10

John

“How can you not know her favorite color?”

I stood in the main aisle of Kramer’s Grocery & Tackle Shop, cornered by a little pup who wouldn’t leave me alone. “It’s probably black.”

Black sounds like the right answer. My beast nodded.

“Probably…” Alice blew out her cheeks as she looked incredulously around the mostly empty shop. The bell chimed when her grandfather, Kramer, came back inside with a dolly of fruit crates.

“How do you not know your mate’s favorite color?” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “That’s the first question you’re supposed to ask.”

Because she doesn’t talk to me about anything personal. My wolf whined as I lifted the basket toward the candy shelf and tossed an array of chocolate bar options inside. “It’s none of your business, pup.”

“You’re wrong.” She followed on my heels as I headed for the meager selection of wine. “Fallon is my Luna. Her business is my business. Especially if you aren’t treating her right.”

I cursed myself for saying we’d had a fight. With the way the little pup blabbed, it’d be all over town by this afternoon. But I had a soft spot for curious kids. Danielle and Amber had gotten away with way too much as my nieces.

“I am treating her right.” I presented the basket of bribery, loaded with more than it was designed to carry.

Alice shook her head. “It needs to be more.”

“More what?” I arched a brow.

“More sorry!” The girl threw her hands in the air as if I, the Alpha and leader of this pack, was a complete idiot.

*

With my hands full of plastic bags, I jumped out of the truck onto the dirt road to the lakeside resort. I had a feeling she’d like it here. Her own little safe haven, especially when it was off-season and the pack stayed inland where the hunting was better and the air was less cold. Come summer, they’d all be out fishing and swimming and soaking up the sun. Fallon could have full range of the lodge then.

I tapped into our mental connection, not wanting to disturb her if she was sleeping. Her emotions washed over me. The anger. The loneliness. It squeezed at my heart.

My beast whined as I sat down on the front porch, putting the bags beside me.

“What’s your favorite type of candy?” I rested my arms on my knees and waited. Back at the show, I’d gone through so many questions and she never answered. But maybe, just maybe…

“Dark chocolate with salted caramel.”

My beast howled his triumph as I looked into the plastic bag. Hopefully milk chocolate with caramel filling was a close second. Otherwise, I’d have Kramer put an order in.

“What books do you like to read?”

I could sense her through our connection. Feel her little eye roll even as she grinned. “Serial killer rom-coms.”

I hesitated for a moment, making sure I heard her right. “I didn’t even know it was a genre, but I can see that for you.”

Fallon laughed softly. It felt good to hear the musical notes drifting from the other side of the door.

“What else can you see?” she asked.

“I wish I could see you naked.” The thought just slipped out.

Idiot. My beast growled.

The doorknob turned and I held my breath as I glanced over my shoulder.

“Is that how this works? You bring chocolate and expect to get into my pants?” She wasn’t naked. A black silk kimono robe was cinched at her waist and her long hair fell over her shoulder in a braid.

She couldn’t have been more beautiful.

A slow grin pulled at my lips. “I also brought wine.”

“Oh, you brought wine.” She smiled, eyeing the best bottle of dusty top shelf that Kramer had in the store as I pulled it from the plastic bag. “Why didn’t you lead with that?”

*

My orgasm tore through me and my knot started to swell as I thrust into Fallon’s perfectly hot cunt. She whimpered as pain and pleasure washed over her. The building response made her legs shake. I reached between us to play with her clit.

“So close,” she moaned.

Instinct had me rolling her to her back and pushing her knees up on either side as I worked her clit faster. I wanted her full and relaxed and sated with my cum inside her. I ran my teeth over the claiming mark on her shoulder, feeling her shudder as she milked my knot.

“That’s it, darling. Take all of me,” I coaxed her through another orgasm, feeling my seed fill her womb. Or maybe I couldn’t actually feel it, but I wanted to.

Goddess, I want every inch of this woman’s body marked by me. I thought about that as I dragged my teeth down her neck, pushing her legs higher so they wrapped around my back.

“I don’t know if you can get any closer,” she teased.

But dammit, I wanted to try.

“Forgive me yet?” I breathed easier, knowing she couldn’t run from me for at least a few more minutes.

“Forgive you for undermining me in front of the pack and making me seem weak as my introduction as Luna?” Fallon smirked. “Sure.”

“That’s not…” Oh no. Shit. “Okay I know that’s what it looked like, but that’s not what I was trying to do. And they don’t think you’re weak. If anything, I’d look weak for not standing up for you. Plus, my wolf would chew me out for not protecting you as our mate. I was only trying to––”

“Stop.” She put her hand on my chest, leaning forward to capture my lips in a quick kiss that left me wanting more. My beast whined as Fallon put distance between us despite my knot still firmly seated.

“I get it,” she said. “We’re blending cultures here. To them, it’s like I’m from a different world. There haven’t been many outsiders coming into the pack. But they better start getting used to it.”

“Why’s that?” I pulled her close again.

Her grin was wicked. “As Luna, it’s my duty to ensure the future of this pack, and I have no problem playing the long game.”

“Long game?” I stilled, looking down at her.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long.” She shifted as my knot started to retract. “The elders need new blood here to replace them.”

I groaned. Talking of them made my knot shrink faster. I slipped out and grabbed her knees, pushing them together to hold her hips upright as I reached for the towel.

Or you could leave her covered in our seed, my beast grumbled.

I ignored him and started to wipe Fallon up. “You have an evil plan to force them into retirement, I’m assuming.”

“Something like that.” Fallon rested her hands behind her head on the pillow. I know she didn’t want to be called a princess, but maybe I could get away with queen. That’s how she looked now, all sex tousled and beautiful with swollen lips and satisfaction shining in her eyes.

“Are you going to let your Alpha in on these plans?” I asked as I tossed the towel into the laundry basket.

“There will be signs,” she said mysteriously.

And like a love-sick pup, my beast wagged his tail, ready to do whatever she asked.

“Come on.” Fallon grabbed my hand and dragged me off the bed.

“Where are we going?” I hobbled after her, realizing I’d probably be doing this for the rest of my life. Which didn’t sound all that bad.

Fallon pulled open the front door as the cool spring breeze entered the warmth of the cottage, blowing a gust of her intoxicating scent around me. The morning sun shone down on her raven-black hair, giving her an ethereal glow. Her fangs descended through her smile.

“My wolf needs her apology now.”