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“Welcome home, Brother-in-law,” Marley greets me. She comes over and gives me a hug. This kid has truly turned intoa huge part of my life. I can’t understand how I ever saw her as anything other than a kid.

“I saw the wood for my bookshelf out back. I was thinking you and I can start it whenever.”

She goes back over to the veggies she was cutting.

“Marley,” Michaela scolds over her shoulder. “Enzo is busy. He doesn’t have time to build you a bookshelf.”

Walking further into the house, I make my way into the kitchen. I don’t think about where Michaela and I are in this relationship. I don’t worry about how we haven’t really discussed what happens now that she’s not in the mating heat. I think of none of that as I wrap my arms around her from behind and bury my nose in her wild curls, taking in that vanilla scent.

“Leave my little sister alone,” I tease, placing a kiss on her neck. My hands have a mind of themselves as they travel down her stomach and between her legs. I cup her center in my palm. The smell of Michaela’s arousal has me groaning. Fuck, there is no way I can still want this woman after all the fucking we did.

“You are very touchy today, wolf,”she moans in my head as I use the hilt of my palm to massage her clit.

“Get used to it,”I growl when the sweet scent of her arousal hits my senses.

“See,” Marley says. “I told you he won’t mind. You just want to keep him all to yourself.” I liked the idea of her wanting all my attention. I had no problem giving it to her.

I stop teasing Michaela, kissing her once again on her neck. I go over to the fridge and grab a bottle of water.

“Speaking of spending time with you, I want to take you camping.”

Michaela glances at me, her gaze narrowing. “Why? We live in the middle of the forest. Technically, we’re already camping.”

I chuckle at this. “Yes, but this isn’t the camping I’m talking about. I want me and you to spend a night under the stars. No distractions, just us.”

“This is perfect,” Marley sings walking over to Michaela. “If you two keep it up, I should have a niece or nephew in no time.”

I watch as Michaela’s body goes rigid. Although her outside features don’t change, the sadness and pain that comes through our link tells me everything I need to know.

“She doesn’t know you can’t have kids, does she?”

“No. She doesn’t need to know. I don’t want her to stress over something that can’t be changed.”

It’s then I notice just how much of the world Michaela carries on her shoulders for the comfort of others. She’d rather deal with her sister constantly mentioning her having kids and dealing with the pain that it causes her just so her sister isn’t upset. This woman is special.

“We aren’t trying to have a kid right now,” I say to Marley. “We have our hands too full with you.”

She sticks her tongue out playfully at me.

“Come on, show me where you want that bookshelf in your room.” I purposely pull Marley away from the kitchen to give her sister some time. Marley rushes out of the room. I walk over to Michaela once more. Turning her head toward me, I see the depths of her sadness in her eyes. She blinks, and the view I witnessed disappears. She plants a smile on her face.

“I’m alright,” she states.

I didn’t believe that one bit. Tilting her head back, I plant a kiss on her lips. Sliding my tongue against hers, I devour her mouth. When I pull away, her eyes are closed.

“We need to schedule that camping trip.” I let her go as I head into the room with Marley.

My goal is to take some of the weight off my mate’s shoulders. I don’t know how, but I was determined to make her truly happy.

chapter Thirty-three

Savior

Michaela

“Miko, don’t go too far,” Liz says to her son.

Last month was the first time I got to see the little boy in his human form. It took him a while, but he finally trusts me enough around his mama. I smile as he runs up ahead to the river that cuts through Chayton’s land.