Page 15

“Copy. How is this possible? Over.” Chanin was confused.

He was mated to Morlie, and even if their bond weren’t fully complete yet, he would know if she had Drahk in her.

Her gene was all wolf. No matter how much he desired her or wanted to as a mate, the beast would have shunned her if there were a single doubt that the match was not definitive.

Even as his wolf sat up on full alert within him, there wasn’t a question about Morlie.

“There’s too much to go into. I think it would be best for Morlie to hear it from Kai. My mate will need the support of her sister. Over,” Aodh declared.

Apparently, Aodh’s mate was not present.

“What do you need from us, Aodh? Over.” Chanin didn’t feel the need to discuss how Morlie wasn’t fully claimed, and this wasn’t the best time.

He could feel the tremors shuddering through his mate’s body.

He could only imagine what his Preternatural Council member was going through on his end with his mate.

“Outsiders are not allowed to be a part of the final flight ceremony.” Aodh paused.

“However, I believe it would be best for you and Morlie to remain close. His blaze of glory ceremony will be set in the clearing west of our center at first nightfall. My mate should have her sister by her for what will come next. There will be clothing in the woods there for you both. I will send Liekki to collect you at the end of the ceremony. Over.”

“Copy.” Chanin held Morlie’s gaze. “We will be there. Over.”

“Thank you, Chanin. Out.”

Still keeping Morlie at his side, Chanin turned to Rudie as he handed her back her radio. He growled before his assistant could speak, “You care to explain how my mate’s face is covered in bruises?”

“Don’t be mad at Rudie. She helped me.” Morlie placed a hand on his chest. “When your mother—”

“My mother?” he growled.

Had she attacked Morlie? He glanced around the open area of his front room, dining room, and kitchen to see if he’d perhaps missed his mother between his response to Morlie and the radio contact. One deep sniff confirmed his mother’s scent lingered, but she wasn’t there.

All sorts of possibilities of why his mother may have been around Morlie ran through his mind.

He hadn’t had a moment to properly introduce the two women or gauge his parents' reaction to his mate. He knew Rieka never liked Minsi and often snarled in the she-wolf’s presence, but he hoped his mother would approve of Morlie.

“What was she doing here?” He directed the question to Rudie.

“Rieka decided it was time for Morlie to start training.” Rudie slid her free hand into her back pocket, appearing relaxed.

Too relaxed for what she was telling her alpha.

His mother was a fierce and deadly fighter. Even at her age, he’d go into battle with her by his side without a second thought, so he was concerned about the training methods she would employ on his mate.

Chanin held Morlie away from him and looked at her. Most of her was covered in his loose sweatpants and t-shirt, but he still spotted more than a few additional bruises on her wrists and arms. “What the hell did she do?”

He started to lift her shirt and check her out thoroughly when Morlie took hold of his hands.

“I’m fine, Chanin. It was intense.” Morlie gingerly touched two fingers to her nose. “Painful even, but I learned a lot.” She smiled. “I think she likes me.”

“I’m positive she does. Or Rieka would’ve cared less about ensuring you were gaining skills to fight Minsi eventually,” Rudie chimed in as she walked over to the living room table to gather her things.

He shook his head. He could agree with Rudie’s statement about his mother's intentions. “Anyone think about clearing her training through her Alpha mate? Morlie has only been changed a few days and could have been seriously injured, even unintentionally.”

At least both the women had the good sense to blush and appear chastised.

Chanin dragged a hand through his hair and sighed. “At least as a wolf-shifter, your bruises should be gone by this evening. I don’t want to think about the confrontation if we arrived at the Drahk territory and you appeared to be being mistreated living with my Pack.”

“Sorry, mate.” She moved closer but didn’t touch him. “It all happened so fast. But I promise to be careful next time.”

Next time. He knew there would be a next time. Just as he knew and his mother stated, Minsi would come for Morlie, and he wanted his mate to be more than prepared to defend herself and put Minsi in her place.

