Page 80 of Wolf's Vow

“It’s more than just pack politics,” he continued. “Shifters like Henry?—”

“Henry?” I asked, sitting up, staring at him. “Henry is too young.”

Wolfe rolled over onto his back, his hands behind his head as he looked up at me. “No, he isn’t. He’ll be an adult before you know it. I can use that rage and anger he’s harboring and put it to good use. Todefendhis pack. He and the others like him don’t see Stonefang or Blueridge; they see their pack. One pack.Ourpack.”

I frowned, but I didn’t argue. The Goddessgiftedthe females of the species with a heat we had to endure for the rest of our lives. She didn’t let the males off. Before they reached adulthood, they carried a deep anger and rage within them. It was believed that, like our heat, a fire burned inside the young males that they needed to learn to control. For the males, it helped teach them discipline; many chose to enlist in the human armed forces to be able, quite literally, to fight it out. It was rare in the Hollow for the younger shifters to leave us, but it wasn’t unheard of.

“There are more than Henry who believe in this pack,” I said softly, my hand running through his hair, and I half froze at my unconscious display of intimacy.

Wolfe caught my hand as I drew it back, kissing my fingertips. “I know, but to find the ones whodon’tand who plot to harm us,you, then I need to…”

I watched him carefully. “You’re going to use your Will.”

“I have to,” he said, looking away unhappily. “I have no choice.”

“You went to the ridge to ask the Goddess if this was her choice,” I said with understanding. “And…she sent you Diesel?” I felt my lips twitch.

Wolfe groaned, his arm draping over his eyes. “She sent me Diesel,” he said. “And a fucking landslide. I don’t know if she’s wishing me luck or hoping I fail.”

He looked both pissed off and amazed, and overall mystified. I hadn’t seen him stumped before, and before I could stop it, a giggle escaped.

Wolfe lifted his arm, looking at me in mock outrage. “You think it’s funny?”

I laughed out loud until I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my cheeks. Wolfe was also laughing, and when we eventually calmed down, we lay side by side as we got our breath back.

Wolfe played with the ends of my hair as I stared at the ceiling. “What are you thinking?”

“I wasn’t in heat,” I told him. “The bond isn’t sealed. Last night was just…a good time.”

I heard the low rumble in his chest. “A good time? Good? Huh…I’ll try harder next time.”

Oh…I sat up, my body wanting him to try now, not that he needed to try. Last night was amazing.Shit, I had to get control of myself.

Wolfe tugged my hair gently until I looked back at him. He smoothed his hand over my exposed shoulder. “Last night matters,” he said. “More than agood time, you agree?”

I did. I nodded because it had felt so right. How could it be wrong?

He pulled me back down beside him, and I went, lying over his chest as I held his gaze. “You’re mine, Rowen. Pack or no pack.”

I raised an eyebrow teasingly. “That so?”

“You complaining?” he asked, and I shook my head no. “That’s all I needed to know.”

I smiled, just a little, and lay my head on his chest. His arms wrapped around me like they’d always been meant to, and for a while, we stayed like that—quiet, close, not trying to solve everything.

“Shouldn’t we get up?” I asked him even as my eyes closed.

“Not yet, we can have this, we have time.”

Because for once, surviving wasn’t the only thing that mattered. We had time…and Goddess help anyone who tried to take it from us.

Chapter 19

Rowen

I didn’t sleep againafter Wolfe dozed off.

Not because of restlessness, not because he and I had spent the night learning every inch of each other, but because my brain wouldn’t shut off.