Page 4 of Aching for His Mate (The Wolves of Luven #5)

“Ritual over!” Vallie exclaimed. She had pushed her way into Domitia’s room, even though Hadie insisted it was highly inappropriate. “We’ve officially fucked the same guy!”

“Hey, me too,” Hadie added.

“And every human woman living in Luven!” Domitia quipped. Vallie came bearing a huge tray of food—thick hunks of bread, a log of herbed butter, tiny cakes, some thinly sliced meats and cheese, and sliced stone fruit. She set it on the foot of Domitia’s bed and they all crowded around it.

“Fun little club we’ve created,” Hadie said, grabbing some bread and smearing butter across it. “You know, if you didn’t bring snacks, I might have kicked you out.”

“I would have made a huge scene. Domitia knows. Also, be prepared. I plan to do the same thing when Verona gets out.”

“Thank you for the notice.” Hadie sighed. “It’s nice the group of you all got out. And now you’ll get another chance at a good life. Together.”

Domitia took a piece of cheese. “Where were you before Luven?”

“The Badlands. It’s a human territory surrounded on all sides by wolf territory. Not sure why they never took it. Probably because it’s absolutely awful there and nothing grows.”

“Well, shit,” Domitia answered.

“I shouldn’t complain. I’ve been here ten years, you’ve been here a few months and Vallie even went back to Balaur.”

“Only to get Verona! And as a bonus Natya.”

“Uh,” Domitia interrupted. “I didn’t have a shitty life before Balaur. I had a shitty afternoon that changed the course of my life, but living in the southern lands, working on the sea—it wasn’t a bad way to spend the years.” Reminiscing about life on the ocean had Domitia craving a drink. She could really have gone for a bit of alcohol. Wine or beer or a hard spirit.

“Ah yes. Domitia’s time by the sea made for good stories for us on those few quiet nights.” Vallie smiled. “And if I really couldn’t sleep, Domitia would sing to me in one of the other languages she knows. Wonderful.”

Domitia shuddered. Those days were awful, terrible ones, but now, looking back…hell, that time really bonded her to Vallie. She’d never get rid of her as a friend, no matter what happened. They were stuck together, much like they had been in Cade’s dungeons.

“Let’s take bets as to who Domitia’s mate is,” Vallie joked.

“I don’t think I have one,” Domitia countered.

“Impossible. You are too beautiful and your body is too perfect. Every wolf in there wanted to fuck you, I’m sure of it.”

Domitia couldn’t suppress a laugh. “Doesn’t matter if they wanted to fuck me. I don’t think my mate was there. No one yelled, there was no kerfuffle—just calm silence in the viewing deck.”

“Lambda didn’t make a fuss,” Vallie pointed out.

“If you say so. I think you were trying too hard to get a little something out of Alpha to notice.”

Vallie cackled. “I was! Poor Lambda. The second scent he caught off me was an attempt at coming with someone else.” She held onto her stomach while she laughed. “Oh, Alpha. Not great at sex.”

“In his defense, how could he be?” Hadie said.

“Are you saying you were into Alpha?” Domitia asked.

“Fuck, no,” Hadie laughed. “I’m saying he’s definitely trying to be as few pumps as possible. Not everyone wants to fuck a wolf with an audience.”

Vallie raised her hand as she giggled. “Too bad Lambda would never go for it.”

“I swear to god,” Domitia began, “If you orchestrate me walking in on you banging Lamdba I am going to be so mad at you.”

“Relax. I’ve calmed my exhibitionist ways now that I can have an actual wolf chase me through the woods. And then catch me.” Vallie wiggled her eyebrows.

“I know too much about you,” Domitia moaned.

“I know too much about everyone,” Hadie added. “Like, way too much. Do you know how weird it is to see your boss’ orgasm face? Sometimes twice a month?”

“Gross,” Domitia laughed. “At least Alpha gives us the gift of coming at it from behind. If he’d been like, let’s missionary style this, I think I may have laughed.”

“I would have given pointers. Like, can you roll your hips a little more? Get a hand down there? Come on, man.”

Hadie burst out laughing, and fell onto the bed beside both of them. “Vallie! What would Lambda say?”

“He’d say, Vallie knows what she likes.” She smirked.

“Hell, I wish I knew what I liked.” Hadie sighed. “The last wolf I slept with was Sigma and we were…not great together. Pretty much everyone I’ve been with has been not great with me.”

“You need to find your mate,” Domitia said slowly. “Apparently any human who ends up here is destined to be with a wolf,” she added half-joking. She was still nearly certain her mate hadn’t been at the ceremony, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t wandering around here somewhere. Maybe he was lost in the woods.

“Story of my life,” Hadie groaned. “Even before…when I was in the Badlands. Never felt right with anyone. I would really appreciate if the Moon Goddess sent my mate to Luven. As soon as possible, high priority,” she laughed. “For a simple human woman who just wants a good fuck.”

“Great,” Vallie corrected. “With your mate, it’s great.”

“All right. You two are getting sappy and I might not be allowed to shower, but I can go to sleep. So, Vallie go home and have a great fuck with Lambda and Hadie…”

“I have to stay. I’ll crash on the couch. I can sleep basically anywhere.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Domitia marveled at the couch being a “bad” place to sleep. She would have traded her food for a week for the same time on something so comfortable.

“Okay, okay, I’ll get out of here.” Vallie threw her arms around Domitia. “I’m still convinced you have a mate here, somewhere. You too, Hadie. So tonight, I bid you both sweet dreams. Dream of the face of your mate. Domitia, I’ll see you tomorrow after you are declared Alpha-fetus free. I’ll come pick you up either way.”

Domitia patted her back a few times, then let her friend go.

She changed into pajamas, pulled back the covers on the bed, and climbed in. Hadie spread a blanket over the couch and snuggled under it.

“Good night, Domitia.”

“Night, Hadie.” It was another new bed, another new place. The apartment was much quieter than the hospital. No shuffling feet down the hallway or dulled beeps from other rooms. The summer evening didn’t even have a breeze to rattle against the window.

Domitia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Sleep still came easily to her. She was warm, fed, and safe. She couldn’t ask for anything more.