Mathlin’s heart squeezed. He took Titan’s healed arm into his hands, still trying to believe that this had actually worked. “I spent all that time making sure your bones were growing right, and with just a bit of cum, it’s just... completely healed? What the heck?”
“You were making sure it healedright,” Titan pointed out. “With no guidance, the healing would have been fucked. My bicep is proof of that. It’s not magically back to the way it was; your cum just sped up the torn muscles attaching themselves to each other. But that’s not the best healing. I still need you to set my bicep right again.”
Mathlin breathed out a sigh of relief. “Oh.”
Titan grinned. And suddenly Mathlin was swept into a tight hug, cradled against Titan’s broad, warm chest.
“I’ve been dreaming about doing this,” Titan rumbled, both his arms wrapped around Mathlin. “Fuck, it feels so good to use my arms again. Feels so good to hold you.”
Titan leaned in and sniffed, his chest expanding as he inhaled Mathlin’s scent.
Mathlin blushed.He’s breathing me in.“Doesn’t your bicep still hurt?”
“A little. I can live with it.” Titan rumbled, running his hand up and down Mathlin’s spine, before brushing his fingers through Mathlin’s hair. “I’ve wanted to touch you for ages. Now I can.”
Mathlin shivered. It wasn’t often that he managed to help people with his magic. He wasn’t powerful enough to do much.
But after several days of helping Titan with the simplest things—dressing, eating, moving things from one spot to another—this felt like victory. Freedom.
“I’m really glad it worked,” Mathlin said. “Even if it gave you cat eyes and whiskers. Hopefully it’s not permanent.”
Titan snorted. “I’ll take the cat face over months of healing. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Hey, you paid me to.” Mathlin only realized then, that by cutting short Titan’s healing process, it meant he had less of a reason to stick around. Why would Titan continue to hire him?
“Math?” Titan sniffed at him and frowned. “You smell worried. Is there something wrong?”
“Crap! Um, nothing!” Mathlin squeaked. He tried to hug Titan to distract him. “I’m not worried about you firing me or anything! Fuck. Why can’t I keep my mouth shut?”
But Titan only hugged him more tightly. “I’m not letting you go.” The alpha pulled back and looked into Mathlin’s eyes. “If you haven’t noticed... I’m trying to court you. Obviously I’d prefer it if you want to continue working at Twin Buns, because you’reamazingthere, but I’ll understand if you don’t want to.”
Relief loosened Mathlin’s limbs. “I’ll keep working at the bakery,” he said eagerly. “Who else is going to help you with Everdin?”
Titan froze. Then he thumped their heads together. “Fuck. Everdin. I can’t believe I forgot about her.”
It wasn’t just Mathlin,Hamilton, and the pack—Jannie loved Titan’s new cat-like appearance, too.
“Goo goo,” she babbled, reaching for Titan’s face. Her eyes were partially shifted—yellow with slit-pupils—and her stubby tail was sticking up straight in delight.
Mathlin could’ve melted when Titan pushed his face into her little hand.
“Hey, pup,” Titan rumbled.
Jannie purred, an answering rumble. Titan lit up.
Mathlin was struck by a sudden thought: Titan would be amazing as a dad.
More than that—Titan would be amazing asJannie’sdad.
That was... almost overwhelming to think about. But in a good way.
“You’re not going to steal Jannie, are you?” Mathlin blurted. Then he wished he could’ve shoved those words back down his throat. “Who accuses their boss of baby-stealing?” he moaned, rocking on his feet.
“Math, I’ve just put a pup inside you. Why would I steal Jannie when I’ve already got one baking in your oven?” As he said that, Titan’s gaze darkened.
Mathlin shivered. “Because Jannie’s special!”
“Are you implying that this one isn’t?” Titan growled.
