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I couldn’t hold back a laugh at that. “Well, you’re always welcome to come visit. You can tell the assholes on the council that you’re trying to salvage the merger or something.”

“They would like it better if I was trying to convince you to return permanently.”

“I mean, you could try, but it’s not gonna happen.”

That was when we reached the atrium, where Jax was waiting for me, and everything else fell away. I stepped forward into his arms, enveloped there, safe and secure and loved.

Behind me, Minori sighed, and instead of frustration, her voice was filled with something else when she spoke. Something that sounded, to me, a lot like longing. “I know.”

40

Jax

I’d never been so far from pack before, but I trusted my people. Jillian, Seth, Maia, even Prudence, little as she was a werewolf herself, would keep everything on track until we returned.

It wasn’t like I could stand sending my mate to the other side of the world. Not for any length of time. Notalone.

Strange enough to be so far from my pack, the subtle awareness of them dimmed by distance. Oh, they were still in my head, as ever, but without being able to see their faces? Take in their scents? No, traveling wouldn’t ever be my favorite thing to do, but I couldn’t deny that Japan was beautiful, Igarashi’s property even more so.

Minori had more employees in her home than I could count, and they all moved effortlessly, providing for every need without drawing attention to themselves.

I wasn’t used to this kind of luxury.

Sure, I had money.

Now.

But this was old money, and as much as they were trying to thrust it upon him, Dakota had no interest in it, because he had us.

Nothing had ever made me feel like such a successful alpha as that.

I still wasn’t above enjoying the private bath off the room Dakota and I were sharing. I sat down first, and he lowered himself in front of me, allowing me to draw him back into the cradle of my legs.

With a content sigh, he leaned into me and shut his eyes, and for a long time, we soaked in the warm water. I rubbed his shoulders, drawing circles over the ridge at the base of his skull until he moaned.

When he smiled up at me, it was lazy and sleepy, and he turned. The water splashed against my chest gently, and he stretched up for an easy kiss.

“I think I’ll miss this part,” he said.

“I’ll get you an outdoor bath.”

He hummed. “And the food.”

“We can come back anytime you like.”

He snorted, but his smile was real, and all I wanted to do was wag my tail and give him anything he desired.

Right then, that was another kiss.

This one lingered, both of us falling into something more as tongues parted lips and my hand slid down the small of his back. I gripped his ass, and he rocked against me, his dick grinding against my thigh.

“Should we get out?”

He nodded, reaching for a towel as he rose, but he was none too fast in wrapping it around his hips, and I groaned at the sight of him on display for me.

He half turned back around, a smirk on his lips.

“Coming, Alpha?”