“Someone who can ease your guilt.”
Bethany took the phone and pressed it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hey my little protégé,” Jen’s voice chirped through the speaker.
“Jen?”
“The one and only,” she cooed.
“Are you awake?”
“Well, seeing as how it’s a little after one in the afternoon here, yes I’m awake.”
“Where are you?” Bethany asked, confused by Jen’s words.
“I’m in South Carolina making new friends.” Her words were upbeat, but Bethany could hear the weariness beneath it. “That’s neither here nor there. Your fur ball says you’re feeling bad that you’re shacked up, getting it on with him, instead of out here playing with the rest of us.”
“He said that?” Bethany couldn’t help but laugh. Drake was rolling his eyes and shaking his head as he climbed back into bed beside her.
“Yep, those exact words. Hold on a sec,” she said.
Bethany could hear arguing going on and then someone, she thought it was Jacque, yelped.
“Sorry about that. Jacque was just getting a little too big for her breeches. I had to knock her down a couple of sizes. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, don’t feel guilty, Beth. You’ve been through hell and back. And you may not realize it, but now that you’re the mate of a Canis lupus, you’re about to go through hell again.” Jen paused. “It’s not all bad. You won’t ever have to worry about him cheating on you or leaving you. Although thenot leaving youthing can get old because they kind of mean that literally. Like they never. Ever. Leave.”
Bethany laughed. “He does like to stay close.” Drake had wiggled his arm underneath her and pulled her body snuggly against his. He growled at her.
“Is that butthead growling at you?” Jen asked. “See, you can’t come help us save the world because you’ve got to get him trained. Try a kennel. I hear those are pretty effective. I’ve got some shock collars stashed in our suite. If you get desperate, by all means, zap his ass.”
“I think you’ve given Jen enough of your attention,”Drake told her through their bond.
“Drake says I have to go,” Bethany told her and then laughed when Drake poked her in the side.
“Tell Drakey poo that I’ll let that slide this time, but only because I’m like three thousand miles away or something, and sleep deprived. Oh, and don’t tell my mate you talked to me if you happen to see him. I don’t think you will because they’re hunting down Costin right now, but I like to cover all my bases.”
“The Alpha doesn’t know that you’re in South Carolina?” Drake asked.
“Drake, go back to ogling your mate and stay out of this convo. Bethany,” Jen said.
“Yes?”
“Give him hell, girl. It’s in the book.”
“There is no book.” Bethany heard Jacque say.
“What book?” Bethany asked.
“The handbook,” Jen answered, not clarifying anything at all.
“Oh, are you writing a handbook for dormants on the healthy transition of living with a new mate?” Bethany asked. “Brilliant idea.”
“Why yes, yes I am.”
“That could come in really handy,” Bethany admitted.
“No it wouldn’t,” Drake grumbled.
Jen laughed. “Bethany, you can be my co-writer. Take notes. In fact, we can include a chapter on all that stuff you, me, and Red chitchatted about. Is your face bright red? I bet your face is bright red. Did you tell your mate that I told you all about ora—”
