Nora


    The following day, I stroll into the kitchen with ke to catch Leo already whipping up some bacon an The alpha is wearing an apron over a t-shirt that sits like glue. Blonde hair is sticking in every direction "Ah, the love birds have awakened!" Leo grins. "How was it?"


    My cheeks heat up in response to his question. "You can''t just ask us that! It''s embarrassing!"


    for us.


    Leo''s whole face cracks up into a smile when he sees us.


    But don''t worry, I''m fine with that since you and I also had s*x."


    He snorts in amusement. "As if I don''t know what the two of you have been doing! I''m not a total i**** "You''re really not mad?" ke cuts in. He takes a seat around the table, looking worried. "Nora said you guys did it already, so I thought it would be fair if I had her..."


    "Agreed," Leo smiles at him while his hand finds my scalp. He messes around my hair,ughing when re at him. "You''re cute when you''re grumpy with me."


    I re harder. "I really dislike morning people..."


    "Nonsense," Leo says. "I know that you like me."


    "This morning, I''m questioning that more and more..." I mumble as I take my bacon and eggs te from his hands.


    Leo carries both his te and ke''s to the table. "Well, I''m fine, but the next time, I want to be part of the cuddling and the s*x. Now that I remember everything, it''s tough for me to stay away from you, Nora. We used to be married."


    His words make me sad. I shoot him a look across the table, studying his tanned, handsome face. "I didn''t realize you missed having me as your wife. I really had no idea..."


    "It''s not your fault," Leo tilts his head, ncing between ke and me with a growing smile. "Besides, nothing says you can''t get married in this timeline... All you need to do is defeat the remaining demons first, though. Then we can talk about the future." "Can I be part of that too?" ke asks. He looks insecure as if he doesn''t know whether or not he is epted.


    Leo, who is sitting next to him, ps him on the shoulder while keeping a friendly grin on his face. "You''re part of this group too, you know? Nora might not have marked us, but I doubt she would reject us... You''re fine with sharing, right?" ke''s eyes widen. "Sharing? Oh, yeah, I''m-"


    "Good morning!"


    We all turn our heads to the sound of Erika entering the kitchen. She stretches in the door frame like a cat and then heads to the frying pan, grimacing when nothing is left.


    "I guess I just have some toast with cheese then..." Erika mumbles to herself while finding a te.


    Bloke frowns. "She insulted my species."


    "I know."


    "|


    guess I just have some toast with cheese then..." Erika mumbles to herself while finding a te.


    "Uh..." Leo nces at ke. He doesn''t look one bit happy and stares at the table. It makes Leo grimace. "Aren''t you up a little early, Erika? You''re supposed to work the night shift guarding the city."


    She blinks in surprise. "Am I?"


    "Now you are..." Leo mutters. He is probably trying to get rid of his cousin for ke''s sake. My second mate definitely doesn''t lookfortable having her around.


    "Oh..." Erika looks confused. She blinks at the table, taking in each of us until she sees ke. "Wait, aren''t you that fairy with the ice powers? The one that defeated all the demons?"


    ke takes a deep, shuddering breath. "That would be me..."


    "Oh wow," Erika regards him with newfound respect. Her usual ice-cold gaze thaws a little, and admiration shines over her face. "I don''t usually like or respect fairies. Most fairies I''ve met are very weak little critters, but you were amazing when you fought. Tell me, do all fairies possess magic like yours, or are you someone special in the-"


    "Could you just be quiet?!" ke erupts. "I''m trying to eat a good breakfast here, and thest thing I want is for someone to waltz in here and insult my entire species!"


    Erika''s face turns pale. "Oh, I''m sorry?"


    ke doesn''t look calmer. He is still red in the face, and I blink in surprise when he pushes himself off his seat.


    "ke?" I ask worriedly. "Where are you going? What are you nning to do with Erika?" It better not be something stupid.


    Is ke the revengeful type?


    I''m not sure, but I''m concerned for Erika''s safety.


    Leo seems worried too. He pushes his chair out from the table and stands up to block ke''s way. The fairy is taller and res his nostrils at the blonde alpha.


    "Move, Leo," ke growls. The is liquid ice in his gaze. "This is between the two of us."


    Leo doesn''t move an inch. "She doesn''t remember you, dude. Erika rejected you in the other timeline, but you guys aren''t mates here, and this Erika doesn''t share the same personality. Or even the same memories. Just let it go and enjoy your breakfast, okay?" ke frowns. "She insulted my species."


    "I know."


    "Which is why I will teach her a lesson," ke says and shoots me a smirk that is highly unlike him. He looks evil. "Erika thinks fairies are weak, and so I thought: why not let her live as one for a day? Maybe then she would learn to respect us." And with those words, I see magic emitting from ke''s hands to surround Erika. She looks around in confusion, screaming when her body suddenly begins shrinking.


    "What is happening to me?!" Erika is looking around, meeting both my eyes and the ones belonging to her alpha cousin. "Leo? Why do you suddenly look taller? And gosh, what is that cramping in my legs? What did you do to me, fairy?! Something strange is happening!"


    ke snorts darkly. "Don''t worry, Erika. It''s only temporary and for twenty-four hours. You talked about fairies being weak, so surely, it can''t be hard for you to live a day as small as us."


    I gasp. "You can''t be serious, ke!"


    "Oh, I''m serious," ke meets my eyes. "It''s only temporary, Nora, and it''s also harmless magic. Erika won''t suffer any pain from this, but she better get out of the kitchen soon," his lips turn grim when his eyes size up the shrinking werewolf. Erika is a lot shorter now. "Because if you stay, there is no telling what will happen; maybe we will step on you."


    I stare at ke, but once I hear a shriek, I look at the floor. Erika is running away. She is headed for the mouse hole in the wall, which hasn''t gone unnoticed.


    ke tries to rush forward, probably to grab her, but Leo stops him by pressing a palm into his chest.


    "You had your fun. Now let Erika suffer alone," Leo says. "You said one day, right? Let her handle that herself."


    ke appears shocked. "You won''t try to use your magic to turn your cousin back into her normal size?"


    "No," Leo replies. "Erika needed punishment for sending those men into their death anyway, so this will be it," he raises his voice, probably so Erika will hear it. "Try to stay alive for twenty-four hours, Erika. If you manage that, I will let you keep being my beta." "And if not?!" I exim in a fit of rage. "You can''t just expect Erika to not get hurt at that tiny size!"


    Leo''s lips curve into a smile. "I sometimes dream about the future, too, Nora. So don''t worry-Erika will be fine-this life lesson will help her find the person she is meant to be with. Everything serves a purpose."