I flipped my pad closed and went across the hall. Esme’s door was open, and she was in her closet changing. Nothing but leggings and a bra at the moment, and I took her in. It was more than just her scent I was falling in love with, it was her.

These instincts we had weren’t always easy. I didn’t know anyone who found scent-sympathy the way we had where it hadn’t worked out—if you defined working out as being a pack—but happiness wasn’t a guarantee. I knew it well. All I wanted was for Esme to be as happy with us as we were with her, and I thought she was getting there, but I still craved the assurance more than anything. “Can I come in?”

She glanced over at me and smiled. “Of course.”

“Did Eva mention to you she had an idea for a tv show involving the studio?”

Esme frowned. “I think she did. What’s going on?”

I sat on the edge of her bed. “Nothing yet. I just wanted to make sure you knew in case it was mentioned.”

“Eva’s already meeting with Ben about a tattoo. I know that much.”

“This might be part of that. A way for her to break out of the image she has.”

Esme laughed. “Yeah, she does want a change. Both of our lives would be easier if we could just switch our public perception.”

Tossing on an oversize t-shirt, she came over to me, and I loved the sight of her so comfortable. She might not even realize she was doing it, but she was making herself at home. “Rylan told me how you guys found each other last night.”

“I got lucky.”

“Yeah.”

I leaned back, lying down, and she followed, curling on her side toward me. Unable to help myself, I tucked a strand of her air behind her ear like the last time we’d lain like this, when she was in pain and trying to send us away.

“All of us are happy you’re here. You know that, right?”

She nodded slowly. “I’m happy I’m here too.”

“Even when I give you up to Kade?”

“Even then.” The way she bit her lip made me want to taste it. “I’m still curious about how you found them. I know you went in for an interview, but before that?”

Settling my hand over her hip, I moved us closer together. “That’s not really a happy story, sweetheart.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. The short version is, I didn’t come from the same world you do. Or Ben and Rylan. Kade’s a little closer. Avery is somewhere in between.”