Chapter 3 #2
“Wolves are always so intense, we should have expected it, especially from a fenrir wolf. As for my brother, Dakota is always grumpy like this—it doesn’t surprise us.” Catori smiled warmly.
“Although he is a bit less of a grump than normal,” his father appraised before looking at me. “I have you to thank for that.”
Oh.
I swallowed awkwardly. “I’m not sure—”
“He’s right.” Dakota mused, his nose brushing my hair once again. “Still don’t like talking to him though.”
Dakota’s father sighed but offered me a barely there smile. “Hopefully we’ll see you again soon, Effie. Maybe my son will have come to his senses by then and will plan to return to his pack.”
“Don’t count on it,” Dakota growled sharply.
“Call me!” Catori grabbed her dad’s arm and nearly dragged him out.
The instant they were gone, Dakota whisked me into his arms and pressed his forehead against mine, holding me there.
Our connection surged under my skin, and I couldn’t help but run my fingers up to my mark on him, grazing over the bite mark.
I couldn’t express the relief I experienced at biting all of them, and I knew he loved the reminder as well by the growl that left his throat.
“I need to explain about my family,” he said, “but let’s get out of here first and decide what we’re going to do.”
“Quickly,” Caedmon added from nearby. I shifted back from Dakota to see Caedmon standing in front of Julian—or maybe more Coffin than Julian—as he tried to calm him down.
I didn’t know for sure what the catalyst for Coffin’s rage was, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was Hastain considering it was his body Caedmon was blocking.
“By the way, how did you get everyone out of here?” I asked Dakota as we neared them. My mate chuckled softly with a dark edge but didn’t answer, which made me assume it included some level of threats. It didn’t bother me, though, especially knowing so many of them would have sided with Hastain.
“Julian,” I called softly as we neared, and immediately the man turned to look at me.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t just Coffin that was vibrating with anger.
No, it was Julian as well, and his warm, golden brown eyes swirled with black that contrasted his natural warmth.
It made sense, in a confusing way, similar to how he was looking at me with affection but was obviously angry.
“Preciosa,” he rumbled, and I nearly curled up against his chest, the tension in his body releasing.
From the day I met Julian on the train, his raw earth scent had called to me in a way I’d never experienced before, and now it made so much sense—not only was he my mate, but we’d met before.
He was the one who’d disguised me as a bitten wolf, before Coffin had joined him.
Finding him had been like coming home.
Looking up into his warm gaze, I couldn’t help but appreciate his chiseled jaw and the way his dimples accented the golden warmth of his skin.
Julian was so captivating, and I didn’t hesitate to run my hands up his neck, across his bite, and softly touch the ends of his navy hair.
I let out a surprised moan as he sealed his lips to mine in a heated kiss, his cold tongue piercing swiping against my lips.
“Julian.” Caedmon’s sharp tone had the man pulling back and offering a low rumble that sounded much more like Coffin than Julian—more animal than man.
It did draw my attention to my lycan mate, who despite looking frustrated seemed far less tense than he had during the dinner.
Largely, no doubt, because his father was gone.
Which reminded me—I nearly flew into Caedmon’s arms and hugged him tightly, burying my head against his chest. I didn’t need to explain why, at least I didn’t think so, and after a single surprised second he wrapped his arms around me and tucked me under his chin.
Dakota said something that had Julian responding, but I was far more focused on comforting the cinnamon-and-spice scented man that was holding me.
Caedmon was so many wonderful things, most of which he didn’t see in himself because of how he had been raised, but I wanted to show him.
My confidence in our relationship had grown so much recently, especially after I’d marked him, and I was no longer holding back when it came to him.
Even if my own insecurities got the best of me sometimes.
When his hand slid under my jaw and tipped it up, his dark green eyes flashed with gold that had me nearly melting.
Despite the man viewing so much of life in a cold and clinical light, he was so warm, like something out of a fantasy novel.
He was beautiful, from his dark hair and olive skin tone, his only imperfection a single scar on his upper lip.
Though I could hardly call it that because it only made me want to kiss it more.
Kiss him more. As if knowing, he brushed his lips against mine.
“Thank you, mon ange.”
My angel. That was what that meant—that was how he viewed me. I couldn’t even begin to explain how insane that was to me, that someone as beautiful and untouchable as Caedmon viewed me as an angel.
“Always,” I murmured.
“You should have come to us, Tore, that’s all I’m saying.” Tore’s father’s voice had me turning in Caedmon’s arms as he stepped back from his son, disappointment painted across his face. “You have an entire pack for support.”
“I do,” Tore agreed, motioning to the group of us. “I have an entire pack right here. When I left home, you knew I wasn’t coming back.”
Tore’s father swallowed as sadness filled his gaze. I walked over to Tore and leaned against his side as his father moved his attention from the floor back to his son. “We all miss you. Your mom misses you.”
Tore’s jaw tightened. “You haven’t come here once, not until you heard I had a mate, so it’s hard for me to believe that.”
“You know it’s hard with the pack—”
“And the pack comes before your own children,” Tore bit out. “I know.”
His father’s face filled with remorse as he shook his head. “I didn’t disagree with your actions—”
“Right.” Tore chuckled before shaking his head, frustration clear on his face. “Listen, I don’t want to talk about this, especially not with Effie right here. Hopefully you can understand that.”
“Of course,” he said, then met my gaze. “Effie Harlow, it’s good to meet you. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Same,” I stated softly, although I wasn’t positive that was the case.
“Just consider visiting, Tore,” he said a final time before turning to walk out. Tore exhaled and shook his head, making me feel a stab of sadness for him as we were left in silence. Hastain was the only one left, unconscious on the floor.
No one had picked him up. It showed me that even if people would have agreed with him tonight, it would have been out of fear rather than loyalty.
Or maybe my mates hadn’t let anyone help him.
“We need to talk,” Ryder said. “Decide what to do.”
“We need to leave here,” Caedmon added immediately. “Soon.”
I nibbled my lip. “If we planned on going forward with what she said…” I paused, not wanting to give too many details since Hastain was still in the room. “Where would we need to go first?”
“Where the true magic was lost,” Ryder hissed. “My home.”