Bride (Ali Hazelwood) by Ali Hazelwood

            He hasn’t seen Ana for over two weeks, but his sister barely gives him a perfunctory hug, too busy showing Miresy and her new friend Serena the new carrier Uncle Koen bought for Sparkles.

            Lowe bites back a smile and walks outside just as his closest friend gets out of his car. “Thank you. I owe you one.”

            Koen snorts. “Bro, you owe me ten. And not because of Ana.”

            “What else?”

            “Emery has been blowing up the family chat. Among other things, apparently.” He shrugs at Lowe’s lifted eyebrow. “What? Too soon?”

            Lowe sighs and gestures him inside. “Come in. I’ll catch you up on the shitshow of the past ten days.”

            “Very excited to hear all about—”

            One single step inside the house, and Koen halts as though he just walked into a pile of bricks. His palm reaches for the wall in search of support.

            “What the hell?” Lowe stares at him with a frown. When no reply comes, he turns to study his friend. His body is vibrating, ever so slightly. His pupils contract, like they often do when a Were is on the brink of shifting. And his eyes . . .

            Lowe follows Koen’s gaze. It’s trained on a small figure crouched on the living room floor. She’s currently scratching the chin of a purring Sparkles and murmuring apologies at him.

            Serena.

            Koen’s gaze remains there for a long time, as though captured, or maybe unwilling to let go.

            “Well, well, well,” he drawls. His voice is gruff. Too deep. “I’m fucked, all right.”

            Understanding immediately dawns on Lowe.

            This, he thinks, is going to be an issue.