a walking billboard for her services even though, these days, he never allowed her to do the permanent DNA bonding that meant the color would “stick” even once he shifted. Mostly, nothing showed up when he was in wolf form, his molecules rearranging themselves into another pattern, the pattern that created the timber wolf who was also him, but there had been that one time when he’d ended up with a sparkly gold ear.
Never again.
Despite the limitation that meant each look rarely lasted past a day—more often only hours—he didn’t even have to go to Louisa. If she thought he’d gone too long without a change, she’d hunt him down. Once, when he’d been too busy, she’d done it right at his desk as he continued to handle pack business, including their new alliance with the BlackSea changelings. He’d ended up with tiny silver stars all over his hair.
The pups in his den had adored it.
Garnet had asked him if he’d fallen into a play vat at the day-care center.
He grinned again; maybe he’d have Louisa redo that look. Or maybe not. Grin fading, he looked at his hair again. Needling Garnet had always been a way to stay connected to her while keeping physically away—but if he was serious about letting her go, he had to stop the needling, stop the flirting, cut that final fragile tie between them. He’d already given up her friendship, given up her laughter and the way she’d once looked at him. Only this remained.
Not yet, whispered the desperation inside his soul. She hasn’t chosen a mate, isn’t with anyone. We don’t have to give up every part of her.
Blowing out a breath at the words that only reiterated his craving to call Garnet his own, he walked out of the guest room to which he’d been shown. He’d arrived at Garnet’s den fifteen minutes earlier, had taken the time to stow his gear and try to get his head on straight, but it was time to touch base with her, begin work.
The first person he ran into was a hugely gravid Ruby.
Garnet’s older sister ran—or tried to run—toward him. “Kenny!” Her legs were covered by colorful leggings, her top half by a stretchy black top.
Wrapping her gently in his arms, he pretended to bite her ear. “Stop that, or I’ll start calling you Crumpet.” An infamous nickname arising from an incident when Ruby had been a juvenile.
She elbowed him, all frown and big blue eyes under a short and tumbled cap of shiny blonde hair. “Shuddup about that. I’m a highly respected maternal now.”
“And I’m a lieutenant.” He bent down to kiss her on the cheek.
“A gorgeous one at that.” Patting his jaw with a slender hand, her nails painted hot red, she smiled in open affection. “Thanks for the foot spa voucher. How did you know my ankles are currently cankles?”
“I bet your ankles are as sexy as always.” Except for the belly and a slight, rosy fullness to her cheeks, Ruby looked exactly the same as always: petite and ready to take on the world.
Just like her younger sister.
“You’re too smooth for your own good, Kenji Tanaka, but as one of your year group, I’m immune. Remember those mud fights? Man, you had a wicked left arm.” Laughter in blue eyes that were so like Garnet’s. “Now, spill. Did Steele say something?” she asked, referring to her twin and Kenji’s best friend.
“He wouldn’t dare lest the wrath of Ruby fall on him.”
Said bundle of wrath tried to cuff Kenji around the ear.
“I got the idea from Louisa,” he admitted with a grin. “Wanted to send you a gift and she said she would’ve killed for a foot spa when she was pregnant.” The hairdresser had been spraying gold sparkles on his hair at the time, while he signed off on den expenditures.
He’d wanted to be ready for an upcoming comm meeting with Garnet.
“Well, you hit a home run.” Ruby crooked a finger and, when he bent closer, kissed him on the cheek. “Talking of pups . . . I always thought you and Garnet would . . . you know.”
Knives stabbed straight into his gut couldn’t have hurt more than that simple, playful statement. “Yeah?” He gave her a teasing smile and said the expected thing, the one that wouldn’t expose the raw wound that was his heart. “She’ll fall to my charms one of these days, never fear.”
Fresh lines formed between Ruby’s eyes. “Um.” She glanced around before waving him