Page 47 of Wicked Wolf

“Are you sleeping here all alone?” Jesse asked when she set him down.

“Yes. For now. Want to see your room? I don’t have anything in it yet since I figured you’d want your own things.”

“Okay, I like that. But I think you should come home with us. That way you’re not alone. Being alone is sad.”

Tears pricked at her eyes, and she shook her head. “You and your Dad need to stay at your place so you can finish getting better. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

Jesse stopped his perusal of the house and turned toward her. “But you’re all alone. Can’t you stay with us for one night? That way you aren’t sad anymore?”

She swallowed hard and opened her mouth to say something, but Quinn stepped in.

“I think that’s a great idea, Gina,” he said, his voice low. “That will give us some time to get to know one another.”

She searched his face, wondering what the hell he was thinking. She didn’t know if she could do this. She might have been strong, but she wasn’t sure she could handle being near him and not falling for him.

How was she going to do it when he was living with her?

“Just one night, Gina,” he said softly. “Just to see.”

If she could handle one night with him and not fall, she’d be okay. She could do this. She could find a way to make it work. That balance between heaven and hell was right at her fingertips. She just had to find a way to make it work.

“Okay. Let me pack a bag.”

Approval shone in Quinn’s eyes, and he smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

“Yay!” Jesse rushed at her and grabbed her legs in a hug. “I can’t wait. I love sleepovers.”

She ran a hand over his head. Sleepovers…with Quinn.

Oh, boy. This was going to be her own personal hell.

She’d make it work though. She’d chosen her fate. Now she had to live with it.

* * * *

“You’re kidding,” Quinn said on a laugh. He took a sip of his beer and shook his head. “How long did it take Finn to figure it out?”

“Well, the smell got pretty bad after a week. He found the moldy cheese in his closet soon after.” Gina grinned. “He wasn’t happy, but hello, he told Matt that I had a crush on him, so I had to get back at him somehow.”

He snorted then shook his head. After Jesse had invited Gina over to stay the night, they’d quickly packed her a bag and headed back to the Talon den. He’d done his best to make sure she felt comfortable, but he wasn’t sure how she was doing. They spent a few hours together each day, but other than the fact that Jesse treated her more warmly than he had before—which was saying something since the kid had latched onto her quickly—they hadn’t really done anything differently.

Seeing her in the home she’d chosen for them had shocked him. He’d known it was coming and had given her the reins since he hadn’t been able to do anything else for her. The home, however, felt like he could have moved right it. It wasn’t huge but had a warm feeling that pulled at him, even if nothing was truly unpacked. He liked the fact that she was waiting for him to do the rest. It was as if she wanted to make sure they were part of it. It wasn’t just them moving into her home. It was the three of them moving into their home.

Things sure changed fast as hell, but he was beginning to find his footing. Telling the Talons that he was leaving had almost killed him, but they’d been supportive. They understood the sacrifice Gina had made and hadn’t judged them for it. Or at least, he hadn’t caught on to it. He’d always hold the Talons in his heart. They were the Pack of his family, his ancestors, his son, but he wouldn’t go into the Redwoods without them knowing he’d be handing over his allegiance.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was something he had to do. He at least had that much honor left.

“You’re really close to your brothers then,” he said, bringing his focus back to the matter at hand. He wanted to get to know Gina. It scared him how much. He might have gone into his mating, this partnership, thinking he would hide himself from her, but he didn’t know how much longer he could do that. The mating bond pulsed between them, bringing him closer to her, even as he tried to deny it.

He wasn’t sure what was coming or even how they would travel the path they’d made for themselves, but he knew he couldn’t go on trying to act like he wasn’t affected. His wolf wanted her; he wanted her.

Could he one day love her?

If he could let go and face the chance of pain, yes, yes he could. She was strong, worthy, funny, brilliant, and beautiful. Everything he wanted in a mate. Or at least, everything he thought he’d wanted in a mate before he’d met Helena.

Helena had been striking. She had been one of the most beautiful women in the entire den. He’d liked the way she’d laugh or try to joke around more than anything. She didn’t take much seriously, which he’d thought had helped him calm down after a shift or long day spent dealing with wolves who tried to prove their dominance to him. The Pack had been much different before Gideon took over, and the transition had not been easy. Coming home to Helena had been nice because she just wanted to play or have sex. Easy.

Then she’d gotten pregnant, and things turned to shit.