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“Remind me to thank her later.”

Ignoring the dozens of people surrounding us, I take my time with Lottie. Leaning in to kiss her, tasting the flavored lip gloss staining her lips. Watermelon. The kiss is slow and unhurried as we both take what we want. Our tongues languidly tangling with one another. Lottie’s hands come up to wrap around my shoulders, digging into the short hair at the back of my head, and pulling at the loose collar of my shirt.

I didn’t want to wear something I wouldn’t want to ruin, so I chose a plain black T-shirt that’s been well-worn. I won’t care if I tear it to shreds in my lustful hurry to shift and chase my mate. My Nightingale.

We pull away, breathing heavily once we’ve both taken our fill. Lottie’s eyes are glazed and half-lidded, and I’m sure mine are a mirror of hers.

Her smile spreads slowly across her face as she inspects me, her eyes shifting from my lips to my nose and eyes, following the line of my jaw. I don’t know why she’s inspecting me so closely, but I stand motionless, letting her.

“Ginger told me there would be food,” she says coyly nibbling on her bottom lip. “I’m starved. Help a girl out?”

My chuckle is low, and I feel the budding joy growing in my chest.

“For you, my mate, anything.”

It’s the first time I’ve directly called Lottie mate, the word slipping out of its own accord, but I don’t stop it. She is my mate. Whether we form the bond tonight or not, she is. That won’t change.

She doesn’t flinch or pull away; she only smiles wider, letting me lead her to one of the overflowing tables of food.

Her appetite is big, and she tries to taste everything but grows too full. Claiming she’ll come back later for more. Hopefully, I can help her burn off her first helping. If she runs and we mate, she will definitely be hungry again later.

Normally, I would run with the rest of the pack or a female I had planned to work out my sexual needs with, without knotting, of course. Occasionally, though, a member of our family likes to run alone or privately, a section of our land is reserved for us. None of the others ever run there, even if no one decides to use it. Ryder uses it occasionally but more often thannot, he goes far out on the edges of our property line and even beyond. Liking to be on his own.

But tonight, I’ve made sure it’s known I’ll be using that area, just in case Lottie said yes. If she doesn’t, I’ll use it to hunt and burn off the strongest of the moon’s afflictions.

I think I’ve spoken to everyone present tonight, but the one person I can’t seem to find is my brother. He’s a bit of a loner, but he always makes an appearance, if not for anything other than the food. Looking around, I try to spot him. I catch sight of him near the edge of the clearing where the tree line meets the neatly manicured lawn. He doesn’t look happy, though he never does.

Leaning down, I press my mouth close to Lottie’s ear.

“I’m going to go talk to Ryder. Will you be okay by yourself?”

She turns and smiles up at me. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m not alone.”

She gestures with her head towards the gaggle of females chatting animatedly nearby. Apparently, I was so enrapt with my mate that I completely missed them there.

I incline my head with a short nod and press a kiss to her cheek before stepping away to speak with my brother and find out what the hell crawled up his butt lately.

As I get closer, I can see his rigid posture and unhappy frown.

“Your face is looking more morose than usual.”

“Good evening to you too, brother,” he grunts back at me.

“What is it with you lately? I’ve barely seen you, and you always seem to be in a foul mood. Is it because of Lottie and the mate bond?”

Ryder rears his head back and looks at me with disbelief. Offended I would suggest such a thing. But I had to check to know if me finding my mate upset him for some reason. It’s already bad enough that I’m his younger brother and becamealpha when he didn’t. Even if he’s told me that he never wanted to be alpha, it’s always bothered me.

I always felt insignificant and unworthy when he was such a great leader. Historically, an alpha has always been the eldest. I felt like I was stepping on his tail when I accepted my role as alpha. I never want him to feel that he isn’t adequate just because something beyond our understanding decided I should be alpha and not him.

“Of course not. I’m happy for you and Lottie. She’s a great girl, and Mom and Ginger already love her. Pretty sure everyone in town already does, too.”

My shoulders relax a fraction, satisfied he isn’t upset because of us, but I’m still worried about his demeanor lately.

“Then what is it? I know it’s something.”

He grinds his back teeth and clenches his jaw, letting out a long-controlled breath. It’s not like my brother to keep things from me. If anything, in the past, he’s been honest to a fault. Telling it to me straight and blunt. Lately, he’s been quiet; running off the moment he is no longer needed, and I worry why.

“You remember that blogger I told you about? Tess.”