Page 13 of It’s Kind of a Bunny Story (Hey There, Hop Stuff #3)

T wo hours later, I pushed open the door and padded into the house.

Not wanting to wake anyone if they were sleeping, I kept my steps soft, my paws not making a sound against the hardwood.

Tilting back my head, I sniffed, letting the array of scents paint a picture of what had happened since I’d left.

Salty tears and sweat. The aroma of the soup and breadsticks Copeland had prepared for dinner hours before. The dessert-like scent of her heat, the earthy scent of sex.

It was that last fragrance that caused my wolf’s most primal instincts to flare. He was less than pleased at the idea of another male touching our mate. I sympathized, but sharing was something I could live with as long as I got to call Charlee mine.

Besides, she’d let me mark her in the cave, and now she bore the imprint of my bite.

I’d been hyped up on the fight and adrenaline from my injuries when I padded into the cave and found her drenched in the scent of her heat.

Even though her inner rabbit must have been telling her to run from the fray and from my bloody wolf form, she’d trusted me to bite her and not lose control. My mate was tough.

Heading down the hall, I pushed open my bedroom door to find the furniture had been shoved against the wall.

It looked like they’d gathered every mattress in the house and put them on the floor to create one giant bed.

I made a mental note to start working on a custom bedframe once she was safely through her heat.

The mattresses were piled high with a dozen pillows, and I could see at least four blankets.

Moving closer, I found Charlee curled up on her side between the two men.

I’d marked the right side of her neck, and now I could see the imprint of Copeland’s mate mark on the left side; he’d claimed her as well.

My wolf was significantly larger than that of a natural wolf, which was why I wasn’t part of the team that handled perimeter security. If a hunter spotted me, the humans would be crawling all over our land within days.

Yep. I could see the headlines now: Beast of Gévaudan Returns from the Grave to Haunt American Forest .

Letting my jealousy get the best of me, I used the bulk and size of my wolf’s form to shove a complaining Copeland out of the way. I squeezed between them, dropping to my belly beside Charlee.

For the thousandth time, I was stunned by how fragile she seemed.

The other two rabbit shifter females were about the same height, but Monroe’s fiery stubbornness had made her seem taller.

I knew Charlee must have that same spirit and resilience to survive what she’d gone through, but at that moment, it looked like a summer breeze could knock her down.

What if I accidentally rolled over and squished her in our sleep? My huff of worry caused her eyelids to fly open. She took in my wolf form and her eyes widened.

The first time we’d met, I’d been in my wolf form, but she had been caught in the throes of her heat and mid-bonding with Fletcher.

She’d happily curled her fingers into my fur, using me as an anchor to keep from going wild on the male rabbit.

The second time she’d encountered my wolf had been when we’d pinned her beneath us, spurred on by her frenzied heat.

We were mates, but that didn’t change the fact that to be comfortable with me, she’d need to ignore centuries of a prey species’ survival instincts telling her I was dangerous.

I held myself motionless, waiting for her reaction and steeling myself against the pain I’d experience if she recoiled in fear or disgust—even if the reaction was automatic.

“Hello.” Her voice was husky thanks to sleep… and sex.

I tilted my head in greeting, not wanting to startle her with any sudden movements. Charlee held her hand near my muzzle as though I were a dog, and she was waiting for me to sniff it and accept her touch.

My wolf rolled his eyes. Little Miss Bunny Britches had a lot to learn about wolves. Leaning forward, I pressed my nose against her palm and was amazed when it nearly took up her entire palm.

Charlee sucked in her breath and gave me a brilliant smile. “Can I pet you?”

Pet me? Was she serious? My chuff caused tendrils of blonde hair to blow around her face. As if I would lower myself?—

My wolf flopped onto his back, presenting our stomach for belly rubs.

Mate wants to pet.

I was surprised because my wolf rarely spoke. My disgruntled attitude evaporated the instant she ran her fingers through my underbelly fur.

“I’ve never felt anything this soft,” she whispered in awe.

Soft wasn’t a compliment most men wanted to hear, but I wasn’t going to complain. Who knew belly rubs felt so good?

Charlee laughed as my wolf gave a happy wiggle.

She scratched my stomach with more enthusiasm, stretching as far as she could reach.

With a well-timed bump of my hips, I knocked her off balance and caused her to face-plant against my fur.

Not giving her time to recover, I wedged my nuzzle under her butt and, with a firm jerk, tossed her onto my stomach.

“Umpf!” Her grunt of surprise was followed by a squeal as I snuck a quick lick up her cheek.

“I see how it is!” She ran her hands through my fur with renewed fervor, as though she were trying to tickle me.

Copeland clicked his tongue in disbelief. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

“Why would you say that?” Charlee pushed herself onto her knees, straddling my chest, and narrowed her eyes in his direction.

“Wolves don’t present their stomachs to other shifters, and wolf shifters don’t degrade themselves by being petted,” he explained.

Charlee scoffed. “But he likes it! See?” Her hands scratched at my ribs.