He reached for her, sliding his fingers along her neck as he cupped her cheek. “No, little rabbit. I don’t want you holding back. However, I will plan your training for the foreseeable future. I’ve already spoken to Bleddyn. Lovel will start training with you tomorrow.”

Morlie’s smile lit up her face.

The beating muscle that was his heart tightened briefly.

“Alpha.”

He pulled his gaze away from his mate and glanced at his assistant.

“I’m not the best fighter, but I’d like to help Morlie however I can.”

Taking Morlie’s hand, he walked her deeper into the living room. “Strength isn’t your skill, runt, but speed is. Talk to Wolcott after the lunar run for assistance.”

“Um...okay. I-I will.” Rudie stumbled over her words.

Chanin didn’t miss the increase of color in Rudie’s cheeks at the mention of the rabbit breeder. Wolcott and Rudie were mutually attracted to each other. However, they were both so shy when it came to interacting with the opposite sex that they wouldn’t talk unless forced together.

He winked at his assistant.

Rudie cleared her throat and pretended to study her ever-present clipboard.

“What’s the plan for tonight?” Morlie tugged her hand from his hand. “With Kai and the dragons?”

“We’ll need to leave in the next couple of hours to travel there without rushing.” He kept his gaze on her, trying to ensure she was doing well. “How are you feeling, mate?”

Rudie used the moment to walk into the kitchen.

He kept his eyes on his mate.

Morlie shrugged and walked away. She reached up and clutched the ring hanging from the leather strap as she paced a small circle across from the couch.

“Honestly, I’m not sure how I should be feeling.

Finding out that my sister and I have some mystery relative.

..who’s dead now.” She shook her head. “And how long did Kai know that, and why wouldn’t she tell me? ”

Chanin moved and stepped before her to stop her nervous walking. “I know you have a lot of questions. Rightfully so. I’m sure you’ll get all the answers you need tonight.”

She bit into her bottom lip and nodded. “I know. I-I just...”

When her voice faded away, he placed his hand on her waist. He could feel the tension in her body as he drew her toward him.

If he couldn’t tell by the slight crease between her brow, her mind was a riot of thoughts.

He didn’t try to pick them apart. He preferred she share with him.

“What else is going on in that lovely head of yours?”

Morlie exhaled. “I’m different.”

“In more ways than one.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, then the side of her neck.

She released a small moan but then said, “But what’s Kai going to think?”

Now, he understood Morlie’s worry clearly. A lump formed in his gut as he wondered if Morlie regretted coming with him. Regretted accepting his wolf’s bite.

“Do you wish you had stayed among your sister...the Drahks?” He did everything to keep himself steady and his voice neutral while waiting for her answer.

Now that they were mates, there was no way he could let her go if she had a change of mind because his wolf would have him track her down over and over again.

“No. Never.” She leaned into him. “I just want Kai to be happy for me.”

“Because you are...”

She glided her hands up his chest and around his neck as she pressed her full breasts against him. “Happy... down to my toes.”

He growled. He met her lovely gaze and saw the truth of her words there. As Chanin took in the rest of her features, he was glad to see that her bruising looked better than it had when he first arrived.

Chanin held her small frame against him, but he didn’t kiss her tempting, lush lips. He knew if he started tasting her, he wouldn’t be able to stop. Before he could go there, he needed to ensure a few things were set with his Pack first.

“Ahem.” His assistant cleared her throat.

“Runt?” He glanced over his shoulder and looked at the smallest member of his Pack as she carried a heavily-laden dish to the table.

“Since you didn’t eat much before you set out today, I saved you a plate.” Rudie pointed at the other plate on the table next to the seat where she sat the dish.

Rudie continued, “I also prepared one for Morlie since you all will be headed to the Drahk territory.”

His wolf licked its lips, ready to tear into ten rabbits.

Keeping an arm around Morlie, he walked them toward the table.

“Thanks. That reminds me. We have Farkas.” After Morlie sat down at the table, he sat at the head.

Rudie gasped, heavy and loud. “Where is he now?”

“Fang Warriors.” Chanin spotted spaghetti squash hash and two herb-encrusted roasted rabbits on a platter. He reached out and placed one of the rabbits on Morlie’s plate.

