Page 19 of Lord of the Lone Wolf (Bonded Hearts #3)
“In different circumstances, it’d give the right impression. However, I value my life and my rank, so I’ll have to settle for the role of honorary guard dog.” Rylan ruffled Maseo’s hair. “We’ll make sure you get through this war alive and in one piece, Maseo. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“I really want you to be right,” Maseo said. “I’m so tired of running.”
“Soon, you won’t have to run,” Rylan promised.
“Except away from Bitris and his unwanted sexual harassment,” Drayden joked to lighten the mood.
Bitris held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll behave because I’m not interested in making the enemy the lieutenant is implying.”
“I’m lost,” Sudryl said with a frustrated sigh. “Who’s the enemy?”
Instead of answering, Bitris’s expression turned serious. “If I’m right about what I think I know, then he’s correct about us needing to keep Maseo safe from very real danger.”
Maseo hung his head in shame. “I’m so sorry.”
Rylan forced the half-wolf shifter to look up at him. “None of this is your fault. You’ve done the right thing by coming here. You don’t have to fight alone anymore.”
“Thank you.” The sentiment touched Maseo, especially since he had so few allies in his life. “Please believe me when I say I sincerely want to give my all for Valzerna.”
“But why would a half-wolf shifter from Kunushi want to fight for Valzerna when we’re about to go to war against King Nasume?” Drayden asked, studying Maseo with growing interest.
“Especially since you’re Nasume’s bastard son,” Bitris added.
Maseo winced at the expected blows in retaliation. “If you know who I am, then you already understand why I want to fight against him.”
“To claim the throne for yourself?” Sudryl asked, suspicion coloring his tone.
Maseo shook his head, his eyes pleading with the men in the room to believe him.
“No, I gladly renounced any birthright claims to the throne. I’ve always been an outcast in Kunushi, and now that I’ve formally been banished from the Venrik pack, I want even less to do with a kingdom that has never felt like home.
My father damn near killed me, and the only reason I’m still alive is because of His Majesty’s mate.
I owe him my life, and I’m voluntarily pledging it to Valzerna’s success in return. ”
“Well, at least that explains why you’re so fucking gorgeous,” Bitris said, breaking the tension with laughter. “Pity your father is as nasty as he is beautiful. Any man who would try to kill you deserves to die.”
When Bitris reached out to touch Maseo, Rylan swatted him away. “Unless you want to lose that hand, keep it to yourself.”
Bitris crossed his arms with a pout. “You never let me have any fun.”
Sudryl snorted in amusement. “Right, because your idea of fun is sexual harassment. And we all know the reason you’re being so handsy right now is that you’re trying to get our lieutenant to punish you for misbehaving.”
Rylan laughed. “It’s not a punishment if he enjoys it. That would be denying him.”
“You’re so mean,” Bitris complained with a dramatic sigh. “I have needs , you know.”
“That’s what your hand is for,” Drayden retorted, making everyone chuckle, including Maseo.
“Well, it seems everything is fine here.” Rylan gave Maseo a final squeeze before standing up to leave. “I’ll be back later to check on how things are going.”
As soon as he left, Maseo braced himself for the fallout. He stared fearfully at Bitris.
“Aww, don’t look at me like that, pup,” Bitris said with a sigh. “You’re breaking my heart.”
“If you hadn’t pursued him so aggressively, he wouldn’t have a reason to be wary of you,” Sudryl pointed out.
Drayden shook his head. “As much as I’d love to blame Bitris, Maseo is scared we’ll change how we treat him now that we know he’s Nasume’s son.
” He moved to sit where Rylan had been, holding Maseo’s gaze.
“Relax. You’ve got nothing to fear from us, okay?
We can sense your sincerity in serving our king and army.
We won’t treat you like shit because of your father, especially when rumors of how badly Nasume has treated you are well-known throughout Talwyn. ”
Bitris grew serious. “We’re not interested in taking away this sanctuary from you. The three of us and the lieutenant will take care of you. Got it?”
“Sudryl and I will do it with a lot less sexual harassment than Bitris and Rylan, promise,” Drayden said with a laugh.
“He’s right,” Sudryl agreed. “We’ve got your back, so whatever you’re afraid of, you don’t need to worry about it anymore.”
Gratitude swelled in Maseo’s heart, even as he struggled to accept their willingness to take his side in the situation. “But you don’t even know me.”
“We know enough to tell you’re a good guy who needs our help,” Drayden said. “But you’ll have to forgive Bitris, because even though he knows he’s not allowed, the odds of him falling back into old habits and hitting on you incessantly are high.”
Bitris’s grin was unrepentant. “I’ll behave. Mostly.”
Drayden snickered in amusement. He repeated “Mostly” with air quotes, making Sudryl and Maseo laugh as Bitris huffed with fake indignation.
Although Maseo still worried about what lay ahead for him, he dared to hope that maybe, with the help of his bunkmates, he might survive the war.