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Serena’s fingers dig into my shirt, her legs gripping me like she’s holding on for dear life, and I feel more than hear her sniffle.

Crap, I hate it when she cries.

It’s literally one of the most heartbreaking things, and there’s nothing I can do about it. So I do the only thing I can think of and hug her tight. Tight enough that I’m worried I might crush her, but if she has a problem, she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she presses a kiss to my neck that makes my toes curl and my beast begs to be let loose.

In the end, I manage to keep him at bay, but I’m pretty sure I’m not only sporting a tail but also wolf ears now.

Asshole wolf.

“Losing Lyle hurt all of us. He’s like my brother, a member of our pack, and my friend, but he’s more than that for you. Watching you lose him, seeing your heart break, it’s been…” I struggle to think of a good way to describe it; nothing feels like enough, like a good enough way to describe how terrible it’s been. “Devastating. If there’s a way to help him, to save him and bring him back to us, I’m all for it. Tell me what I need to do, and I’m down. I’ll never turn my back on him. If that means trusting the villain’s murderous son in the woods after dark—“

I snap my mouth shut, cutting myself off because that sounded better in my head.

“I mean, I don’t really know he’s a murderer, that's just what Garrett said—” Nope, not better.

“You know what, you get what I’m saying even if I’m doing a terrible job at it. Anything you need, I’m right here, always have been.” I press a kiss to the top of her head and feel her relax a bit in my arms. “Always will be. You’re stuck with me, Buns.”

Serena pulls back enough to meet my eyes but doesn’t make any attempt to get down, and I can’t complain. I love the feel of her in my arms, against my chest, her skin on mine, or her fingers in my fur.

I’ll take her anyway I can have her.

The thought has my beast pressing harder, trying to force me to shift, but I fight him. He’s had more than enough cuddles and time with her the last few weeks. It’s my turn.

Serena stares at me for so long I wonder if maybe I’ve done or said something wrong, but before I can ask her, she’s moving, leaning forward until her lips brush against my cheek, just barely catching the corner of my mouth.

Shit.

She tastes delicious. If my beast wasn’t trying to break free before, he sure as hell is now. It takes effort, but I manage to control both of us as she pulls away and then attempts to get down. Instead of letting her go, I pretend like I didn’t notice and simply head back the way we just came, back to the clearing where Blair and Ryker are no doubt waiting for us, even if I can’t see them anymore. It won’t be for long, but I’ll take every second I can get, and I’ll be whatever I need to be for her.

For our pack and our future, because without them I’m just a lone wolf, and I’m not sure I’d survive without them. I know for sure I don’t want to.

We make it back to the clearing, and just like I thought, Ryker and Blair are waiting. They aren’t standing so close that they look friendly exactly, but they also aren’t so far apart that they look like they’re avoiding each other. Looking them over, I kind of get the feeling they have similar personalities, ones that aren’t the friendly, cuddly type.

Boo.

Reluctantly, I let Serena slide down my chest so that her feet are once again on the ground. It takes me a second to actually lether go, though, which makes her shake her head, but she doesn’t say anything, instead slapping my chest before she turns away. I’m left following her like the mutt they claim I am.

“Oh, do I get to meet the murderer?” I ask, seeing we're headed in Ryker’s direction.

Serena stops dead, turning to glare at me with enough heat that I take a step back as I realize that was the wrong thing to say.

I really need to watch what I’m saying, or she might just kill me yet.

Skidding to a stop, I put my hands up and pray for mercy.

“I wasn’t trying to be rude, I swear.”

“I’m not sure there’s a way to say that and not sound rude, Pike,” Serena hisses, and yeah, she’s got a point.

“Maybe try staying quiet and letting them train, or you could always head back to the castle instead.” Blair also sounds less than amused, though that’s pretty normal for him. I’m not surprised he’s here with her. I swear that guy is like her shadow, always watching and ready.

Though I guess Ryker is the shadow one now. Well, him and Serena.

“It’s fine. Let’s just get back to training. We don’t have long before the sun comes up.”

Serena turns back to Ryker, but he’s already turned away, headed for the center of the clearing. Her face falls when she’s met with his back, and I’ll be damned. Maybe he is more than just a murderer after all.

Last night went about the way I expected it to. Serena was worried about Pike, but I knew better. Pike would never do something to upset her without a damn good reason.