“I’ve already—”

He arched a brow at her. “You need it for the journey. Your wolf is not used to traveling so long yet.”

Morlie snapped her mouth closed.

Chanin glanced back at Rudie. “When you leave, I need you to radio Bleddyn and cancel the clothing gathering plans for Morlie with his mates. Inform him about Morlie and my decision for the evening. Faolan would have already spoken to Boris regarding Farkas. However, contact Boris anyway and request a security detail to accompany us to the Drahks.”

“I can handle that, Alpha. I’ll instruct them to meet you and Morlie out front in two hours.” Rudie went to the counter and wrote down his instructions on her tablet.

“Are you concerned there will be trouble?” There were shadows in Morlie’s eyes as if she wasn’t sure she should be worried.

He held her gaze. If there were, I’d always protect you.

I trust you to keep me safe. The relief filling her mind caused a coolness to touch his spine.

“But it was the protocol that at least two wolves travel together when dealing with other entities. You technically cannot be factored in since you are still a new Lupine.”

Morlie tilted her head and stared at him, confusion marring her lovely face. “But you came alone for me.”

He released a low growl. His need for her hadn’t gone away; it was simmering below the surface of his skin like a river of lava ready to erupt at any moment.

“If I would have paused for a second before journeying to the Drahk territory to retrieve you, mate, someone else would have tagged along beside me. My Beta or another.” He reached out and clasped her hand on the table beside her plate, then stroked over her warm, silky skin with his thumb.

“However, my wolf refused to rest and clawed at me incessantly, forcing me to get its mate. Little rabbit, when I set out, I couldn’t think of anything but you.

If I’d had to cross into the dragon area to claim you, I’d never heard the end of it from my people.

” He leaned toward her with a wicked smile. “Good thing you came to me.”

A mirrored heat filled Morlie’s gaze as she glided her tongue over her lips.

He tightened his hand on her and began to draw her toward him.

He desired little else than to pull her onto the table before him and make her his meal.

Chanin knew if he gave into his lust for her, they’d never eat before they left.

The knowledge that his mate needed to eat stopped him.

Even though his wolf was used to hunting for long hours and days without food, Morlie had no experience.

“Anything else, Alpha?” Rudie’s soft, but distinct, voice broke into his thoughts.

He glanced at his assistant, still by the island.

“Yes. I wanted the meeting grounds for today. With the Fang soon marching Farkas through the area, people will have questions and want swift retribution. I’ll brief everyone before I interrogate my cousin.

I need Dolf to get the word out that the Pack will gather at first light on the grounds. ”

The furious scratching of Rudie’s pen on her tablet filled the space momentarily. “I’ll see it done, Alpha.”

He looked back at Morlie, who had not taken her gaze off him. “That will be all, Rudie.”

“Got it.” Rudie didn’t question his abrupt dismissal. She gathered her clipboard and made a beeline to the door.

Chanin heard the door quietly pull to, but he remained fixed on his mate. The erotic electricity crackled between them. Still holding her hand, he allowed it to build and grow, even though he wouldn’t allow either of them to act on the lust yet.

“Chanin...” Morlie whimpered, her voice edged with need as the intense perfume of her desire warred with the scent of their meal before them.

He linked his fingers with hers, his core tight and filling his body with heat. “Eat, little rabbit. I promise to ensure we are both well satisfied before our journey.”

Still keeping her gorgeous eyes on him, she didn’t waste time picking up a fork. Instead, Morlie grabbed one of the roasted rabbits and brought it to her mouth. She sank her teeth into the fleshy meat at the side, tore off a chunk, and began to chew.

Her urgent, ravenous actions had his cock stretching and throbbing in his jeans. Chanin reached for his own baked carcass and emulated her manners.

As he watched her consume the rabbit bite after bite, it took all his strength not to lean over and lick off the sheen of the animal’s juice and greasy residue glistening on her mouth, cheeks, and chin until he only tasted Morlie.

Still, he held himself back with a single promise to himself and her: Soon .