Outside, the day grew colder as evening approached. But inside, wrapped in blankets and each other, they were warm.
"I still want to talk more," she murmured against his lips a little while later.
"Tomorrow," he promised between kisses. "I'll tell you the rest tomorrow."
"And tonight?"
He pulled her closer, his wolf finally calm for the first time in days. "Tonight, we keep each other warm." Suddenly there was no urgency to be inside her. Instead, he let himself enjoy the anticipation, knowing it would happen very soon.
She smiled and settled against his chest, her ear over his heart. Within minutes, her breathing evened out in sleep.
Lex stayed awake, holding her, marveling at the trust she'd placed in him. Tomorrow would bring complications. The pack would have opinions. There would be threats and arguments.
But tonight, she was his. And he was hers.
And for now, that was enough.
Chapter 7
Lex
Saturday night
Later—much later—he heard it. A sound that didn't belong. His wolf went on instant alert, but at first, he didn't move, not wanting to wake Jules.
Then the sound came again. A soft footfall on the porch.
Carefully, he extracted himself from his warm woman and her blankets, settling her gently on the couch. She murmured but didn't wake.
He moved silently to the window and looked out.
Nothing. But the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Something was out there. Or someone.
He grabbed his boots and coat, then slipped outside, closing the door silently behind him.
The air was bitter cold as the sun began to lower below the mountains. He scanned the tree line, nostrils flaring as he tried to catch a scent.
There. Movement in the shadows.
"I know you're there," he said without raising his voice. "Show yourself."
After a moment, a figure emerged from the trees.
Stan.
Because of fucking course it was.
"Heard you've got a human in your cabin," he said. His tone was casual, but his eyes were hard as they met Lex's.
"What I do in my own home is none of your business."
"It is when it affects the pack." Stan meandered closer to the porch, arms at his sides. "You know the rules, Lex. No humans. It's too dangerous."
"Rules change. Riko has Addison now. Adam has Faye."
"And look at the disruption that's caused." Stan's eyes glowed briefly in the darkness. "The pack is divided. Weak. All because our new alpha can't keep it in his pants."
Lex growled low in warning. "Watch your mouth."
