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“My doe is very enticed by the idea,” I admit.

Seven grunts on the other side of the camp.

I want to check on him, but Wolf has my chin in his hand and tightens his hold. His lips tug up. “Only your doe?” Leaning in, he nips my lower lip until I part for him. We share a lusty kiss, one that makes me restless… that makes me wince as my pussy clenches.

“She is sore,” Seven says coldly.

Wolf stills, lifts his head, and stares down at me, eyes narrowing. “Are you?”

I shake my head.

“Fawn. I have warned you about lying to me.”

“Fine. I am only a little sore.” A blush heats my cheeks. “That would not stop… if you… if your beast needed to…”

Seven makes a scoffing noise—Wolf is still holding my chin.

“Ah, so that is what this is about,” Wolf says.

“What?” What is this about?

His grin is wicked. He tumbles me onto my back, tugs the blanket aside, and parts my thighs.

I swallow thickly, knowing already what he is going to do. It is a wolf thing, he told me previously.

I forget about my worries of taking him as a beast, but not about Seven, who I know is watching what Wolf does as he laps my sore pussy, lifting me slowly but surely toward a breathtakingly gentle climax and sleep.

Chapter Sixteen

Fawn

Today is the seventh day and my tummy is in knots. For today we will arrive at the capital of all the stag shifters.

We pack up our small camp, stowing the few belongings in a satchel I carry as I ride Wolf’s back. Blue, who trots along at our side, has nowhere near the strength and stamina of Wolf or Seven, but my brave boy has done a good job of keeping up.

As we travel, I find reasons to watch Seven as he runs ahead. The fur over his chest and throat is thick and ruffled, making my fingers itch to pet it. I probably would indulge myself if he didn’t shift to human so swiftly at the end of the day.

I’m also curious about how he can change just his antlers and whether he has yet another form… like Wolf has his beast.

I also wonder about the stag village and what it might look like. My life experience does not stretch beyond the two packs I called home and the human village, a few miles away, that I visited on occasion.

The unsettled feeling in my belly might also be due to Wolf’s constant tending, which has grained ever greater enthusiasm the nearer we draw to our new home.

Seven is stoic and rarely offers much. Maybe he is worried that we are in danger until we reach the safety of his herd. I occasionally sense his disapproval directed at Wolf and perhaps even me. I cannot say why, but I get the impression he is holding part of himself back.

Something tells me I am not ready for all of him and that it’s better for him to keep his secrets for now.

Ahead of us, Seven suddenly slows and then stops. Following his lead, Wolf stops a few paces behind with Blue at our side.

Two stags emerge from the forest path before us, trotting eagerly over to greet Seven before their gazes shift to where I ride on Wolf’s back.

I sit higher so I can better see.

Wolf suddenly growls, his head swinging from left to right.

Seven shifts to human, turning to face us. Only now do I notice the many stags peering at us through the trees on every side.

“Fear not,” Seven says, bowing. “These are members of my herd. They will escort us the rest of the way home.”