for that piece of information. You’re definitely making me feel less weird.”
“Costin has become the resident example of what happens to a wolf if he loses his mate,” Decebel explained. “Jen was worried he was going to smother Sally, literally, though not on purpose.”
Costin shrugged. “She’s mine. I would never hurt her, but I wouldn’t allow her to pull herself away from me.” He looked Adam right in the eye as he spoke, and Fane could feel the intensity of Costin’s words. “I used whatever means I had to in order to keep her close to me, allowing me to touch her.”
“Like what?” Adam asked. His eyes watched Costin closely as he leaned toward the wolf.
“Mostly seduction.” Costin smiled slowly. “You have a unique effect on your mate that no other male would or could ever have. Think of how much you crave her. Right now. Think about it. Describe it.” Costin narrowed his eyes, challenging Adam to open himself up and let them help him. The things that came naturally to them as Canis lupus males obviously did not come naturally to a mated male of a different race.
Adam bit his bottom lip. One of his legs bounced up and down while he continued to meet Costin’s eyes. He was a pretty dominant male to be able to hold the stare of Fane’s third-ranking wolf.
“How much do you crave her?” Costin asked again, more slowly. “Right now. What are you feeling?”
“I crave her like every breath is going to be my last if I don’t have her.”
“Good, keep going,” Costin encouraged, his voice rumbling a bit as his own emotions rose.
“When I’m in the same room with her, I can’t take my eyes off of her. The whole damn world could burn around us, and she would be all I see. I’ve even … damn this is embarrassing.”
“I promise you,” Fane said, “you’re safe with us. We’ve all done worse, I’m sure.”
“I seduced Sally in her sleep,” Costin said, no shame present in his face. “When she forbade me from touching her. Right in front of everyone. She was pissed.” He looked very pleased with himself.
Adam sighed. “A few times when she’s slept, I’ve used my magic to make sure she was in a deep enough sleep that she wouldn’t feel me. Then I held her. It wasn’t for long because her wolf isn’t as susceptible to my magic. The wolf would wake up pretty quickly, and then I’d have to flash from the room. Sometimes I would just sit there, close enough to feel her breath on my face.”
“Can’t you do that thing where people can’t see you?” Costin asked, a jealous look on his face.
“Yes, but don’t be envious. It doesn’t work on my mate. I’ve tried. The bond is too deep. Much of my magic isn’t very effective on her. She’s gotten curious in the past, and we’ve experimented.” Adam’s smile dropped as though the memories hurt too much to even think about. “I feel like I’m losing her,” he admitted. “For the past month, I’ve wondered if maybe our bond isn’t as… I don’t know. Maybe it’s not as unbreakable as the bond between two wolves. Maybe because we’re not the same species the bond is different.”
“If she left you, what would you do?” Fane asked.
“I’d follow her,” Adam said without shame. “I would be glued to her side. She would never be free of me because I never want to be free of her.”
“You wouldn’t let her go even if it was what she wanted? If she told you it’s what would make her happy?” Decebel asked, a hint of ridiculousness in his question.
Flames danced in Adam’s eyes, and his body hummed with power. “She’s mine. My mate. The other half of my soul. Why would I let the other half of my soul leave me when it would hurt us both?”
“I hear what you’re saying,” Costin said. “But let me put it in wolf terms for you. Words that Crina would understand. If Sally came to me and said she wanted to leave, if she said ‘Costin, I just think I’d be happier without you.’” His voice rose as he tried to sound like his female. “‘I don’t know if I love you anymore. I need you to give me some time.’” He stopped, and his eyes glowed with his wolf. “My response would be, ‘Sally-mine, I hear you. I believe your feelings are valid. But the only way you’re getting rid of