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"What?" she demanded. "What are you doing, boy?"

The wolf looked up at her, golden eyes luminous in the dark. He whined again and gently butted her shoulder with his head.

He was as enormous in wolf form as he was in his human skin.

Fae stared at him before sighing with resignation.

"Fine," she muttered as she stepped aside.

He did not hesitate. Inside, she deliberately spread a blanket on the floor and pointedly looked at the wolf.

He circled once and made himself comfortable, eyes on her as she went back to her pallet.

When she woke in the morning, she was boiling.

Heat pressed against her from all sides. For the second time in weeks, a heavy weight pinned her in place.

She blinked sleep from her eyes and realized Blaidd had somehow managed to roll halfway on top of the pallet—and partly on top of her.

His fur was everywhere, including in her mouth.

She tried to shove at him, but he was a deadweight.

"Get off," she said, panting. "I cannot breathe. And I have fur in my mouth."

Fae shoved him harder. "Off!"

The wolf lifted his head slowly and opened his mouth in a yawn while golden eyes blinked in innocent confusion. Then, with exaggerated reluctance, he rolled away and stretched his long limbs, entirely unbothered.

She glared at him. "Outside."

He obeyed without argument, slipping through the open door and shifting back before dressing quickly.

By the time Aiko arrived, Blaidd was waiting on the veranda steps.

"Hi, Aiko."

She blinked at him warily. "Hi," she replied softly, offering a shy smile before slipping past him inside.

Moments later, Fae stepped out with her. She took off in a hurry with Blaidd following them at a distance.

They walked toward the small restaurant together, Aiko between them. The morning air was crisp, and the villagers were already moving about their day.

When they reached the entrance, Fae paused. "Are you coming?" she asked without looking at him.

Blaidd hesitated. The shopkeeper stood inside, her arms folded. The message was clear: he was not welcome.

Blaidd gave a small shake of his head. "I will wait."

Fae nodded once and went inside with Aiko.

They had barely sat down when Blaidd appeared at the doorway. He did not enter, just stood there, leaning slightly against the frame, as if being near her was enough.

The shopkeeper shot him another pointed look but said nothing as he took a seat next to Fae.

A bowl of rice, steamed vegetables, and pickled roots was set before Fae.

Before she could protest, Blaidd quietly slid a choice piece of venison from his own bowl into hers. Feeding a lifemate was a deeply intimate gesture, one he had never allowed himself to indulge in.