Kaiden's POV
"Is she alright?" Zaire asked without looking up, stirring something on the stove that smelled way too competent for three bachelors crashing in a stranger's apartment.
I picked up the clear culprit still sweating on the floor.
"Canadian vodka," I read, whistling low. "I'm surprised she's not face-down in a coma."
Her liquor shelf caught my eye—bottles of every shape and color lined up like trophies, some vintage, some weirdly artsy. Except for the skull, everything else looked unopened. I crouched to peek in the cabinet underneath. Dust, some old cocktail napkins, and a half-deflated inflatable flamingo. So maybe not an alcoholic. Just... sentimental.
That was when my feet left the ground.
"Do you just walk into every woman's apartment and snoop?" Theodore deadpanned, holding me by the collar like I was an ill-behaved puppy.
"Well, yeah. I get paid for it, remember?" I grinned. "Force of habit, big guy."
He set me down with a grunt, and I dusted off imaginary dirt from my jeans.
"So…" I began, mostly to stir the pot.
"Shut up," Zaire and Theodore said in unison.
"What? I didn't even say anything." I smirked, satisfied. Just one word and the tension was already bubbling.
I flopped on the couch, propping my boots on the ottoman, ready to do absolutely nothing but bask in the memory of the best damn night of my life.
Until the scent of smoke hit my nose.
—
Zaire's POV
"Shit," I muttered, lunging for the stove. The edges of the soup had started to bubble too violently. I doused the pan's sides with cool water to lower the temp.
"I almost burnt the soup," I said more to myself.
"Oh no, Zaire daydreamed," Kaiden teased from behind me.
"Fuck off."
"I'd rath—"
I whipped the nearest napkin at him. Direct hit. Right in the smug face.
I left the soup to simmer and passed the headache pills to Theo. He'd know where to set them so she'd see them first. Then I headed back to our place to grab a full bottle of ibuprofen from my duffle.
"No robber would survive five steps past the threshold with those two still inside," I muttered, already halfway back.
I was gone three minutes, tops. Shifter genes. Organization. And, well… I was eager. Too eager.
When I walked back in, Theo and Kaiden had already unpacked the delivery. Pizza, creamy pasta, grilled chicken, cheesecake, and a liter of soda. The table looked full—but not full enough for three shifters.
That's when I noticed the trash bin. Something inside caught my eye: an empty pill bottle. I fished it out and read the label.
"SUC-A-BUST," I muttered.
Kaiden raised a brow. "The hell is that? Sounds like a sex candy."
We exchanged glances. He leaned closer, smirking. "Think it's hers?"
"Only one way to find out." I pocketed it discreetly.
"Man's trash…" I murmured, "…another man's treasure."
Back in the kitchen, the apartment looked too cozy. Too… right. Like we belonged here. Her place was sleek and modern—black counters, steel appliances—but chaos peeked out of the edges. A couch lined with mismatched food-shaped pillows. A neon banana lamp. A small rubber duck sitting on the TV remote like it paid rent.
She really lived in contradictions.
"Not gonna lie," Kaiden muttered. "I don't think this'll be enough."
"I can skip a few portions," Theodore said without flinching.
Kaiden grinned and pulled out a bundle of menus and flyers. "She likes 'Juan and Only's Lechon House' and 'Arabian Nights Delivery.' See the creases near the staples?"
I raised a brow. "Are you sure that second one even serves food? We might accidentally order strippers."
Theo blinked. "I'm not opposed."
"I am," I said flatly.
"Let's just order whatever," Theo said. "We're all starving."
I nodded. "Godspeed to that delivery guy."
—
Seraphine's POV
The scent of food guided me back toward the living room—like a cartoon character following a visible wisp of aroma.
Vanilla curled in the air behind me, betraying my every step. My hair was still damp from the shower, long auburn waves clinging to my back like vines. My tail, now dry and embarrassingly expressive, was curled tightly around my leg.
"Play it cool," I whispered to myself. "Just three strange, illegally attractive men in your kitchen. Nothing weird about that."
They turned when they heard me.
Zaire stepped forward with a bowl of soup, still steaming.
"I hope you don't mind me raiding your kitchen," he said, offering it with a calm, unreadable look. "Thought this might help before you dive into the heavier stuff."
My tail twitched, and I swore Kaiden's eyes followed it with too much curiosity.
"You… cooked?" I asked, stunned.
Zaire only gave a half-smile.
"Wait," I added, looking incredulously at the bowl. "With what? The quarter onion, one sad celery stick, and the lonely carrot in my fridge?"
Zaire chuckled, warm and low.
"Seasonings," he said simply.
I blinked at him. "That's it. You're staying."
Theo walked past, grabbing the door before it knocked. He turned with four more bags than expected.
"Uh…" I blinked. "Did you guys buy out the block?"
Kaiden whistled. "Just enough to avoid fighting over meat."
As I turned back, I made the mistake of looking.
Kaiden had removed his leather jacket, now in a snug black shirt that clung like sin. From where I stood, I could trace the outline of every chest muscle above the counter. His arms rested casually behind him, but they were all muscle—laced with faint scars.
My fingers itched to touch them.
He caught me staring. Smirked. Winked.
Abort. Abort. Abort.
I spun to Zaire instead. His blazer was gone too, sleeves rolled to the elbow, revealing lean forearms and the edge of a tattoo—inked and regal.
"Like what you see?" he asked, voice a deep hum.
"Yes. Very mu—"
I slapped a hand over my mouth.
He raised a brow, clearly amused.
I turned again.
Bad choice.
Theodore was in a tight light-blue tee and khaki cargos, arms loaded with food. The shirt hugged everything—the chest, the biceps, the V line that peeked above his waistband. His back flexed as he bent to set everything down.
I audibly gulped.
"What's for dinner?" I blurted, voice a full octave higher.
"Pizza, creamy pasta, grilled chicken, cheesecake, and soda, maybe more" Theo replied all innocently, not knowing the double meaning her laid out.
Kaiden grinned. "And possibly strippers if the Arabian Nights delivery misunderstood the order."
I snorted. "Can't wait to see who gets the belly dance."
They laughed.
I looked at them again. Still didn't feel real.
And yet, my tail didn't uncurl.
It stayed looped tightly around my leg like it was trying to stop me from bolting.
I failed to something shifted under the couch.
The sound was subtle. Like the drag of fabric over wood.
Three heads snapped to attention.
Zaire's eyes narrowed.
Theo raised a finger to his lips.
Kaiden was itching to move.
---