almost eighteen. You are allowed to have sleepovers with boys. Just p

aper-the night of the engagement party when I'd stopped by his place and he'd let his bestial nature override his human on

cked over my face. "Nes

"You don't need t

bout you. I love you t

y teeth, trying to stop my canines from sharpening. I longed to visi

bear her pain in silence. She'd never complained about the arthritis that lock

ENT OFF WIT

was, and I mentioned she'd gone after her heartbroken son. Emmy shot me a pained smile. She'd worked long enough at the inn to b

rew his drapes open and tried to coax him out of bed to eat, but he didn't move. I checked his pulse

n charge of the inn today. The responsibility tightened

be

ld ma

emporary. A day.

. I tried spacing out my br

d I realized that working on my breaths

ng wasn't stress