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I spread my arms. “Did you treat everyone like pack and family today?” I don’t add anything else, just watch as guilt softens into resolve.

Jace stands first, steps over, and offers his hand. “I’m sorry Damian. Do you want to play together?” He smiles at Damian. Damian smiles back and nods. Little Jocelyn, Piper, even Milo follow. Soon the class is up playing a game of rabbit, rabbit, wolf. The circle shrinks, the pups are running, laughter tentatively rising, and soon they’re chasing one another around desks. The teach mindlinks me, “Thank you Luna.”

“Anytime.”

We leave the classroom with Paige on our heels.

Paige turns to Arlene. “I’m sorry. He heard it from me.”

Arlene meets her gaze, her expression gentle but weary. Arlene smiles, but I can tell it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you for telling me.” They exchange a brief, slightly awkward nod before Paige slips away.

Outside the classroom, Arlene and I fall into step. In the hallway, Rylan and Darian lean against the lockers, Rylan’s broad shoulders relaxed, Darian’s arms folded, watching us.

Our mate smells good.

“Focus.”

I am focused… on how I want to ride…

“You know the plan.”

I know. I know.

I reach my mate and kiss him gently as I pull out Rylan’s black card from his pocket. “Situation handled.” I tap it on my palm. “We’re going shopping.”

Rylan’s eyes go wide. “You really mean now?”

Darian chuckles. Arlene laughs, resting a hand on her belly. Darian’s grin softens as he watches her, and I catch the way his eyes linger. Now, his smile reaches his eyes.

I tuck the card away. “Shopping trip is shewolves only.”

Rylan pouts. “That’s not fair.”

“Sorry, only those who helped resolve the situation are invited.”

Arlene hooks an arm through mine as we head for the door. Rylan and Darian fall into step behind us, still chuckling. Our footsteps echo together down the hallway, warm and noisy as dawn.

“Fine. Darian and I will do our own outing. ‘A training outing. ‘And… If we happen to be in the same stores… carrying your bags can count as weight training, right, Darian?”

Darian laughs, Rylan bumps his elbow.

“Absolutely, Alpha.”

I wonder what Arlene was trying to ask me earlier.

18

Arlene’s POV

One month later.

I grip the edge of the dresser with white knuckles as Darian's cock drives into me from behind, thick and relentless, splitting me open with each measured thrust. My belly swells between my body and the wood, just enough to remind us both what we've made, and the pressure of him filling me sends a shudder through my thighs. His hand cups my breast, heavy and tender these past weeks, rolling the peaked nipple between his calloused fingers until I whimper into the crook of my own arm.

"Feel that?" His breath is hot against my ear, rough and low. "Feel what you do to me."

His other hand wraps around my throat, not squeezing, just holding, tilting my head back until my spine curves and his mouth finds mine. The kiss is sloppy, desperate, his teeth catching my lower lip as his hips snap forward again. I arch into him, grinding my ass against the hard muscle of his stomach, taking him deeper. The wet sounds of my core around his dick fill the bedroom, obscene, slick, perfect.

My eyes burn gold. I can feel the shift, the wolf rising beneath my skin as the bond hums between us like a plucked wire. I clench my pussy around him, tight, deliberate, and he groans into my mouth, a sound that vibrates through his chest and into my back.