Chapter 24

Didn't realize I'd be hosting another party so soon. Yet only a week later, Michael and I had an apartment bursting with ravens, wolves, and a few other creatures to boot. A combination moving party and mating celebration, our friends, roost, and pack members turned out in force. While we'd arranged the big furniture, we were still largely living out of boxes. I couldn't wait to finish unpacking and feather our nest properly. Even though Michael had more upscale furnishings, our styles were surprisingly compatible, and I didn't regret giving away some of my older pieces. I kept my grandma's rocking chair though. And my Baltimore Ravens flag.

Michael chatted with some of his wolves, Kai pressed tightly to his side. Michael kept shooting me "Big Bad Wolf" I'll-Eat-You-Up vibes from under his lashes. Made my blood boil with want.

We'd moved Kai in two days ago and were still buying some things for his room to make it more his own space. Having a teen in the home meant we couldn't fuck on any surface we wanted. Yet having him and Michael sharing my nest settled something inside me that I hadn't realized needed settling. I wasn't even nervous with Michael's sister's upcoming visit in three weeks. Well, not much. She'd at least been thrilled he mated. We'd already video chatted a couple times, and she seemed cool. Michael and his parents still weren't speaking. I stayed out of it, simply offering him support.

A steady stream of Led Zeppelin tunes ran through the speakers Kai set up in our living room yesterday. With all the creatures in our place, it was hard to hear the music. Turned out, Kai had started listening to Led Zeppelin after the night of the chase, and it seemed Michael had a convert on his hands. Didn't mind. The kid also happened to be a Ravens fan, and we'd be hitting up some games in the fall. Michael might tag along. How anyone could be indifferent to football was a mystery, but Kai and I would teach him, I was sure of it.

Even better, that kid glowed under his alpha's attention. The other wolves were careful to show deference to Kai's station as both Michael's beta-in-training and his ward. Even the other alphas treaded carefully, since one had made the mistake of flashing teeth at Kai, and Michael had soundly put that wolf in his place.

Having Kai around also meant seeing more of Shandra and her friends, which I didn't mind in the least. Though with both roost and newly minted wolf pack excited for our mating, we hardly got a minute alone. Except at night. And we made excellent use of that time. Amazing how well I already knew my mate's body. His likes, dislikes. We truly felt like two halves of a whole.

As if reading my mind, Michael excused himself from the others and wound his way toward me, my heart rate speeding up as he neared.

"You're so dick-whipped." Poe nudged me with his elbow, and I startled from my trance.

"Fuck you, Alpha. Like you're any different." I'd seen how he looked at Tommy.

Michael reached us and pulled me against him, slamming his mouth to mine in a toe-curling kiss.

When we came up for air, Poe smirked.

"Never said I was." He clinked the neck of his bottle against mine. "To being dick-whipped. And disgustingly in love."

I laughed, and I tightened my hold on my mate.

"I'll drink to that."

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