Where will you go?
Hmm.Her eyes shone almost dreamily.
Unless those were tears?
I was thinking somewhere remote and tropical. I don’t want to encroach on another pack’s territory or live among too many humans.She turned her glassy eyes my way.You can take the wolf out of the wild but not the wild out of the wolf.
Will you tell my brother you’re leaving?
If he asks.
The wind whistled around our lupine bodies, carrying the scent of impending snow.
Dexter spun around, walking backward.We made it, ladies!
Had he expected us not to? Did he think I’d collapse halfway back?
How’s the leg?
Good. Thank you.
He craned his neck just as flurries began to twirl.Aw. Geez. More snow. Just what we need. We’re already behind on construction.
A lot behind?
Nah. Two weeks. Three tops. We’ll be living among you in no time.He added a smile that alleviated my mood.
You seem really excited.
I’m glad for all the new faces. Especially the female ones.
Dex,Matt growled.
What? I am. I’m sick and tired of looking at yours all day, Mattie.
I huffed a chuckle.Whatever happened with May?
Dexter wrinkled his snout.She’s a handful.
Lori snorted.
Ah, that she is,I mused.
I favor laid-back.
You should favor unattached,Matt said between clenched teeth.
Don’t see any tattoo around Nikki’s finger.And you know Liam better than I do, Matt. He’s never going to settle. No offense, Nikki,he added as an afterthought.
Matt’s shoulders bunched. After a cutting glare toward Dexter, he turned his green eyes on me.Forgive my cousin.
For what? Squashing any and all hope that Liam may change his ways to fit me into his life?I don’t have any illusions about the nature of my relationship with Liam.
Although I focused on the human and wolf bodies slinking around the bunker, I was perfectly aware of Lori’s wide-eyed stare, Matt’s contrite one, and Dexter’s piqued one. I pressed back the flare of disappointment this conversation had lit behind my breastbone. But like I’d said, I had no illusion. We didn’t desire the same things, which would eventually take its toll, even if I failed to bind with a true mate.
As I fit my steps into Dexter’s large paw prints, he said,Heard Amanda wants one of those tattoos instead of a wedding band.
She wants both,Matt replied quietly.
