Dune dips his head. “They’re good dogs, Mr. Baker. But they’re more than that—they’re soldiers. They’ve seen things, lost handlers. Give them patience, give them consistency, and they’ll give you everything.”
My chest tightens again. Trey must see it, because he steps behind me, his hands resting lightly on my shoulders.
“We can do that,” he says softly, his voice a low promise meant for both the dogs and me.
Captain Dune stands, giving a final nod. “I’ll have a walk with them and get them situated. Let them get the lay of the land. You’ll start command training tomorrow morning, nine sharp.”
As he leads the dogs around the back of the property, I catch one last glance of them—Artemis’s tail flicking once, Klause’s ears pricking at the faint sound of Trey’s voice as he murmurs something under his breath.
The moment they disappear down the steps, Trey exhales, dragging a hand through his hair.
“Well,” he mutters, grinning faintly, “guess we’ve got ourselves a furry security team.”
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb…They are our guardians,” I whisper. “They feel like guardians.”
Trey wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close until I can feel his heartbeat against my back.
“Nun’s gotta nun, I suppose… they seem pretty incredible. Army veteran woofers, with an army guy in his…was that like a dress outfit? To help them settle in?”
“Nah, just wanted him in that to make you a little uncomfortable…you know…to fuck with you a bit.”
“Wait, so he’s not a soldier?”
“Dude. Heis. He’s basically fucking Rambo.”
“But with wolves?”
“Belgian Malinois. Super dogs, basically.”
“They’re not going to bite me, right? Because Klause and I…seemed to bond. He stood by me—we shared a moment…”
“Nah, you’ll probably be fine,” Chace says, not meeting my eyes, smirking despite himself. “They’ve been through a lot.Want to work. And I can’t think of better people to give them love and purpose.”
“I like them. Thank you, Chace. That’s…really thoughtful.”
“If the wife approves, then I guess they’ll fit right in, huh, baby? Everyone in this house is a little battle-scarred—but we’re still standing.”
Chapter thirty-one
Trey
Love me – Ex Habit
She stands in front of the open closet like she’s facing a firing squad. The soft glow from the vanity spills across her bare legs, catching on the shimmer of her hair as it tumbles down her back. Dresses hang in neat rows, silk and sequins and lace—half of which I picked out—but Seraphina Carmichael, wait, shit. Baker.Seraphina Baker, looks like she’s about to start praying for guidance instead of getting dressed for a club.
Her fingers brush over a black dress on a hanger, then pull back like it burned her. She sighs, quiet and shaky. I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her for a minute. There’s something about the way she bites her lip when she’s nervous that kills me every time. She doesn’t know how beautiful she looks justexisting.
“You okay, baby?” My voice comes out low, softer than I meant.
She startles a little, glancing over her shoulder. Her reflection catches me in the mirror—me in my ripped black jeans andchain, her in one of my oversized T-shirts, bare feet curling into the rug.
“I don’t know what to wear,” she admits. “I’ve never been to a nightclub before.” Her voice dips like it’s a confession, like saying it out loud might summon judgment.
I step closer, slow, until the scent of her shampoo hits me—cherries and vanilla. My hands find her hips before she can shy away, fingers sliding up under the hem of my T-shirt.
“You want me to pick something for you?”
She nods, eyes still on the mirror.
