It didn’t matter how many times she saw it. Camillelovedogling her mate’s beautifully sculpted ass.
Magic rippled like heat over dry earth before it bubbled out in a searing wave. One moment her consort stood there in all his glory and the next, her coyote settled down on his haunches beside her.
Opening his mouth in a huge, coyote grin, he leaned his weight into her side and proceeded to cover her cheek, neck, and ear with playful licks.
“Ugh!” Camille laughed, swatting playfully at him. Golden eyes gleaming with mischief, Viktor paced around her in a circle, his tail wagging and his upper body lowered in a playful crouch. His fur brushed her sides and covered her in his natural, musky scent, before he padded forward to dance around the wild coyote.
There was a moment of hesitation as the coyote gave him a good sniff, wondering, perhaps, why the shifter smelled like an apex predator that could eat him, but it only lasted a handful of seconds. Camille watched the transformation with wide eyes. In an instant, all the coyotes sprang into motion — tails wagging, jaws opening to let tongues loll, and elegant legs moving in a spirited dance around one another.
The wild coyotes yipped with joy when Viktor pretended to snap at them, herding them closer to where she sat.
Suddenly she was overwhelmed with gray and brown and white fur as canines bobbed and weaved around her. Cold noses explored the back of her neck and her hair. Dirty paws tested the texture of her leggings. Jaws gently clamped on the fabric of her sweaty t-shirt and tugged.
A delighted laugh bubbled out of her. Camille raised her arms, not entirely sure what she was supposed to do with them, and let the coyotes rub themselves against her sides. When one got particularly bold and tried to bump her over onto her side, Viktor was there to give her a sharp nip on her haunch and a low warning growl.
Cowed, they were more gentle after that. Kisses to her neck and chin followed, though Camille doubted they were for her benefit. They were certainly more for Viktor, who watched them all with a look of intense pride.
Camille didn’t mind. They were damn cute. They could use her to ingratiate themselves with the alpha all they wanted.
While they frolicked around, trying to tempt Viktor into a game of chase, she indulged in petting the canines who decided to lounge beside her. She watched Viktor fall, tackled by a well-coordinated cluster, as she stroked velvety ears.
He’s giving up so much,she thought, pride and sorrow welling up with every delighted bark.
She knew that the pack needed to grow and that this was for the best, but watching him romp with the wild coyotes, she came to a new level of appreciation for what he was leaving behind.
A while later, as dawn crept closer and their time in the territory dwindled, Camille felt her consort settle his big, furred body beside her. Several more coyotes had joined them. Most were piled on top of one another around her legs and behind her back. Viktor had to muscle a sleepy canine out of the way to take his spot next to her.
With one last gentle lick to her cheek, he shifted back into his other form. His brows were drawn tight, but there was a soft smile on his lips when he reached for her.
Resting against his chest, she listened to the steady beat of his heart. “Better?”
“Yeah,” he answered, husky, “much better.”
Looking up at him through her lashes, she asked, “The weres will take care of them, right?”
Viktor caressed her cheek with a knuckle. “They better. I put it in the contract. No culling, no traps, no poison.”
Camille kissed the skin above his heart. “Good. Though I kind of wish we could take them with us.”
“I don’t think the wolves would appreciate that too much,” he replied. “There’s a shitload of them up that way, and I’d really rather not deal with a bunch of pissed off wolf packs — shifters or wild.”
“And they’re better off here, where they’re comfortable.” She sighed, thinking of soft fur and cool noses. “It would be nice, though.”
Viktor’s arms tightened around her. “Trust me, sweetheart, you’ll have plenty of coyotes around. As soon as the pack gets comfortable, I expect at least four or five new familiesanda lot of new cubs.” He winked. “If there’s anything coyotes know how to do, it’s make babies.”
Camille snorted with laughter. “Well, that’ll be nice at least. I do love the cubs.”
“You say that now, but wait until they get a hold of your heel collection.”
She waved a hand, totally unconcerned. “You’ll just have to buy me new ones, Alpha Hamilton.”
“Or you could make baby teeth holes the new chic,” he suggested.
“Or that.” They shared a soft smile. “It’ll be good, no matter what.”
Viktor bent his neck to skim his lips over her forehead. “Yeah, it really will be, sweetheart.”
* * *
