Page 29 of A Broody Mate for the Human

“Of your manhood as my screensaver?”

“Oh.” He wiggles his brows. “Is that an option?”

Celine groans while I’m barely able to hide my grin. I decide this is the perfect time to disappear from her office and give her and Marius their privacy for whatever they want to do or talk about.

Lunch at Moon Blood is served around twelve, which means there is still half an hour for me to spend. I decide to spend the time strolling around the pack grounds. Moon Blood is smaller than my own pack… but it’s further away from the town and has a very natural and idyllic feel to it.

I’m walking by a few cottages when something makes my nostrils blow. Pumpkin spice and ginger lie in the air. To my surprise Akio stirs in my mind, more persistently than ever.

I love cookies. Maybe someone is baking something?

Check it out!Akio urges.

I nod quietly, following the sweet scent.

Chapter eleven

Mates!

*LUCA*

Marcelhadleftforhis mission earlier that day, and I try not to feel too down that he is not here. It’s an amazing chance for him to prove himself. He and his friend Steve were the only ones from our pack chosen to go with one of the lycan princes, and it’s amazing.

So instead of feeling sad, I try to feel proud and happy for Marcel. He deserves the recognition and this chance.

To distract myself a bit, I immediately search for Gamma Garret and tell him I’d like to resume training and also that I would like to help with the new buildings. Garret is tall and muscular and quite intimidating at first glance. That is until you start talking with him and realize he is one of the nicest and funniest guys.

“Luca.” Garret beams at me. “The Goddess sent you. I had a team for planning and building the next few cottages, and what happens? Two guys find their mates and are suddenly too occupied to start work.”

I laugh a bit. “I’m eager to help.”

“Awesome, that’s the spirit. You’ll get paid, of course,” Garret tells me. “So, do you want to be involved in the construction or planning?”

“Construction,” I say. “I’m not really strong, though.”

“There are many jobs on site,” Garret explains. “I’ll make sure you get something fitting. Maybe you’d like to get into electrics and installation?”

“Is this possible?” I beam. I’d love to learn something new! My lumber work is great, but working on electrical connectors sounds new and fun.

“You really want to?” Garret crosses his arms in front of his body and looks at me thoughtfully. “Luca, would you actually like to take a class? You could learn something there, and I’ll set you up with one of the guys working on the construction.”

“I would love to,” I admit. “But I know it costs money and—”

“Expenses like these are always covered by the pack,” Garret explains. “It’s benefiting the pack, after all. So don’t worry about that.”

I can’t believe it. For months I’ve been wondering what to do so that I could give back to the pack. First, I had to finish high school, and then I thought I couldn’t do anything to help them. Now it seems like there is indeed a way for me to contribute to the pack.

For the next twenty minutes, Garret talks me through the procedures of how the training will be organized. He will run the plan by the alpha, but it’s just a technicality since she already approved it.

“And my warrior training?” I ask shyly.

Garret chuckles. “Oh, how I wish all pack members had your motivation.” He pauses. “I’ll train you, Luca. Marcel talked to me before he left for his mission. We’ll train three times a week. Two days you’ll follow a strict plan in the gym, and the other two days are rest days.” He grins. “And better not argue with me about those rest days.”

“Alright, I’ll follow your rules.” I feel my chest warming a bit at the many opportunities presenting themselves to me right now and how nice this pack is to me. First Marcel adopted me as his little brother, and now the gamma decides to mentor me too.

“You’ll see. Your wolf will get gradually stronger,” Garret promises.

“You think so?” I ask shyly. I don’t even know his name yet. We never truly met. I should have connected to my wolf spirit in my teens, but my father forced me to wear a silver collar, and all my wolf senses were suppressed.