I could totally play this cool?—

My wolf let my tongue loll out of my mouth and kicked at the air with our back leg as she found the spot.

Yeah, that was exactly what I’d meant by playing it cool.

You whine more than a dog.

This was the most talkative my wolf had ever been. Go figure it would be to insult me.

“From werewolf to purse pet.” Copeland’s dark chuckle told me I wouldn’t live this down for a long time.

“Stop being mean,” Charlee scolded, adding a little growl.

Since when did she growl?

Mate so cute. My wolf practically gushed.

Hades! What was going on? My bunny mate was snarling like a pup, and my wolf was about a minute away from offering to make friendship bracelets with her.

Copeland continued to laugh, but Charlee wasn’t having it. “I bet you’d like being petted too!”

“Little rabbit, there isn’t a chance that’s going to happen.” He shook his head.

Charlee slid off me and stood. “I’d like you to shift. Now.”

Copeland raised an eyebrow. “Sugar, you can’t be serious.”

“The hare I am!” Crossing her arms over her chest, she pinned him with a stern glare. “Shift. Please.”

Copeland threw back his head and laughed. “Little mate, my wolf will never degrade himself like that.”

My wolf thumped his tail against the floor, thoroughly delighted at our mate’s bossiness.

“Should we do something?” Fletcher whispered, his gaze darting between the pair locked in a stare down.

If I’d been in my human form, I would’ve suggested making popcorn.

The silence stretched until Copeland threw up his hands. “Fine, but only because you said please.”

“Thank you!” Charlee beamed at him.

My best friend shifted. It took him longer than me to complete, but it was far smoother than most of the packs’ shifting ability.

“Good boy. Now roll over,” Charlee ordered.

Surely she hadn’t just called him a good boy? Belly rubs were one thing. Being a good boy was another.

My wolf rumbled with wicked delight while Copeland snarled in displeasure.

Instead of backing down, our petite princess lifted her chin. “You are welcome to complain about it, but I want you to roll over.”

Copeland stalked toward her, closing the gap between them in seconds. He stared stubbornly at her with glowing gold eyes.

I thought she’d back down. Her inner beast had to be begging her to run. Instead, she stepped forward so that the pair were nearly touching noses. Other than the slight hitch in her breathing, she showed no sign of fear while facing off with a predator.

“Charlee, maybe it’s best you don’t antagonize him.” Fletcher caught her hand, trying to tug her away from the glowering wolf.

I didn’t blame him. Copeland could be goofy one minute and intimidating the next.

He wasn’t an alpha, but his confident swagger definitely gave off powerful vibes—something he enjoyed flexing.

I was several years older than him, but because of being less outgoing, I blended into the shadows while he drew the attention.

Even now, the rabbit shifter had his back turned to me while focusing his full attention on Copeland, wrongly assuming I was less of a threat.

“Linc?” Charlee glanced over her shoulder at me, then pointed at Copeland. “Pin him for me.”

My wolf chortled in glee.

Our mate knew who held the real power here.

Copeland didn’t stand a chance.

My muscles tightened as I sprang forward, taking the wolf down in a single smooth move. His back collided with the hardwood floor. Locking my jaws around his throat, I dug my razor-sharp canines into his skin, warning him of the consequences of fighting against me.

“Thank you, handsome.” Charlee kissed the top of my head, then bent to stare Copeland in the eyes. “We’re still getting to know each other, but I need to be clear about something.”

Keeping him pinned, I watched from the corner of my eye as she dropped to her knees.

“I enjoy teasing, but never when it is over a moment of intimacy with my mates. How can we be vulnerable with each other if we have to worry about being judged?” She practically purred each word in his ear.

When her fingers teased across the creamy fur of Copeland’s stomach, his chest rumbled with a sound of pure delight.

It took everything in me to keep from drawing blood over his idiotic behavior.

He’d made such a big deal out of a belly rub and then had the audacity to melt at the first touch of her hand?

Or was my irritation because it wasn’t my stomach getting petted?

Releasing his neck, I sat back and watched.

“See? It’s not so bad, huh?” She scratched more enthusiastically.

Copeland’s tail swished the floor like he was a freaking golden retriever instead of a wolf. Charlee laughed and went to place a kiss on his belly, only to gasp when he shifted back to his human form and her lips pressed against his abs.

“Just so you know, I never minded having you pet me.” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled Charlee down on top of him. “I’m down for having you rub my belly—or anywhere else—whenever you want.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “I don’t understand. You seemed pretty against it… almost mad.”

“Little rabbit, I could never be upset with you.” Copeland kissed the tip of her nose. “But it was hot-as-Hades seeing you get all bossy.”

“That was all an act?” Charlee pushed against his chest as she sat up and glowered down at him. “Just to mess with me?”

“No.” Copeland rolled to his side and propped himself up with an elbow. “Because it pleased you to tell me what to do. And having the power of a horse-sized wolf ready to do your bidding thrilled you.”

Her cheeks blossomed a brilliant crimson.

He was right. She’d liked having control. My heart ached as I realized it was something she’d never had back at her burrow.