Maisy slapped his chest, giggling. “What? Send you away when you were right there, all naked, and showing me this glorious body? Damn, there was no way that was going to happen.”
Zohar grinned, pulling her closer to kiss the top of her head as she asked, “How do I pronounce that second one? The Angel one I think I can just about manage, but that other one is a bit of a mouthful.”
“It’s easy, once you know how,” he replied softly. “It’s solnishko moy.”
Maisy repeated it, slowly. “Solnishko moy. It’s beautiful when you say it. Not so much when I fumble over it.”
He shook his head, disagreeing. “You sound adorable and I’ll teach you how to say it properly. It just takes a little practice. So, what do you want to do now?”
“Can we go back to my place? I want to continue what we started here, but I’d like to try it in a bed next time.”
Zohar chuckled as he rose, picking her up easily. “Certainly. I just need to check in with Danko that he doesn’t need me.”
“Oh, sure.” She nodded. “If you need to work, well . . .”
“I’m not going to work,” Zohar told her firmly. “But I just need to make sure there’s no trouble brewing. I have a feeling that Jermaine might still try to get his hands on the cash he left here and I don’t want the Pack in danger.”
“Of course.” Maisy looked around them, shivering. “If he does come back, this is where he’ll do it. The forest is the easiest way to get to the camp without being seen.”
Zohar couldn’t stop the snarl that lifted his lip, his fangs descended at the mere thought of a threat to his mate as he looked around, scenting for anyone nearby. When he found no evidence of Jermaine, or anyone else, he relaxed slightly, but only just.
“We need to get you back.” Zohar held her hand as they started to walk back, opening his link to Danko. “I’ll be back in camp soon. Is there anything that requires my attention?”
Zohar scowled when laughter flowed through the link, his friend taking several moments to form words.
“Wow, you actually did it. I didn’t think you’d win her over so quickly, Zohar. By the way, the entire Pack heard you so don’t think you can sneak back in as if nothing’s happened. Gwenola is already organizing a party, but she said she’ll give you two lovebirds a couple of days to, wait for it, and this is her words . . . ‘get to know one another before she throws the party.’”
Zohar groaned aloud, Maisy looking up at him and asking. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Nothing, I’m talking to Danko and it appears the Pack is aware of, well, us, and Gwenola is taking it upon herself to, shit, throw a damn party.”
Zohar stopped, grinding his teeth so hard his jaw cracked. Maisy’s hand tightened in his, her voice soothing with a hint of humor. “I see, well, that’s the usual thing to do in these circumstances, but I can see that’s not exactly thrilling you. I can talk to her and tell her not to bother. We don’t need to have the usual mating party, Zohar.”
Danko chuckled again in his head before goading him again. “So, are you ready to take your place as Alpha and show the Pack their new Alpha female?”
“Shut the fuck up, Danko, or I swear I’ll kick your ass when I see you.”
“Hey, I’m just saying.” Danko grumbled. “You’re acting Alpha and you’ve just taken yourself a mate. You need to figure out what you plan to do, my friend.”
The enormity of everything crashed down on him, causing another strangled noise to break free. “If you don’t need me just leave me be for now.”
“I’m taking care of everything. You look after your mate and figure out what you plan on doing with the rest of your life. Maybe, now you know there’s more to life than being a damn Enforcer, you’ll think of living outside the Council and get a life. Over and out.”
“Zohar, what’s going on?”
Zohar shook his head, trying to clear it. “I’m just realizing how this changes everything.”
Maisy’s face lost all color, her eyes dropping to the ground. “You think you made a mistake. Don’t you? You didn’t realize what having a mate meant and now you regret it.”
Her voice shook and she tried to remove her hand from his but he held firm, refusing to allow her to pull away. He did, however, admit his feelings. “I confess I didn’t really think things through. But I do not regret what we did, what I did. You are my mate, Maisy, there’s no denying that. I just have to figure out what I want and how to get that. However, what’s more important to me is what you want. So, why don’t we discuss that on our walk back to camp?”
Her head popped up, surprise evident in her gaze. “Really? You don’t regret our mating?”
“No,” Zohar answered firmly. “There’s many things I regret in my life, but this is not one of them.”
Her smile sank deep inside him, sparking a light that seemed to ease the darkness he knew dwelt there. Damn. Maybe that was the Goddess gift to him. Not merely sending him a mate . . . but one that could illuminate his very soul. The belief that was possible was like a ton of bricks had been lifted from his shoulders, even if it hadn’t happened . . . yet.
No. He still felt it deep inside, but the possibility was there and that would do for now.
“Maisy, tell me, what do you want? Do you want to stay here? Or leave?” Zohar asked, and for the first time he thought of a life away from the Council. Of not being an Enforcer, of living as a true Wolf, or rather . . . as
