Page 119 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)

AUDREY

I woke to soft kisses against my jaw and a growing sense of unease, even as warmth and affection flowed through our mating bond.

“You have to go,” I mumbled, understanding that he couldn’t stay inside any longer but still disappointed that he wasn’t waking me up for more sex like he had the last time.

Of course, after the hard sex at the beginning of the night and the slower, drawn-out lovemaking when the Sisters were high in the sky, I wasn’t sure my body could handle another round.

I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to walk normally and not give away the fact I’d had mind-blowing sex with my mate… not that I needed to hide that, but too many people were looking at me as it was and I didn’t want to give them more to talk about.

“I do,” he rumbled, his warm breath feathering across my cheek as he tightened his grip around me.

I snuggled back against his chest and breathed in his rich wood smoke scent, not ready to open my eyes and watch him leave.

I wanted to stay in Whil’s greenhouse forever, lying on the soft mattress covering the floor, warmed by the hot stone in a metal bowl, covered by a light sheet, and wrapped in his arms.

“I don’t want you to go.”

“Neither do I, but I—” Fear blossomed in our bond and I sent my love back to combat it. And somehow, even though I didn’t fully know him yet, I really did love him.

“I understand,” I told him. “It’s alright.”

Reluctantly, I cracked open my eyes, surprised to see the sky lightening and an early morning mist clinging to the gardens beyond the glass.

“You stayed the night,” I gasped, rolling to face him.

“You steady my soul.” He brushed his lips against mine in a tender kiss. “I can last longer in Whil’s greenhouse than any other structure, but usually not more than five or so hours.”

I kissed him back with more heat. “Thank you for staying the night.”

“I’d stay every night with you if I could. But Whil won’t agree to that.”

I cringed, heat spreading across my face. I hadn’t been quiet during our lovemaking, had just let go for once, too caught up in the moment. Whil had to have heard everything?—

Oh my God! She had to have heard me beg Knox to fuck me harder.

My hot face turned into an inferno with embarrassment and to top it off, Knox had torn my clothes to shreds and I was going to have to do the walk of shame back to my suite in a sheet.

Except it wasn’t a walk of shame. Knox and I were bonded mates. We were expected to have sex, a lot of sex, especially in the beginning when we were still getting used to the bond.

Then a new thought struck me. “Is it just Whil’s greenhouse that gives you extra time indoors or all greenhouses?”

“A couple of our farmers have greenhouses,” he said with a chuckle, probably laughing at the color of my face. “But I’ve never stayed longer than an hour in any of them.”

“But could you stay longer if you had the chance?” I asked, shocked at how simple the solution was for us being together. If, of course, I could get over the fact that anyone could walk by and see us having sex.

Maybe getting the pack engineers to figure out one-way glass was my first priority. Except I had no idea what went into making one-way glass. And, on top of that, it would have to work with the lights being off and on, and I didn’t know if even the glass in my realm could handle that or if Knox could even withstand the tinted glass like he could the regular glass.

Maybe it would be better just building a very tall garden and hope for the best. But if the pack was talking about me now, someone would surely jump at the chance to watch me and Knox going at it. Probably a lot of someones.

“We need to go up!” I gasped.

Knox huffed even as his lips quirked in a barely-there smile. “What are you talking about?”

“Building us a greenhouse.” I turned my attention to the Residence’s towers peeking out between the trees. “Is there access to the Residence’s roof?”

But as soon as I asked that, my excitement soured. It didn’t matter if we could build on the Residence’s roof or not. It would cost money and I’d need Cyrus’s permission. He could easily deny me as a way of reminding me of my place. Knox had been getting along just fine without a greenhouse bedroom, and I, as a weak shifter, was supposed to accept my alpha’s and mate’s way of life. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t shift and was more vulnerable to the elements.

“Audrey,” Knox growled, dragging my attention away from the ruins of a possible great plan. “It’s a good idea.”

“But it’s too much. I haven’t shown anyone that I deserve it.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he snapped.

I jumped at the sharpness in his voice and instinctively started to make myself smaller even though the action frustrated me and I knew Knox wouldn’t hurt me.

“Shit.” Panic swept through the bond and he cupped my face in his large palms. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I’m not angry with you.”

“I know,” I replied, my voice frustratingly small. I nuzzled against his neck, seeking comfort from him to steady my soul. “It’s a habit. I can’t seem to break it even when I’m around you.”

Probably because I couldn’t break it around Cyrus and the majority of the pack.

“Bishop would say it just takes time,” Knox huffed. “But I’m still waiting.”

The unease radiating through the bond increased and he growled in frustration.

“Go,” I told him, not wanting to be the reason he was torturing himself. “I’ll be okay.”

“Bishop is on his way with breakfast and clothes. I’ll stick around until he shows up, then I have to report to Deacon about the hunt.” He rolled away from me, got up, and strode out of the greenhouse as if he couldn’t stop for a second.

I gathered the sheet around me, tapped the side of the heating bowl to deactivate the hot stone, and followed him outside.

“What are you doing?” he asked before shifting into his wolf form, all the stress and discomfort from being inside melting away as he gave into his wolf nature.

“If you’re sticking around, we might as well sit together.” I sat on the shallow step in front of the greenhouse’s door and Knox settled beside me, a furry heater that smelled like love and safety and home.

Knox rumbled, the sound vibrating through my body, relaxing me even more, and just like our desire, our contentment fed off each other, making me feel, just for a moment, as if I were completely safe and had the space to figure out who I was.

I didn’t want the feeling to end, but I knew it would the moment Knox left. “Will you come back after talking with Deacon?”

“Until you and Bishop leave for the festival,” he assured me, reminding me of how nervous I was to go to the festival and how excited Bishop was to show me.

But it was bittersweet because Knox couldn’t join us.

I quickly shoved that emotion back and focused on my excitement. I didn’t want Knox to feel guilty about not being able to come to the festival with me. I’d promised I’d accept all of him and I would. We would have our own special moments together. Perhaps, once I’d proven my usefulness to Cyrus, we’d have them in a greenhouse bedroom where he could stay the whole night.