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As if he can hear my thoughts, he takes a step forward, only to stop abruptly and turn to Blair.

Ah, that makes more sense. Blair is keeping him in check. I've only come with them a few times now, and this is Storm's first time, though it's clear he's not fond of Ryker. I'm happy he's trying again. But Blair and Pike seem not only familiar with the location but comfortable with Ryker, which tells me they've done this a few times. More than a few, if the way Blair’s acting is anything to go by. He isn't the type to warm up to anyone fast, except Serena. She's the one exception to just about everything.

Pike whines before moving around me to stand next to Storm, and I swear my jaw about hits the ground when my brother,my twin,puts his arm around Pike's shoulder and pulls him into his side. It seems to pacify Pike for the time being, but I swear Storm's cheeks are turning red. The brother in me wants to poke at him, but after he avoided us for so long, I can't bring myself to do it right now. I missed him, and if he's happy, well, so am I. It's not like I wasn't aware of them fucking around before; we allwere. They weren’t as good at sneaking around as they seem to think they were, at least not where I’m concerned.

I can always give him shit about it later.

I just want my pack happy and whole.

Serena.

She's standing exactly where she's been, her eyes fixed on Storm's arm where it rests on Pike's shoulder. For a moment, I can't read her expression, but it only lasts a second before she melts. There's a softness in her eyes I've only ever seen from her with her mates. She looked at me like that not long ago in the library when she assured me we didn’t have to be mated for her to love me, and again when I woke up and our bond snapped into place.

I almost feel guilty. I know Serena. The fact that I was even a little bit worried about how she would react to them being together is ridiculous. She loves us just the way we are; she would never try to keep them apart...

The thought has me turning my attention to Ryker, who stands off to her side. His attention never strays from Serena. I don't need to know him to know he's got it as bad as we do and that he's also in denial. We lived like that for years, either trying to keep our feelings under wraps like me or plain out denying them like Storm.

Whatever his reason for it is, that won't last. Serena has a way of worming her way into your heart, even when you’re not sure if you have one...cough, cough, Blair and Lyle.

I know Garrett said this guy is dangerous, and I know he's done bad things, but the way he looks at Serena...

I don't think he could hurt her, even if his father ordered him to. Love makes you push limits, and even if he's got no control, I can't imagine she's in danger with him.

Serena turns back to face him, her eyes still full of love and a small smile on her face, and I watch him try to fight one of hisown, only to fail miserably. No, he would throw himself off a fucking cliff before he hurt her; I know because I feel the same way.

Serena loving you changes you, and there's no going back.

"Let's finish training." Ryker's voice rings out around the clearing, shattering the moment.

Serena purses her lips at him, glaring at him the same way she often does Lyle. Thinking of my pack brother makes my chest tight, but as I watch Ryker and Serena go back to training, throwing shadows and their bodies around, I know if anyone can save him, it's her. She's loyal to a fault, and if she believes Ryker has a way we can save Lyle, then that's what we’re going to focus on. We can deal with her collecting yet another man later. Hopefully, after she and Garrett have smoothed everything over.

Serena is panting, sweat dripping down her face, her hair sticking to it, and she looks exhausted, but damn if she still isn't the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

I can feel the rumble of my beast deep in my chest, and I'm hit with the overwhelming need to claim her, to hold her down and lick the sweat from her head before licking… well, everywhere else.

"Sol!" Serena's voice cracks, and when I look up at her, I see the heat in her eyes, the way her pupils are blown wide.

Damn it!

"We're going to work on your sharing problem when we get back to the castle." Storm slaps a hand on my shoulder hard enough that I stagger forward a step before righting myself.

"Speaking of, we should probably head back soon," Pike says, running to Serena and scooping her up in his arms to spin her around, making her giggle as she halfheartedly demands he put her down. "You smell delicious, Buns." Pike nuzzles into the crook of her neck and breathes her in. Now that he mentions it, she's all I can smell.

The scent of her arousal hangs in the air and I can’t help but breathe it in.

“Ew Pike, I’ve been training for hours don’t sniff me!” Serena pulls a face but Pike only laughs.

My beast pushes to the surface, craving his mate. All he wants is to chase her through the woods. He would never hurt her, but damn if the chase doesn't excite both of us, which is something I never would have thought twice about before she belonged to me and me to her.

"Behave!" Blair snaps, making everyone pause as he walks into the center of the clearing where Ryker, Pike, and Serena are.

My lion hisses but doesn't push back. I'm not a fan of his snake, and he isn't either. For the most part, he listens to Blair; he's never given him a reason not to.

"We have a little while before the sun rises. I'd like to talk to you about something." Blair approaches Ryker, and for a moment I see the shock on Ryker's face before he makes it carefully blank again. Aside from Serena, he seems to try and stay as neutral as possible. Or maybe he just doesn't know how to interact with us. Serena said he was pretty sheltered, and I can kind of see that.

Ryker looks to Serena, who is prying herself from Pike's arms, before he turns to Blair, giving him a nod in agreement.

"What do you know about power boosting?"