Page 72 of Wolf's Vow

“Tonight, this pack becomes united.” His eyes flicked to mine. “No more stalling.”

The druid stepped forward. “There is magic at work here?—”

“The Goddess knows what she wants,” Diesel spoke gruffly, looking the druid over. “High on the peak last night, she spoke to our alpha.”

An excited rumble ran through the pack, and I looked at Wolfe, my eyes wide.

Wolfe grinned. “Well, she sent me down the ridge with a landslide on my tail,” he said easily. “But I got the message.”

I heard a few titters of laughter, but the druid wasnotlaughing. “A landslide on a mountain is your sign?”

“Yes.” Wolfe’s gaze swept the pack. “A reminder to stop fucking about and take action.” He bared his teeth in asemblance of a smile to the druid. “I’m surprised you never heard her laughter as she chased me.”

The druid didn’t have a comeback. To say they had, acknowledged the fact that Luna had spoken to Wolfe. To say they hadn’t, admitted they weren’t in fact as in tune with the Goddess and the land as they claimed.

“Carry on with your day,” Wolfe told everyone. “Tonight in front of the Heartwood, we will stand.”

When no one moved, he rolled his eyes with a teasing smile. “Okay, well I was hoping for no audience, but—” He reached out and tugged me to him. My hands lay flat against his bare chest. “I want to kiss my mate hello,” he murmured, looking down at me, his eyes darkening with hunger.

“Wol—”

He pulled me gently forward. His thumb brushed over my lips, resting lightly on my chin. He tipped my head back slightly, and his mouth covered mine with no hesitation, and before I’d even reacted, his tongue was sliding against mine, his thumb on my chin holding me, like he’d done this a thousand times before. He kissed me, and I leaned forward, wanting more, our tongues teasing, his mouth moving over my lower lip, sucking it gently before nipping it. My moan was lost in his mouth as he deepened the kiss, our tongues dueling, my hands in his hair, his other hand resting on the curve of my hip, his thumb gone from my chin, his hand cupping the side of my face as Wolfe commanded the kiss.

He drew back, mere inches from me, his eyes dark with desire, and I saw the small smile on his lips.

“Welcome back,” he murmured, brushing my lips once more.

I heard a noise and tore my eyes away from him to turn and see the whole pack still behind us, watching. Not just watching, they looked…delighted.

“Um…” I turned back to Wolfe and saw his smile at my discomfort of being watched. “Hi.”

Wolfe took my hand. “I’ll walk you home. You’ve had a long night, and tonight will be even longer.”

Hoots and hollers followed, and Iknewthat’s not what he meant, but I dipped my head as I tried to hide the blush.

The pack slowly dispersed as we walked home. Wolfe didn’t let go of my hand as he walked and talked with the pack who followed, but I could feel it. Underneath his smile and easiness, there was an undercurrent of tension.

His betas stayed with us, their steady, silent presence highlighting that all was not well. You wouldn’t suspect it with Wolfe, as he kept chatting and joking as we walked. His outward relaxed demeanor was that of a happy alpha.

What’s going on?I asked him through the mindlink.

I’ll explain at home.

Home.

It no longer meant the pack hall, and I realized, even after just a few weeks away, I didn’t expect it to be.

We entered the house, Wolfe, me, and three betas. He opened the door when we were all crammed inside and beckoned for Cody and Axel, making the space seem even smaller. He waited, and I knew I wasn’t the only one whose eyebrows rose when Thalia slipped through the door.

The door closed, and I felt the air change. I’d moved to the kitchen to give the bigger males room, and as I took my jacket off, and wondered if I needed to make them tea, I felt the change.

“What is that?” I asked, moving towards the living area.

Diesel looked smug. “A little something I picked up that I thought you and the alpha may appreciate.”

I met Wolfe’s steady gaze. “A privacy spell?” He nodded, and I frowned. “Why do we need a privacy spell?” I realized why as soon as I asked, and when five grown shifters, six includingThalia, all avoided my gaze, I felt stupid. “Never mind,” I mumbled.

Wolfe looked around. “Everyone got space?” he asked conversationally as he dropped into a chair. Diesel leaned against the wall, Brand took one end of the couch, Killian the other, Thalia and Cody took a space on the floor, Thalia sitting more or less on Cody’s lap, and Axel leaned against the door. Wolfe looked over at me.