“If your butt isn’t out of bed in five minutes, I swear I’ll pee in your closet again.”
I shot out of bed, a strangled cry of “I’m up! I’m up!” as I rushed to find my clothes had Simon cackling from the other side of the door. I grumbled under my breath as I pulled pants on as quickly as I could without toppling over, hurrying to brush my teeth before Simon grew impatient again. A face-full of breasts greeted me the moment I opened the door. I jumped, surprised, but immediately hugged Lola back.
“That’s what you’re wearing?” She fretted, fingers smoothing out my hair and tugging my shirt into a less rumpled state. I didn’t mind, I knew she was just trying to help like she always did.
“Thanks mom.” I murmured, leaning up on my tiptoes to kiss her cheek. Her face melted into a fond smile and she squished my face once before released me. I scuttled by her, Simon materializing from the dark to clutch my arm and drag me away.
Simon released me and I stumbled from the harsh stop, falling forwards into Max’s waiting arms. I looked up, face hot, and smiled sheepishly. Simon snickered, but Max just leaned down to press his lips into my hair. I sighed, relaxing into a puddle as he swung me up into the air. I giggled, latching onto him in an octopus hold as he spun once.
“Y’all done being gross?” Simon asked, arms crossed. I ducked my head but Max just nuzzled my head.
“Aww, you don’t like this?” Max cooed in a falsely sweet voice, pressing loud kisses to my face. I whined, wiggling to escape. Simon sighed, drowning the sound in as much annoyance as he could.
“Max.” I said, smacking his forearms to get him to knock it off. He smirked and set me back down on my feet. Simon slouched over, shooting him a sour look as he slipped his hand in mine. I beamed, making a grabbing motion for Max. He didn’t make me wait.
Swinging my arms in excitement, both of my hands held tight, I couldn’t help skipping between them as we walked. Max had promised we could all spend a day together, Simon insisting he wanted to go swimming while we were “lovey-dovey”. Slung over one shoulder was a day pack of picnic supplies and swimsuits. I hadn’t been swimming before, butterflies fluttering down my throat as we brushed through grass and flowers and sunlight.
Cheering loudly, Simon dropped my head and streaked towards the stream. I laughed, but the sound quickly caught when Simon let out a war cry and jumped. I choked, eyes widening in shock as Simon curled into a cannonball and splashed into the river. Laughter bubbled out from my chest as I doubled over, stopping in my tracks.
“Someone’s in a good mood, huh?” Max teased, sliding the bag off his shoulders. I blushed, pressing a hand over my mouth and nose to stifle the giggles. Before I could stop him, he lifted me from the ground as Max rested his hands snuggly under my thighs. I squeaked and quickly gripped at his shoulders to stop myself from tumbling backwards, Max burying his nose into the soft skin of my neck as he too chuckled.
“Boo.” Simon hissed from the water, looking like a drowned cat with his royal blue hair plastered to his forehead. Flushing to my roots, I pushed at Max’s chest as I tried to hide my face. “Take your love and happiness somewhere else.” Max snorted, still pressing his mouth against my skin.
Whining, I wiggled form his grasp and back onto the ground. Hunching my shoulders and dipping my toes into the dirt, I turned away to pout. Watching Simon slide smoothly through the lazy current, I pretended to not notice Max set up the picnic and began to set out food as to entice me from my sulk.
After being cooped up for so long inside, I could feel tension I didn’t know I had melt away. Tilting my head back so warmth shined through my closed eyelids, feeling warmer than I had in awhile. I knew he didn’t mean to, but being busy as the Beta, Max didn’t always have time to be around but he promised that it’d get better soon. I didn’t realize that meant retiring. Max had stepped down from his position with an honorable release, Alpha approving his dismissal easily when he explained. It still made my stomach flood with warmth when I thought about how he was willing to do something so big for me. It wasn’t uncommon for wolves to settle down into a more calm position in the pack to watch over their families.
I let out a shriek of surprise when a cool splash of water snapped me from my thoughts. “Simon!” I shouted as he burst into wild cackles, almost slipping and falling under the calm waters. I huffed and hurried back to where Max was still sitting, opening his arms in anticipation of a pouting hug but I rushed past him to throw my shirt off. The other two had left their swimsuits in the bag but I’d put my on with a shirt since I’d rushed to get dressed and didn’t want to worry about grabbing my shorts and my trunks.
Max made a grumpy noise, so I swooped in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before tumbling my way to the river. Simon scrambled to get out of the way as I took a running jump. I couldn’t help the laughter that burst from my lips the moment I resurfaced, rubbing my eyes clear and squinting into the sunlight. Simon’s shirt clung to his chest and I couldn’t believe he was swimming in jeans, but I couldn’t stop the giant smile spreading across my face.
“Alright you monsters, I’m eating now.” I wrapped an arm around Simon’s neck and hauled myself onto his back, using him like a stepping stool to pull myself back onto the grass. Simon huffed and shoved me off him, my wet skin flopping awkwardly onto the ground. Simon stuck his tongue out and dove under the water to do whatever he did when no one was looking.
I scrambled over to plop myself into Max’s lap, dripping trunks and all. Max groaned and tried to hold me at an arm’s length away but one jutted lip and fluttered eyelashes had him scowling and letting me get him damp. Once I was comfortable, I helped myself to a sandwich, grinning between large bites. Sighing, Max just rubbed a hand over my tummy as he served himself lunch. Tilting my head back, I thanked him for the afternoon and I could see the exact moment his heart melted because his lips twitched into a soft look and he pressed a kiss to my nose.
“You’re welcome, pup.” My nose scrunched up at the nickname but didn’t protest.
We ended up staying out there until twilight lit the sky with orange and amethyst, the three of us hurrying to the warmth of the den as the sun kissed the night hello.
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