prince?"
"Dog called you a silly name."
My eyebrow lifted curiously. Dog and I had been as close as a shifter and canine could be, but I wouldn't call our relationship affectionate. I treated him the same I did my pack brothers, with respect and a hefty dose of harassment.
Storri's lips gathered in the corner of his mouth. His cheeks glowed a rosy pink, and his hair shone. "It doesn't really translate well."
I cocked my head to the side. "If he's calling me something, I should know what it is." I glared at my furry companion, but he just farted and strode out the door.
Storri watched him go with an unconcerned smile. "Sometimes what animals say doesn't come through in words but ideas. I think that happens when there is no corresponding word in English. The closest I can come up with is a hanging turd."
I snorted to hide my laugh. "A hanging turd, eh? We'll see what he calls me when I make him sleep on the floor from now on." Storri's bed wasn't large enough for the three of us, and I wouldn't bring him into my room full of past horrors. I loved Dog, but it was time I had my mate by himself in the bed.
"You two shouldn't fight," Storri chided. "You're best friends."
"Sometimes best friends fight." I released his face and cupped his nape with one hand while bringing the other to settle over his hip. The position brought our bodies together and urged his face upward. "Is this okay?"
"Yes," he whispered. "I think I'm getting used to all your muscles."
My muscles? That was what had scared him? Not the fact that I turned into a wolf? Or that I'd basically found him and claimed him in one breath? "You don't like my muscles?"
Storri's face crumpled. "No! I do love your muscles! They're just?? He leaned back, my hand at his waist keeping our bodies pressed together. "??o much."
My chest swelled along with my biceps. I stood straight, preening for my mate who loved my muscles.
"I don't dislike any part of you." His eyes finally dropped to the package I'd set down before holding him. "Is that what you left to get?"
I nodded, bringing Storri back to the chair, but this time, I sat down first and gently tugged him into my lap. His spine stiffened, but he didn't attempt to pull away.
"I'm too heavy," he whined, keeping his weight on his toes.
"Not for me." My nose found his neck, and I rubbed just the tip along his skin. He smelled of cherries and cedar. I'd been able to rub my scent into him the day before, but it was already fading. It would, until I claimed him fully or until I had a chance to scent mark him with my cum again. "Everything about you is just right."
Storri snorted. "Okay, Goldilocks. What's in the box?"
"It's for you." I pulled him deeper onto my lap. His ass wiggled against my cock as his feet left the floor. I put the box in his hands. "I need to confess. I searched your medical records from before you were taken and found your old prescription. It might have changed since then, but I figured these would be better than nothing until we can get you an appointment with an optometrist."
I'd ruined the surprise, but Storri beamed anyway as he dug his fingertips under the cardboard flap and ripped the flaps free. He yanked the packaging material away, letting it float to the ground in his excitement. Storri gasped and clutched the small glasses case to his chest. "How did you even know that I needed them? Things are just a little blurry. Did I say something when I was sleeping?"
Storri remained a noisy sleeper, but that wasn't what had happened. "I noticed you squinting when you look at things far away and remembered you had glasses on in your school picture. What do you think? Do you like them? I asked for almost the same exact style as you had, but a little different."
I'd gone for a slimmer black frame with silver embellishments around the lenses and down the glasses arms.
Storri hadn't replied yet. He held the glasses in his hand, his mouth open in shock. Then, suddenly, he dropped the case and the glasses and let them sit in his lap. His bottom lip was clenched between his teeth, and a line of worry was carved down the skin between his eyes.
"What is it? What happened? I can