Page 26

CONNOR

When I woke up, Ash was sitting in the lounge.

A couple of hours had passed. Luna was naked, sprawled in the same position she had been in when she went to sleep as a wolf, the robe draped over her inert form.

Ash must have been in here. Still in wolf form, I crept from her side and padded into the lounge before shifting back. My clothes were where I’d left them.

“Have fun?”

“Yeah. We did.” I thumped down next to him on the couch.

“We kissed,” I said because he was waiting for it. “But she stopped. Couldn’t because of you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. It's right. She's your mate, and that needs to be completed before anything.” I paused, unsure how to bring this up, so I barrelled on. “I think you’ve been trying to guide this to be like it was with Claire. And it’s just not.”

He opened his mouth. Closed it. Ran his hand over his face.

“There is something there.”

“But it’s not the same and it’s only confusing her…all of us…to try.”

“I guess I just fell into the trap of thinking we got a do-over,” he admitted. It was there, the chance to rewrite history.

“I took her for a run. She loved it. Absolutely adored it.”

He chuckled, pleased. All wolves had a call to run, but her joy was contagious.

“You’re still vital in this family,” he said suddenly and urgently. I held his gaze and nodded, swallowed, and turned away.

“Maddie called. She goes to work tomorrow,” he added, letting the heaviness stay aside.

“OK.” It had to happen soon. We couldn’t live in a bubble up here forever, and the novelty would wear off. Three personalities would clash.

“Let’s try to have a less heavy night tonight," he said, and I had to agree. We should find out her favourite food or something.

The subject of our thoughts walked out looking adorably disheveled, tying up the robe tightly. It was like Deja Vu.

Her eyes lit up for Ash. “Hey,” she said, coming to stand by the couch. He reached for her hand, and she gave it. He kissed it—the kind of thing he never did with Claire.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Great! I read and then went for a run with Connor. Then I had a great nap,” she said, rolling out her shoulders. “How was yours?”

“Not as eventful but good. Got my stuff done. Maddie called. You’re due back at work tomorrow. We’ll drop you off on our way in.”

“Thank you.”

She came over and dropped down right next to me, in the corner, her legs bumping along mine.

“Your girl reads fairy smut,” I teased playfully.

“Hey!” she said, outraged. “That’s a popular romantasy. Everyone’s reading it.”

Ash laughed.

“I read it and nearly blushed.”

“No, you didn’t.” Now she was blushing.

“You’re right. It’s very vanilla, but Luna liked it.”

“I’m not going to stay here if you use your noses against me all the time. No secret is safe.”

I put my hands up. “Fine, fine. Just give me the book you promised, and we’ll be even.”

Ash’s shoulders were shaking with laughter. She nudged me with her foot but smiled.

After dinner, Luna was standing at the counter, waiting. We had our little routine, but tonight I wanted something better for her.

“Ash has a large flat-screen TV and a giant bed in his room. Would it be more comfortable to watch our program in there?” I floated the idea. Ash looked across at me.

“Sure.” She’d changed into her pajamas before dinner, so while she was definitely clothed, we could see a lot more now. Best to get her under the covers.

“Well, OK.” I led the way upstairs. We had spent many nights curled up here watching movies with Claire.

Luna held back while I grabbed the remote and thumped down on what had always been my side, on top of the covers—Ash behind her. I lifted the duvet. “Would you like to hop in? There’s plenty of space.” I left the offer open. She could choose. Without commentary, she hopped in.

“Do you want another pillow?” I asked.

“Yes, please.” I grabbed one from the cupboard and stacked it behind her. She was still moving carefully, but more normally now.

“Your ribs are feeling better?”

“Almost normal.” I thought she was being more optimistic than realistic, but she was healing. She was left of center. So when Ash lay down, they were nearly touching, but not quite. I lay back down on my side and turned on the TV.

I tuck my arms behind my head, keeping my hands to myself. Ash was doing the same. I wondered if it was harder for him to leave her alone. She’d accept it if he pulled her to him. They abstained for me.

The programme started with a recap of yesterday, and we turned our attention to that.

By the time the option to move on to the next episode came on screen, I realised she was asleep. She’d rolled toward Ash, his arm wrapped around her.

“She’s a snuggler,” Ash said softly, meeting my eyes.

“I can see that.” My chest felt tight; it looked like she’d always been here. I turned the TV off and placed the remote on the side table.

“I don’t understand the contradiction. The physical need and the emotional need. I want her so badly, but I want to hold her close just as much,” he said to me, to the moonlight.

“Is it bad that it feels more right, with her?” Ash asked me so quietly.

“I don’t think so.” We had always assumed that the mate bond was the highest of all orders and that it was infallible, but what if it sometimes got it wrong?

We watched her quietly for a while. Taking in the moment. One we never thought we’d have again.