Page 42 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)

BISHOP

Audrey’s eyes slid shut and she went limp in my arms, fast asleep. My bowl started to slide from her fingers, and I caught it and set it on the ground before she spilled it.

Aaaaand she’s out, Deacon said in my head with a chuckle. I’m actually surprised you didn’t have to force her to stay awake to eat, too.

Cyrus grunted at that, probably pissed that he’d been forced to make her eat in the first place. He didn’t like to use his power like that, but she’d been falling asleep before the rabbits had even finished cooking and, like me, he probably doubted she’d stay awake long enough to start dinner let alone finish it.

How much did she manage to eat? he asked, his tone clear that if he didn’t think she’d eaten enough, he’d wake her again.

Not enough considering we walked all day and are going to walk most of the day tomorrow. She sighed and shifted against my rock-hard cock, snuggling closer.

I gritted my teeth and fought to keep my promise to her. Just because I said I wasn’t going to do anything didn’t mean I didn’t want to. And with her delicious, seductive scent filling the air around me, it was getting harder by the minute — my cock as well as the effort to resist.

We can put the leftover rabbit in some oatmeal in the morning, I said, trying to keep my mental voice calm and not give away how much she was affecting me. I was sure it was obvious to everyone that I was attracted to her, but I didn’t want Cyrus to worry about me being distracted. He had enough to worry about already.

Deacon, still in his wolf form because he and his hunt team would remain as wolves for the entire hunt unless necessary, stared at me.

You sure you want to take her north? From her scent, she’s only days away from a full heat. His golden gaze dipped to her and I instinctively tightened my grip. My wolf and I needed to protect her even if Deacon wasn’t a threat.

It was obvious she was struggling with the journey already even though she hadn’t complained. After lunch, her pace kept getting slower and slower and her gait had become uneven. Without a doubt, if she wasn’t in pain now, she would be in the morning.

With the strength of her heat already, I doubt just holding her is going to be enough to get her through, Deacon added.

It might be more effective than you think, Cyrus replied.

Deacon snorted. That sounds like wishful thinking. You best make your situation clear to her so she doesn’t get the wrong idea.

She won’t be getting the wrong idea, Cyrus growled. I’m not sleeping with her. He turned to me and frowned. Did you see her reaction to your soul steadying hers? It’s like she’s never been held before. A ripple of power slipped his control, revealing his frustration, and he yanked the last two rabbits from the spit. We deal with that and she’ll be fine.

I doubt that, Deacon huffed. If no one has held her before, she’d be insane— well, more insane than whatever that fantasy tale was that she was telling Bishop, so someone has obviously held her. Jeez, Cyrus, this isn’t like you.

Would everyone stop telling me what I think or feel, he snarled back. I haven’t suddenly forgotten my duty to the pack.

Then why the hell do the three of you have to be the ones to personally see her home? Deacon demanded.

Cyrus growled and I clenched my jaw. Knox had been adamant about not telling anyone other than Whil what had happened, but given that we were going north into dangerous lands, Deacon wasn’t going to be happy with a “just because” explanation.

He’d probably also been hounded by Nova to get the truth before we parted ways tomorrow afternoon. And while those two were the most laid-back betas on our team, they were the least likely to accept “just because.”

Fuck, Knox snarled in my head. He wasn’t as involved in the day-to-day running of the pack, but he still knew our betas and knew Deacon wasn’t going to give up. We’re not taking her home. Somehow she mate bonded with me without either of us saying the vows and Whil thinks there’s a way in the northern death god’s realm to break it without killing either of us.

Deacon’s gaze jumped to mine then across the fire to Cyrus. You’re shitting me.

Cyrus met his stare.

The fire crackled and popped then popped again.

Holy fuck! He burst out laughing, his wolf chuffing while his mental voice roared through our heads. That’s god-level fucked up. If she was going to manipulate any of you with a love potion, she should have targeted you, he said, looking at me. Out of all the guys she could have picked. Fuck! She picked Knox?

She didn’t pick me, Knox snarled back. It just happened.

“Likely a nasty side-effect of the magic that brought her to this realm,” Whil whispered, loud enough for us to hear but soft enough to not wake Audrey since she didn’t have telepathy like we did.

This realm? She’s from a different one? Well, that explains the weird conversation you had, he said excepting Whil’s explanation without hesitation. Oh, Great Sisters, that poor girl. Mated to Knox. Deacon’s laughter abruptly stopped. Shit. No wonder her heat is driving her crazy. You haven’t sealed the bond.

“That’s part,” Whil replied. “But given that she’s said heats in her realm aren’t powerful, I suspect there’s something about this realm affecting her. It could be the same with soul-steadying touch. Which means she might not need as much touch because of where she’s from, or she’ll need more because this realm is changing her and she’s already at a deficit.”

Sisters! She just couldn’t catch a break. Abused, betrayed, thrown into an unfamiliar realm, and mate bonded with someone who didn’t want her, and now that bond and this realm were changing her body in unexpected ways.

She’s going to need help adapting, I said only to Cyrus and Knox. If holding her isn’t enough, I can take care of her. You don’t have to worry about her getting the wrong idea. Knox—? I shouldn’t have needed to ask his permission, and he was smart enough to figure out I was going to have sex with Audrey if she needed it, but I needed to know he’d be able to control himself if or when that happened.

Do whatever the fuck you want, he snarled. I don’t care.

A sliver of anger seeped past the block he’d put on our twin bond, but it was too slight for me to figure out if he was pissed at the idea of me having sex with her or pissed at himself.

Don’t get attached, Cyrus added. We can’t forget that this might not end well. If it comes down to her or Knox, I’m picking Knox.

You don’t have to remind me. I know our priorities. Except telling him that made my wolf heave inside me.

We loved Knox. He was our other half, and even though he was actively trying to keep me out right now, we were and always would be connected.

But even though there was a risk his wolf would take over and go feral, he was still stronger than Audrey. And keeping Audrey safe, even if it meant having to convince Knox to accept their mating bond, was the best way to keep Knox safe.

And she’s going to need more than just help, Cyrus added, more of his power slipping, his worry about the situation growing. She can’t fight or hunt or start a fire.

Audrey groaned but didn’t wake, and I glared at Cyrus. Control yourself, she needs her sleep.

She needs a fucking miracle, Cyrus shot back. She can’t do anything.

My wolf, already dangerously close to the surface because I was holding Audrey, wrenched free and took over.

Don’t you dare say that where she can hear it, my wolf snarled at him. Her sense of self-worth is fragile and Knox rejecting their bond isn’t helping. If she’s never been held and she now needs it to the same degree we do, her emotional state is even more precarious.

I know, Cyrus growled back, his power flickering then vanishing before it could affect her again. She’s going to be exhausted, but we need to teach her everything we can. If she gets separated from us, she won’t survive.

She won’t get separated, my wolf snarled back.

You can’t guarantee that, Cyrus said, his wolf taking over as well and glaring back at me. We protect her by making her stronger.

Agreed, I replied.

Agreed, Knox’s wolf whispered through our twin bond so softly I wasn’t sure Knox was aware his wolf had spoken.