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“Let me get some water for Blue,” she says, leaning down to pat him.

Blue basks up the attention, his body wiggling with the force of his enthusiastic tail wagging.

Also, he can drink in the stream nearby any time he likes, but he loves a fuss and always makes a show like he is about to expire of thirst anytime Petunia fills his outside bowl.

“Good boy,” she says, giving him another pat as he laps the water down, his tail beating from side to side.

“Have you heard any news from Luna?” I ask.

“Oh yes, dear. I’m glad you mentioned it. I had a letter a few days ago. Let me get it so you can have a read.” She bustlesback into the cabin. “She had a note for you at the bottom. She’s having a fine adventure, by all accounts!”

I love hearing about Luna and her new life with her mate. She was always smitten with the big, battle-scarred orc hybrid, who, while gruff and terrifying on the outside, is sweet for Luna.

“Can you stay for tea?” she asks as she hands over the letter.

“Thank you. Yes, I would love to.”

I sit at the kitchen table as Petunia puts the water on to boil and read the letter with a smile. They now live in the capital of Imperium lands, the king’s castle, no less, where her mate is captain of the king’s guard.

A note at the bottom is addressed to me… asking me how things are going withmywolf.

Luna knows I love Jude the way she loves her mate. Only I am not like Luna who is bold and was prepared to go after what she wanted. How I miss her, her mischief, and her fearlessness.

Her personality reflects what she is: a shifter with an inner wolf.

While mine reflects what I am.

How I wish she were here to talk to. Only I already know what she would say and what she would counsel me to do.

“And who is your wolf?” Petunia asks with a smile as she pours hot water into the teapot.

I never use his proper name. He is always Wolf to me, my childhood nickname following me into adulthood. Still, there are many wolves here—it is a wolf pack, after all—and Petunia can be forgiven for not realizing who Luna refers to.

I blush as she brings a tray to the kitchen table, bearing the tea and two plates with generous slabs of honey cake.

She slides the cup of tea and plate in front of me. “Go ahead, dear.”

I cut a forkful of cake and pop it in my mouth—I groan as I eat. “This is so good.”

Petunia grins. “The least I can do, given you brought me all these fresh eggs.

“It’s no bother,” I say, aware that she asked me a question I have yet to answer. I’m thinking about how Wolf spanked me and whether it meant something to him as it did to me.

I want to believe he cares—he has always cared—but he is the pack enforcer and cares about everybody.

He knew I was aroused—he put his hand there.

But he was also disappointed with my behavior.

My brows pinch together as I grapple with the complex puzzle that is Wolf. “I don’t know if he is my wolf. I guess I want him to be.”

I take another bite of cake.

Petunia waits.

“Something happened yesterday between us. I… I think he might have noticed me.”

Petunia sips her tea before setting it back into the saucer. “I am pleased to hear that. Males, particularly those of the wolf variety, can be very stubborn.” She shrugs. “As my daughter will attest, orcs are not much better. Sometimes they need a little push.”