wracked my chest.
“What do I do?” Wade said frantically.
Sascha spoke from behind me. “I don’t know. Make her stop somehow.”
“I don’t speak female, wolf man. You want to bone her on the regular, you make her stop.”
He all but shoved me into Sascha’s arms, who held me close, resting his chin atop my head. Our good juju seeped under my skin immediately, and I recovered the strength to close my tear ducts.
Embarrassing.
Maybe overdue.
And maybe I’d hide here for a while.
“Thank you,” Sascha said.
Wade’s salted caramel took on a slight burned tinge. “It wasn’t for you. And I’ve heard that you’re holding out on the final mating meets. That’s bullshit. You know Andie wants them over and done with.”
A few growls rose around us.
Sascha didn’t share that tidbit with his pack?
“That’s between Andie and me,” Sascha said stiffly.
Did he think I’d told Wade the reason why? I hoped not.
“Actually, as leaders, this is between you, Andie, our tribe, and your pack. Pull your head out of your ass, Sascha. Your lives don’t just belong to you.”
Big ouch.
Sascha didn’t say anything, and a quick sniff told me he was considering Wade’s remark.
There was something undeniably sexy about men who could do that.
I think so, my wolf rushed to say.
I rolled my eyes, untangling myself.
Wade dug around in Ella F and held up a bag. “Clothes for you. Because I’m a genius. You can thank me alongside begging for my forgiveness when you organise and execute a King Wade Day in my honour.”
I meekly took the bag and padded past the silent Luther to change in the bungalow.
When I returned, the pair stood in silence.
“Cool.” I cleared my throat. “I apologise again for risking your life, Sascha. I won’t let it happen again.”
He nodded vaguely.
“You risked his life?” Wade said.
“She nearly killed herself by avoiding the shift.”
Wade’s gaze landed heavy on me. “That true?”
“Yep.”
Wade directed me to the car and peered back at Sascha. “Maybe your head isn’t up your ass, Luther. Maybe it’s only your finger.”
My grin faded as Sascha walked around to my open door.
He braced against the car, and though he’d put on sweatpants, the front-row seats to his ab show were more than enough for my libido.
Holy fuck.
Wade slid into the driver’s seat and cocked a brow at Sascha’s stomach, then my flushed face.
Ugh.
Sascha crouched, resting a hand on my thigh. “Please be careful, little bird.”
I heard what he didn’t say. No matter that he didn’t smell an enemy during our run, I did. Someone was following me.
“I will. I’ll also add that you’re very lucky this worked out or I’d never have forgiven you.”
The Luther tapped his nose. “Your smells intertwine when you’re together. Not luck. You needed a friend, whether you believed it or not.”
“We have a friend smell. Cute,” Wade said.
Sascha leaned closer. “About the meets. We’ll continue without delay. It’s selfish of me to do otherwise. Message when you’re free.”
Hesitating, he kissed my cheek.
Fresh heat poured into my face. I didn’t even need to look to know Wade’s smirk was dialled to Cheshire cat.
Sweat licked my palms. Should I do something? Stay like this?
Sascha released my thigh.
His honey eyes locked on mine. “I’ll see you soon.”
19
“What’s her name?” I asked.
Wade took the car keys from me and pocketed them. “Jessi Angell.”
Sounded like a boutique sports clothing brand. “Anything I should know?”
The time for making an effort to meet every steward had started today. Tuesday afternoons were now blocked out for the job. For someone who wasn’t big on most people, Wade knew everyone, which made him the perfect person for introductions.
I knocked, and a short woman answered.
“Head Steward,” she gasped.
“Jessi, isn’t it?” I held out a hand that she automatically took, blurting a “Yes.”
Wade intervened. “The head steward is trying to get around to meet us all. Do you have ten minutes for a quick introduction?”
The ten-minute hint was appreciated. The first four visits took over two hours—I couldn’t blame stewards for wanting to ask the same questions, but I felt more like a politician with each passing second.
What are your plans for the tribe?
Do you think we can win?
We were so shocked when Herc’s will was read.
How is Rhona doing?
We followed Jessi inside.
Whoa.
Plants took up nearly every available space in the cabin. A potted tree behind the flower-print sofa was so large it now grew sideways along the ceiling.
“You like nature,” I said after a beat.
She flushed. “Well, yes. I think it’s our duty to love nature. I’ve always felt a call.”
That was something