just didn’t. But Mila’s different. Stronger.”
“I know that.”
“Then don’t expect her to pick up and leave. Trust that you have it in you to make someone happy. I get that it’s easier said than done, especially when your parents told you they had you to fix their relationship and yet they were never happy. But the only people who could have fixed that relationship was them. The weight of that responsibility should never have been on you.”
“I know all that too,” said Dominic, a defensive bite to his tone.
“And yet you’ve deliberately never taken your hookups further or seriously before now. You’ve kept them shallow and trivial. That doesn’t mean that it’s all you’re capable of.”
“I never said otherwise.”
“You didn’t have to. I know how your mind works. Think about this.” Dante took a step toward him. “I was there the first time you met Mila. She smiled a little as she talked with you, but I could almost feel the sadness in her. The loneliness. It was right there in her eyes.” He paused, sliding his gaze to Mila. “It’s not there now.”
Feeling like he’d taken a punch to the gut, Dominic didn’t breathe for a second. The Beta walked away, slapping Dominic’s back as he passed.
Dominic looked at his cat, who’d been joined by Roni and Greta. The three were chuckling. Yes, Greta was chuckling. After dumping his bottle in a trash bag, he crossed to the trio.
Finally free of the kids, Mila turned to him, and her face softened. “Hey. Greta’s been telling me some stories about you.”
Dominic curled an arm around his cat’s waist. “Don’t believe a word she says.” Ignoring Greta’s affronted gasp, he stared into Mila’s eyes, and he saw that Dante was right. The shadows were gone. She was healing. Still hurting in some ways, but no longer plagued by the emotions that had once stained those pretty eyes. And now he needed to be alone with her. He’d shared her with the pack long enough.
“Come on, I’ll take you on that tour I promised you.” Unmoved by the protests of his pack mates, who wanted them to stay longer, Dominic guided her through the woods, heading back the way they came. “I like how relaxed and settled your cat feels right now.”
“She likes it here.”
“How about we let our animals go for a run together before I give you a tour of the caves?”
Mila’s eyes brightened. “Yeah, she’d like that.”
They both shed their clothes and tucked the pile between thick tree roots. It was a struggle not to stroke and caress Mila’s naked form, but he resisted, knowing he’d end up taking her right there if he touched her just once. “Let me shift first. My wolf wants a little attention from you.”
“All right.” Bones snapped and popped as he shifted. In mere seconds, a powerfully built wolf with salt-and-pepper fur stood before Mila. “Wow, you shift fast.” She crouched and petted his dense fur as he shoved his way into her space, rubbing his jaw against hers and licking at her face. Then he was circling and rubbing against her, marking her with his scent. “You’re as territorial as Dominic.” Answering her cat’s need to be free, Mila shifted.
The wolf nuzzled the little cat. Sniffed and rubbed against her. She stood tall, watching him, her eyes narrowed.
The wolf bowed down, sticking his rear in the air and wagging his tail, inviting the cat to play. Claws sheathed, she batted at him with a playful hiss. They tussled. Pounced. Wrestled each other to the ground.
Done playing, they leisurely loped through the woods. Skirted thick trees. Leaped over logs. Chased small animals.
The cat bared a fang when the wolf tried herding her back to their clothes, but her human side insisted it was time to go. With an unhappy growl, the cat followed him . . . but not before first biting into his flank. The wolf didn’t even flinch.
Once they’d shifted back to their human forms and dressed, Dominic took Mila into the cave dwelling. She’d expected the tunnels to be dark, but the light-cream sandstone walls kept them surprisingly bright. He showed her around each of the levels, giving her a glimpse of the living area, kitchen, kids’ playroom, and the infirmary.
Mila’s cat loved it. For the feline, the cave dwelling was like the ultimate rockery.
Stopping outside a particular door, Dominic said, “This is my room.”
She followed him inside, surprised by the sheer size of it. She’d expected a standard bedroom,