Chapter Ten
Casey
I woke up feeling more like myself than I had since I first discovered that I might not be able to control my shift for long when I was with Dr. Wolf.
My heat was over. My body ached in places I didn’t even know existed, and I was snuggled up to the man who had stolen my heart. I still didn’t know what control I did or didn’t have over my beagle, but I knew one thing—my mate’s dragon made a difference. He helped me shift back when I was stuck, something no one else had ever been able to do, including my pack alpha.
No matter what happened next, he accepted me. Fully.
Heat had been different than what I’d imagined it would. Sure, I’d expected the desire and orgasms and the burning need that couldn’t be sated. But what I didn’t expect was the tenderness and sweetness of my doting mate. I guess I always assumed it would be this out-of-control frenzy on both sides instead of us connecting and bonding in a new and very deep way. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
I pressed a kiss to his chest.
“You’re awake,” he murmured, hand running down my back in a gentle caress. “How are you feeling?”
“Wonderful. Sore. Loved. Tired. How about you?”
He chuckled. “Not gonna lie, mate…you tested my endurance.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He hugged me closer to him. “I can’t wait to do it again for your next heat.”
I smiled, though my cheeks burned.
“I don’t know a lot about beagles, so I don’t know how long until the next one. Or if this is a reprieve and not the end. But…whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
“Together.” I loved the sound of that.
“Together,” he said, and the word warmed me deeper than any blanket ever could.
“I love the sound of that.” Now that I’d found my mate, I refused to hold back and keep my emotions to myself.
I started to get up, and he looked at me with a questioning tilt of his head.
“I just need to use the bathroom,” I explained. “Then I think I want to come back to bed and take a nap.”
“You weren’t ready to get up yet?”
“I thought I was.” I bit back a yawn. “But I’m not.”
I took care of business in the bathroom then climbed back into bed and snuggled up close to him. I fell asleep quickly and easily, like my body knew it was safe.
The next time I woke, the smell of meat tickled my nose. My mate was cooking, but I couldn’t figure out what exactly. I grabbed a pair of his sweatpants and joined him at the stove.
“What are you making?”
“Well, hello, mate,” he said, glancing at me with a smile. “I didn’t have much, but I had some canned corned beef hash. That’s what there is for breakfast. I can go hunting later. Or we can go to the store soon, but not today. Today’s be-a-lazy-slug-with-you day.”
“Works for me. As long as we are doing it together, I am there for it.”
The hash was amazing. Would it have been better with a couple of eggs? Maybe. But it was the first breakfast my mate made for me and honestly, nothing could beat that.
We sat outside after, taking in the scenery as we ate. It was stunning here. I could see why his dragon loved it.
I loved it too.
“What do you want to do today? As far as meals, I mean. I really don’t have much.” He listed off the minimal ingredients he had. It was plenty.
“I’m not picky. We can even go hunt.” My beagle perked up at that. If I let him out again, would I be stuck? Would Nolan be able to help me out of it?
“Are beagles good hunters?”
“Well…we’re good finders. I can locate amazing prey. Doing something with that prey? Not so much.” When Jonah and I hunted, I tracked and he killed. We were a good team like that, and I sensed that’s how it would work with my mate as well.
“Then we’re going to have to hunt together like a team,” he said. “You’ll be shocked by this, but my dragon tends to scare creatures I’d prefer eating.”
“No way. Your big, scary dragon intimidates wild forest creatures? I never would’ve guessed.” I scrunched up my nose and made a face, and he laughed before pulling me in for a kiss.
I loved how easily he touched me, how comfortable he was with closeness.
Food eaten, I stood up, taking his plate with mine. “I’m gonna go wash these.”
“I can wash the dishes,” he countered.
“I know you can, but you cooked. Whoever cooks gets out of dishes. It’s the law.”
“The law? Really?” he teased. “And in what book is this sacred law recorded? The Beagle Handbook ?”
“I know I don’t look it,” I teased, “but I’m actually the child of wolves. I have a pack.”
“So you’re badass?” That was not the takeaway I’d have expected.
“How is me being a cute little beagle translate into badass?” It was something I’d never been accused of before, that was for sure.
“Because your genes beat out all odds. You’re badass. I’m sticking to it.” He squinted at me playfully. “Wait. Are you saying it’s wolf law—the dishes thing?”
“Nope, it’s my law. I made it, and you’re my mate, so you have to obey.”
“Is that how it is?”
“That is how it is.” I paused, a little more serious now. “But I wanted to clear that up about me being a wolf. I don’t want you to ever think I’m holding anything back from you. I just…might not always remember to tell you things. And if that’s the case, I’m sorry. I’m not used to having a mate.”
“I should hope not,” he said with a teasing smile. “I want to be your first, your last, and your always.”
“You are, mate. But that wasn’t what I meant. I’m not used to having a mate obviously, but the same goes true for having friends. Other than Jonah, that is, and he’s known me since I was five. He’s more like a brother.” I even teased my parents that they liked him better than me. They didn’t. They loved me unconditionally, but they loved him too. “Even if I wanted to keep a secret from him, he’d know it. Wolves are gossipy fools.”
“Maybe when you’re more rested, you can tell me about your friend. He sounds pretty amazing.”
“He is. He’s the best person to take on a road trip too. He’ll stop anywhere I want. Including this rest stop convenience store we found with 600 types of jerky.”
“I saw that sign!” His face lit up. “Was it really cool?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. I mean, do you want gator jerky?”
He wrinkled his nose. “I tend to stay away from anything that looks like it might be related to me.”
“Fair.”
I set the plates in the sink.
“Change of plans,” I said. “The dishes can wait. I need snuggle time with my big, fierce dragon.”
“That works for me,” he said, pulling me in close, “because I need snuggle time with my adorable little…” He trailed off, kissing the side of my neck, his arms wrapping tight around me.
Safe.
Warm.
Home.