“Maybe, maybe not.” Maisy ran a finger along the lines of his Wolf tattoo. “But it’s worth thinking about and giving him the option. Dontcha think?”
“Sure,” Zohar agreed, the seed planted and growing by the second.
He could almost see himself and Danko running the Pack side by side and knew they’d do a fine job. They worked well together and if he were to stay then there was no better man, or Wolf, he’d rather have beside him.
Those decisions were for another time, another day, for now all he wanted was time alone with his Maisy, his sunshine, his Angel, his savior.
“Let’s get dressed and home,” he managed to get out, his throat thick with longing, running a finger down the side of her face. “I need to be inside you, Maisy, and watch as I make you come, again and again.”
She moved her face into his touch, her pupils dilating, her tongue darting out to lick her lips as she nodded. “Me too, big guy.”
Maisy paraded back and forth, asking for the hundredth time. “Are you sure I look okay? I can change back into the black dress if you prefer that one. Or the red? You said you liked the red one but I think the red was too short.”
Zohar shook his head, amused and pointing at the mound of clothes strewn around. “I can’t believe the amount that was delivered earlier. How many outfits do you need to choose from for one night?”
Maisy stopped, hands on hips and scowled at him. “One night? It’s not just any old night, Zohar. It’s our mating party and since you've decided to stay and you’re the freaking Alpha, that means I’m going to be the Alpha She-Wolf. Do you have any idea what that means to me? It’s huge with a capital H! No wonder Gwenola sent all this stuff for me to try on. I need to look the part, especially as the Pack are used to seeing me as a scared little mouse. They’re not used to seeing the new me. The one that’s got some of your strength and that feels strong and powerful, and . . . shit, I’m gonna muck this up. I just know it!”
Zohar unfurled himself from the armchair, grabbing hold of her hands and quieting her rising panic. “Shh, stop getting yourself upset. You’ll be fine. You look beautiful, but not just that, you look like an Alpha. You were right about the red dress, it’s too short, but I like it and we’ll keep it for just our time together. The black was nice too, but it was too formal. This one is perfect, the green is a match for your eyes and sets the right tone. Not too casual and not too formal.”
Maisy let out the breath she’d been holding, asking quickly. “You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. The only thing I’m not sure about is the need for this party. I’d much rather spend some more time here, alone with you.”
“Me too.” Maisy grinned. “But we can’t stay hidden away for much longer. We’ve already been here for five whole days. The Pack is getting restless. I can feel it, Zohar.”
“I can too,” Zohar admitted.
“I’m feeling weird about leaving here too,” Maisy said as she looked around the small cabin wistfully. “This has always been my home and it feels wrong that Gwenola has moved out of the Alpha’s cabin. What if the Pack thinks we’re, I don’t know, somehow taking advantage of the situation and—”
Zohar shook his head, using a finger to force her to look up at him. “That’s not going to happen. She was very clear on this, Maisy. She doesn’t want to stay there. It holds too many bad memories for her and her girls. For us, it’s just a building, one where we can make new memories. Our own, and the Pack is not upset, of that I’m sure. Danko would know if that were the case and he would’ve told me. Stop worrying, little one, everything is going to be fine.”
“Are you certain? Things have gone so fast. With you terminating your employment with the Council and staking your claim as Alpha and our mating. Shoot, my head is in a spin with it all. I’m nervous as hell about everything.”
“Don’t be,” Zohar reiterated. “I’ll be right beside you and this is just a party, nothing more. At the end of the night we’ll just be sleeping in a different bed . . . a brand-new bed. One that Danko got for us and he assures me that you’ll love it. Whatever the hell that means. He wouldn’t tell me anything else, other than that.”
“Whew.” She sighed. “I’m glad about that. The thought of going to sleep in a bed that Jermaine used is just . . . ewwww!”
Zohar chuckled before agreeing. “Yes, indeed. I have to admit I’d been thinking along those lines.”
“Okay,” Maisy said, holding out her hand. “Let’s do this, Alpha.”
His heart soared as soon as the word left her lips. The word wasn’t one he’d ever thought he’d hear being used to refer to him. One he’d used many times in the past with a derogatory inflection and wondered if he’d done so with a modicum of hidden jealousy. He’d never seen himself living within a Pack, thought it was not the life for him . . . or did he believe he wasn’t worthy?
The latter was probably nearer the mark.
Now, with his sunshine lightening his soul, he was realizing this was what he’d craved for so damn long. A Pack, a mate, a life with a future and, hopefully, someday they’d even be blessed with pups of their own. Shit. Did he just think that?
Now that was scary.
“Zohar, are you okay? You looked kinda weird there for a second.”
Maisy’s worried voice tore him from his thoughts, tugging his lips up into a smile as he gazed into
