“Your scent. It’s really scorching right now. When he found Ember, Aaron’s scent was sort of…expectant, ready, waiting. I don’t know about me, but—”
Ezra stretched out one leg and kicked his brother’s foot. “You’re ecstatic and syrupy.”
Trevor barked, amusement and protest blended together. “I do not smell syrupy.”
“You do, bro.”
“Can confirm,” Cassius said.
“Whatever. Anyway. Your mood is like smoke now, Ez. Thick black woodsmoke, charcoal and whatnot. There’s this edge to you that wasn’t there before.”
Ezra’s chest rumbled as he thought about it. Slowly he nodded. It did fit.
“The basics are the same for every wolf and his mate, but we’re still individuals, you know? Makes sense the details are unique to who we are.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not worried, are you? About losing control, or anything like that?”
Ezra waved a dismissing hand. “Nah. It just feels…a lot stronger than I thought it would.”
Trevor grinned. “True for all of us. Just in different ways, I guess.”
For a few minutes they sat quietly. A few more bats darted overhead, and the fire popped once. An orange spark flew upward, glowed above them and then went out.
“I just want to know,” Ezra said. “How she’ll react to me, to us. And, well…whatever else is coming too. All of it.”
“You want to know everything your future holds.” Cassius’s mouth twitched. “Nothing new there.”
“But it’s sharper now. My mate. I’ve got to know what’s coming for her sake too.”
His voice grew tight along with his chest, and Cassius clamped an arm around his shoulders. “Ezra, listen. I’m not going to tell you not to plan and strategize. Those are valuable gifts. But they’re not your only gifts. You’re a good strong wolf, and when life with your mate takes you by surprise, you’ll be strong then too. I guarantee it.”
Not something Cassiuscouldguarantee. Yes, Ezra was a strong wolf. He knew that much. But he also knew his own weakness, knew the wrong surprise could lock his chest down anytime.
“You’ll learn, Ez,” Trevor said as though he weren’t the youngest wolf sitting here.
Cassius rumbled his agreement. “Finding your mate forces you to learn a lot, fast.”
They sat in silence a long time, until lightning bugs danced around them and the bonfire was down to a single dimming ember. Ezra stretched his legs. Time to be getting home.
“Thanks, y’all.”
“Sure,” Cassius said.
“Here for you day or night.” Trevor grinned.
They walked up to the house together, and at the door Cassius said, “Seeing her tomorrow?”
“Monday.”
“Good. We’ll be welcoming Willow to our pack before you know it.”
Seven
Lifeonabarista’sbudget precluded Dodie’s Garden, yet here Willow was, stepping into the restaurant as though she belonged. Her heels helped, glittery and purple, statement shoes that popped against her black-and-white dress. She glanced around before moving forward, taking in the intimate lighting, small round tables for couples and booths for larger groups. Each table was adorned with a crystal bud vase of artificial white flowers she couldn’t identify—because they didn’t exist in the real world. Ah, whatever.
Just as she wondered if Ezra would think to dress up for this occasion—surely he would, the place was his suggestion—she caught sight of her date.
