Page 28 of The Wolf Prince’s Mate (Marked Beneath the Moon #2)
CLAY—A MONTH LATER
“I’m just saying,” I said, keeping my tone light. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to have a baby.”
“I seriously hope you’re joking right now, Savage.” Nova lifted her burrito to her mouth and took a bite. We were sitting on the porch of our house in Crimson River.
I’d finally felt comfortable enough to go back a week earlier, and it felt good to be home.
“Just because the gift basket from your brother has a tag inside that says congrats on the baby doesn’t mean we’re going to have one. I am not ready. He just missed it when he was ripping off the other tags,” Nova said.
“Right now you’re not, but how about next year?” I countered. “If my wolf stays sane?—”
She cut me off. “He will.”
“Right. If he does, then we could actually have a family. That was never even a possibility for me before.”
“Have you seen me?” She gestured to herself. “I don’t exactly look like a mom.”
“Sure you do. The sexiest mom on the fucking planet.”
She rolled her eyes at me, but I saw the smile she tried to hide. “I’ll think about it next year.”
“Deal.” I leaned over and kissed her. She swatted my arm, but didn’t fight the kiss. “What’s your plan for the rest of the day?”
“I’m finishing up Aspen’s sleeve, and then I have a hot date with a wolf man and a tub of coffee ice cream. What about you?”
“That’s actually a coincidence, because I’ve got a bunch of phone calls to make, and then I have a date with a sexy tattoo artist and my ice cream maker.”
She feigned a gasp of surprise. “What are the odds? Small world!”
“So small,” I agreed, leaning over to kiss her again.
“Think you’ll ever get tired of kissing me?” she asked.
“Nah.” I kissed her a third time, just to emphasize it.
Our month of being mated had been bliss. I had never realized a person could be as happy as I was—and I really fucking hoped it would never end.
Nova’s phone started buzzing on the porch beside her, and she sighed.
“Who wants to distract you from your hot lunch date?” I asked.
She picked it up and looked at the screen. “It’s Hunter.”
My forehead creased. “Why is he calling you?”
My wolf growled, but he didn’t try to force his way out. He was getting better at dealing with his anger now that I was shifting as much as I should’ve been from the beginning.
“I don’t know.” Nova hit the button to answer, and put it on speaker. “Hey, Hunt?—”
“It’s Olive,” Oli interrupted. “I’ve got a problem. A Savage one. And you’re the local expert.”
“I think Aspen holds that title, but why do you have Hunter’s phone? What happened?” Nova checked.
“It’s a long story, but basically, Hunter and I screwed last night. He bit me. I bit him back.” Olive explained quickly.
“ What ? Under a full moon? Are you fucking insane?” Nova yelled.
“It was a heat of the moment thing,” Olive protested.
“You got yourself permanently mated to your brother-in-law in the heat of the moment?” Nova’s voice raised.
“I am not her fucking brother-in-law,” Hunter growled.
Olive changed the subject. “Anyway, he decided to abduct me while I was asleep after all of that happened, because we’re in Greenview. He won’t tell me why he’s taking me to his mansion, and I don’t even have a change of clothes. Can you arrange a rescue?”
Hunter snapped, “No one is arranging anything. I am taking my mate to my house until I am ready to see her around other men without killing someone.”
My brother was getting pissed, which meant it was time for me to step in before anyone tried to kill anyone else.
“Sounds like Hunter has everything under control,” I said brightly. “We’ve got to go before I make his kill list. Good luck!”
I hung up the phone.
“Fuck.” Nova shoved a hand through her hair, looking at me.
“That sounds like a mess. Glad it’s theirs, not ours.” I leaned over and took a bite of my mate’s burrito. “But we should still think about having a baby next year. Just saying.”
“Savage,” Nova laughed reluctantly, swatting at me. “I should help my sister.”
“Hunter needs time to work through his shit on his own. He’ll bring her back when he’s wrapped his head around everything.”
“We can hope.”
“We don’t need to hope. I know him pretty well.”
I tried to take another bite of her food, but she ripped it away and took one of her own.
After she’d chewed and swallowed, she said, “You’re lucky I love you, Savage.”
“I know I am, Gorgeous.” I kissed her yet again, and she tangled her hand in my hair, deepening it.
I was lucky.
Really fucking lucky.
And I’d never forget it.