I can’t hug you, but you can hold me if you like.
Yes, that was exactly what I needed. I turned on my side, slung my arm over his back, and sank my fingers into his silken fur.
He chuffed. Sleep well, Cora. I’ll watch over you.
But I was already drifting away.
Rune was gone when I woke in the morning. Bright sunlight filled the room, kissing me with deceptive warmth because the frosted window told a different story.
I washed and dressed quickly and hurried downstairs to find Tor and Leif sipping coffee in the kitchen. The room smelled of the forest, and if their state of partial undress and the dewy look to their bare torsos was anything to go by, then they’d just come back from a run.
At least they’d put on joggers to cover up the majorly distracting bits, although to be honest I wouldn’t have complained about the show. I made a pointed effort not to stare at the tattoos and washboard abs, instead glancing up at the clock on the wall.
It was gone eleven a.m. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I pulled out a seat and parked my ass. “It’s late.” I yawned. “Urgh.”
“We thought you could do with a lie-in,” Leif said with a grin.
Tor poured me a mug of coffee. “There’s nothing urgent for you to do today.”
“Aside from the fact that the women of Vita Pack have invited you over for a late lunch,” Leif added. “My mother and sisters would love to meet you.”
“Mana and Holm Packs will expect similar visits.” Tor reclaimed his seat and rubbed the back of his neck with one huge hand. “They’ll want to get to know the new member of their pack.”
“Me?”
“You’re a member of our packs now,” Tor explained. “You’re our mate and we’re your family.”
Family…I liked the sound of that. “Okay, I can do the rounds.” My gaze flicked to the door, because we were missing one huge shaggy dire wolf shifter. “Where’s Rune?”
Tor and Leif exchanged glances, and it was Leif who responded.
“Rune needs to officially pick a proxy for the breeding ceremony.”
Leif looked away and Tor’s throat bobbed. This was good. A reminder of why getting too close to these guys was a bad idea. They were going to have to breed with other wolves soon. And no, it didn’t bother me. Not one bit.
I was a great liar.
But what did they mean about a proxy for Rune? “I don’t understand. Why does Rune need a substitute? Wait, how would that even work? Don’t the kids need to be primal bloodline?”
Last I’d heard, Rune and Halle were the last of the Holm Pack primal bloodline.
“Yes,” Leif said. “The proxy will be Halle. As his twin, and one of the last of the primal bloodlines, Halle will be bred to produce heirs. Rune is passing the mantle to her, and she’ll pick wolves to breed with before she picks a lifemate.”
“But…Why can’t Rune have his own children?” I looked from Tor to Leif. “Wait, are you saying he can’t shift out of wolf form?” I shook my head. “No, even if he can’t, surely he can still procreate?”
Leif tucked in his chin and slid a glance Tor’s way.
“That’s Rune’s story to tell,” Tor said gruffly. “Don’t push him, though, Cora. He’ll tell you when he’s ready.”
God, I hated intrigue, it made my stomach ache with the need to solve it. Mysteries didn’t sit well with me and secrets were one of my pet hates.
“You want some breakfast before we head to Vita?” Leif asked.
It was almost half eleven now, and if lunch was like any other meal the wolves and witches had, then I’d need to leave room to do it justice. “Nah, I’ll save myself for lunch.” I sipped my coffee. “So, how many women will be at this lunch?”
Leif winced and Tor ducked his head with a wicked smile.
I paused, coffee mug halfway to my lips. “What?”
“Vita Pack is the only pack where the females outnumber the males,” Tor said. “It’s estrogen central.”
“Mana doesn’t complain when your males need mates,” Leif retorted with a grin.
Tor shrugged a powerful shoulder. “Not complaining, just warning Cora what she’s about to step into.” He met and held my gaze. “Female wolves are extremely territorial. You may be mated to their alpha, but you’re not one of them. You’ll have to work for their respect, to be accepted. It won’t be easy.”
There was a challenge in his eyes and my pulse kicked up. I loved a good challenge.
“Nothing worth having is ever easy.” I smiled. “Besides, I’m adorable.” I widened my eyes and pouted sweetly. “They’ll love me.”
Both guys froze before their gazes dropped to my mouth, lingering on my pout hungrily. Heat rushed up my chest to hug my neck. I should break up this moment, say something, stop pouting maybe? But the wicked part of me took over, allowing my tongue to peek out and sweep across my lips.
Tor sucked in a breath and averted his gaze, bringing his mug to his lips for a hearty gulp of his coffee.
“Fuck,” Leif said. “Friend zone, friend zone, friend zone.”
God, I was a bitch.
Leif cleared his throat and stood with a scrape of his chair. “I’m gonna take a cold shower real quick. We leave in half an hour.”
He ruffled my hair as he walked past, but my gaze was ensnared by Tor and my heart pounded hard because there was ravenous hunger in his gaze, feral and primal.
I stood quickly and crossed the room to the sink to wash up my mug. Break up the tension. This worked. Normal, menial tasks.
His chair scraped softly on hardwood, and my pulse kicked up a notch. He was leaving, that was all. Please be leaving, but the delicious prickle across my nape told me different.
His heat kissed my back and my pulse quickened further, leaving me with a breathless fluttering in my chest like a trapped bird.
