“Hold still, a leannán,” Tynan tugged her jeans up and buttoned them. “There, all respectable for Oliver.”
“Thank you.” She reached up and pulled Tynan down for a kiss, too.
By the Gods, she was sweet.
As they walked her to her house, Donal tried not to think how pleasant it would be to start a fire and enjoy Margery in front of it. Savoring her without the urgency of the full moon matings. Sharing her with Tynan.
Although, in all reality, he’d been looking forward to simply spending time with her, mating or no mating.
But her littermate had arrived. She would need to be with her brother tonight.
A creak heralded the door opening and Oliver. “I expected you back sooner, sis. I heard the storm and was going to come and look for you.”
“You were?” Margery looked stunned, then almost tearful.
Donal stilled. How long had it been since anyone worried about this little wolflet that she’d be shocked when it happened?
She was going to have to get used to the feeling. By Herne’s hooves and horns, she was.
“Well, we’re all fine, if a bit wet.” Margery bumped her shoulder against Tynan’s, then Donal’s. “We were having fun.”
Oliver tilted his head, his nostrils flaring. The scent of desire in the air couldn’t be missed. His brows drew together. “Fun, huh.” After a narrow-eyed stare at Tynan and Donal, he smiled at his sister. “I made supper for us.”
Catching how the us meant for two and not four, Donal sighed.
His littermate gave him a wry look, then tugged a strand of Margery’s wet hair. “Right. We’ll be off, then. Have a good meal, you two.”
“Oh, but—” Margery turned an unhappy look at her brother.
“It’s fine, sweetling. You and your littermate have catching up to do.” Donal ran a hand down her arm. As a cat, he loathed being left out, but Margery needed time with her brother. Family was important. “Go shower and warm up. Come over to the clinic tomorrow, and you can start doing follow-up visits.”
Her smile was like sunlight streaking through rain clouds. “Perfect. I’ve got the breakfast shift at the diner, then I’ll see you.”
“Goodnight, you two. C’mon, sis.” Her brother leaned forward and took his sister’s hand.
Before Oliver could pull her away, Tynan, who normally was more diplomatic, cupped her cheek and kissed her lightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, little wolf.”
As they walked away, Donal rubbed his shoulder against Tynan’s in approval. Because they both knew where they were going with this, no matter what Oliver might think.
Chapter Fifteen
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - waning gibbous moon
Grumpy bear. A frown tugging at her lips, Margery strolled through the cool evening air, up the hill to the Wild Hunt tavern.
She’d tried to get Oliver to join her, but since last night, he’d been as irritable as a badger with a thorn in a paw.
Frustration and worry for him was a dull burn in her stomach as she crossed the parking lot. Dear Goddess, she was tired. It’d been a very full day.
Despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t help but smile.
She’d worked as a banfasa.
Today, she’d taught Walter—and his mate Sandy—some exercises to strengthen his muscles around a newly healed leg.
Then she’d visited three senior shifters to check nutrition and see how they were managing.
The elderly cat was doing all right since her daughter lived in a nearby village.
The senior wolf needed more help. With his permission, Margery discussed his needs with Bree who would get the pack involved.
Generys, an older bear shifter, had no one. Her only family lived in Canada.
When Margery reported the problem to Donal, he’d told her to talk with Calum. Scary thought, but the healer was right. Finding the needed resources for a patient was part of her job…and the Cosantir of a territory held all the resources.
She pulled open the tavern door and stepped inside.
Even though it was midweek, a Tuesday night, people filled the tables.
Then a woman raised her voice in song, and Margery stopped dead just inside the door.
To the left in the front corner that held the piano, Emma strummed a guitar as she sang The Legend of the First, telling of one of the first Daonain—the half-breed children of fae and humans. How the werewolf padded through the forest. All by himself. As the moon’s glow called to him, he sang to her of his loneliness.
The melody changed and brightened as Emma and the two males behind her swung into the chorus. And then every