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PUCK

I paced the living room, fighting the urge to rip one of my brother’s heads off. My wolf had never been more on edge. He’d been riding me ever since I’d walked out on Wren.

We were usually of the same mind, especially when it came to women. He’d grown wary of females of any species after Alice, just like I had. We’d flirt and fuck but never get attached. We certainly had no interest in mating after the last go turned out so badly.

Until Wren.

I should’ve known from the beginning that the pull I felt to her was different. It felt like more . I should’ve run.

But I hadn’t. And now, my wolf wanted to go to her. He wanted to bite her. Claim her permanently. It didn’t matter that she was currently with my brother.

A light moan filled the air, and everyone in the room froze.

“Fuck,” Kingston muttered, squeezing the back of his neck .

My dick went half-mast at the sound of Wren, at the knowledge of what my brother was likely doing to her right now.

“She touched him,” I ground out, my voice tight.

Kingston’s gaze cut to me. “She did.”

“It shouldn’t be a surprise,” Locke cut in. “She’s different.”

“It’s the mating bond,” Ender said, strain wrapping around his vocal cords. “It changes things. Messes with all our minds.”

Locke glared in the assassin’s direction. “The fact that she’s our true mate just means the bond is deeper. It’s not a manipulation.”

Ender scoffed. “That’s what you think.”

“Enough,” Kingston said, exhaustion clear in his voice. “We have more important things to discuss. Like how the hell the dark mages got through our wards.”

Ender scowled. “Need to have a word with Helena about that.”

“They must’ve gotten some extra juice somehow,” I muttered, not wanting to think about exactly how because it likely meant many innocent lives were lost to feed their dark magic.

Locke frowned at his tablet. “I think we need to go the tech route with this.”

“That’s always your solution,” Ender groused.

“Because it works,” Locke shot back.

Ender pinned him with a hard stare. “Unless they can knock out your system.”

Locke stiffened. His system had only been defeated once before, and Ender’s statement was fighting words. “I’m going to create two. So, if one gets taken down, there will be another, less visible one.”

A smile spread across King’s face. “Fake them out?”

Locke nodded. “We have our normal cameras in trees and then disguise others. Pine cones, rocks, in the branches themselves.”

Ender’s face screwed up. “Why not a fake deer or two, as well?”

Locke glared at him. “It’s not like you’re coming up with any solutions.”

“We kill them,” Ender stated with finality .

That was always his answer. Go on the warpath.

“And where exactly are you going to find them?” Kingston asked. “You saw that last one disappear into a cloud of smoke just like I did.”

Ender’s back teeth ground together. “I can track him. I just need time.”

“You need a trace,” Kingston pressed. “And there isn’t one if he disappeared into another dimension.”

Ender stalked to the window as if he could make the dark mage appear by force of will alone.

“We need to do some research. Find out how we can drain the power they get,” Kingston went on.

But his words halted as a snarl pierced the air. No one braced for attack because the sound had a distinctly sexual tone.

“Jesus,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair and tugging on the strands.

The ringing of a phone brought me back from the edge—an edge where I was tempted to charge up the stairs and join Wren and Brix. Fuck.

Ender pulled his cell from his pocket and glanced at the screen. “I need to take this.” He stalked out the French doors, slamming them behind him. More like he needed some air. Just like the rest of us.

Kingston stared after him. “It’s not good for him to deny who she is to him. Not good for his wolf either.” He turned that stare on me. I read the judgment in it.

I fought the urge to squirm. Because I knew I’d fucked up. I just didn’t know how to get past the wall that would live between Wren and me—between me and any mate.

Mate.

Fucking hell. I’d found my true mate. A gift so many never got. And I was wishing it all away.

But even as I thought that, I knew I couldn’t wish Wren away. Not how she gave me shit and could kick the asses of men four times her size. Not her kindness or ferocity.

“Trust doesn’t come easy for me,” I rasped.

Kingston moved closer, clapping me on the shoulder and squeezing hard. “I know. But it should be a comfort that it doesn’t come easy for her either. Maybe you two can find it together.”

Footsteps sounded, and we all turned toward the entryway. Wren and Brix appeared, freshly showered and dressed, but I could still scent the sex clinging to them. And I’d never seen Brix look…lighter. Happier.

Wren shifted from foot to foot as she scanned the room nervously. Brix pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s okay,” he whispered to her.

Wren swallowed hard. “Everyone’s okay?”

Kingston smiled gently at her. “We’re all good.”

“I’m not.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Wren’s gaze cut to me, and I saw worry in her eyes. But I was already moving. “Can we talk?”