Zephyr looked at it and quickly tucked it into his pocket. He gave a shrug and an all-too-innocent look. “I was helping.”
Rudy snapped his attention to his friend. “What? You did that? I’ve found a few, and it… hasn’t gone well.”
“Let’s call it immersion therapy,” Zephyr snickered. “What? You’re both here, so it must have worked.”
I stood up, standing to my full height, which was still a foot shorter than the man with feathered hair, and I pointed a finger at his chest. “If there are any more, you’re going to take them all down, or I’m going to come into your kitchen and switch all of your salt with sugar.”
Zephyr’s head snapped back. “Ouch, harsh. Okay, okay, I’ll take them down.” He turned his attention to Rudy. “I really didn’t mean any harm, Wolfie, but breaking the back stairs, you gotta admit that was some funny shit.”
Rudy growled at him, and I matched his growl with a sneer. Zephyr laughed and clapped Rudy on the back. “I like your mate. He’s a keeper.”
Rudy’s gaze turned to mine, and I could feel him melt. I loved that his emotions were so open and available to me. “Yes, he is.”
We were finally alone. Well, as alone as we could be in a busy dining hall. With how completely I felt his attention both externally and internally, it didn’t matter. We could be in the middle of a crowd, and all I would feel and see would be him.
As we ate a decadent meal, I shared everything I learned from Aurelia. Everything about my past, about my talents, and what I could do. It felt really nice to be able to talk openly about it, and on a date, no less. I didn’t have to worry about my date finding some excuse to leave or take an emergency call to get away from the weirdo. No, Rudy was completely enrapt; the wonder and admiration coming off him were written so clearly on his face.
Mate or no, there was no doubt that I loved this man. I loved how I could be myself, even as I learned more of who that was. I loved who I was when I was with him. That love grew even more as Rudy, with cheeks flushed red, told me about his conversation with Kieran. He was just so damn cute.
When dinner was over, I was dying to get him back to bed, but his wolf was antsy and needed to be free. He’d held up his end of the bargain, and I would hold up mine. Outside the dining hall, I pressed up onto my toes and kissed him hard. I poured all the gratitude and affection I felt into him. Rudy sighed sweetly and gave me back just as much.
“Should we go outside and get a look at the moon?” I asked with a wink.
Rudy hesitated, and worried flashed in his eyes. “I don’t know. What if something happens?”
I shook my head. “It won’t. I’m going to stay with you for however long you need me to.”
He squeezed my hand and gave a slight nod. I knew letting go was hard for him. It was wrapped up in a lifetime of hurt and fear, but he didn’t have to face it alone.
We followed the walking path away from the inn. The wolf was practically vibrating within Rudy, but he waited. It was almost as if he were waiting for permission. Rudy’s or mine, I wasn’t sure. When we were far enough away, with no one else around, I stood in front of him and reached up to hold his face.
“It’s going to be okay. You can do this. Just… let go.” It sounded easier than it was, I knew that, felt that, but Rudy needed to hear it. His surrender tingled beneath my skin. Just as he was about to withdraw into himself, I stopped him. “Wait!
His eyes flew open, the blue nearly gone. “What?”
“Just one thing.” I stepped closer and put my hands under his shirt, loving the sharp inhale it caused. I pulled his shirt off and stuffed it into my messenger bag. Rudy wore a baffled expression, but I simply patted his bare chest. “There. Now, you’re ready.”
When his resolve wavered, I reached out to his mind and said low and firm. “Show me who my mate is.”
A snarl ripped from him, and he transformed within seconds, the pull and push of it gripping my insides in a whiplashing sensation, but then he was there. Huge, hulking, with a long snout and sharp teeth. The bite marks on my throat pulsed with warm pleasure at the sight of them. Thick black hair covered every inchof him, and I could see his tail hovering behind him, waiting for my response.
He was heads taller than me in this form, and yet, I was the one who felt like a giant. To have this powerful creature at my command. His broad chest and thick arms were on full display. Sure, he could have worn the shirt—it was big enough for that reason—but I took the liberty to allow myself the view. And, fucking hell, what a view it was!
“There’s my big, beautiful beastie,” I said with a smile.
Rudy’s big wolfish head lowered and nuzzled against mine. I reached up and scratched him behind his ear. His tongue lolled out the side of his mouth, and it was the cutest, most ridiculous thing I’d ever seen. I fucking loved it because he wasmycute, ridiculous thing.
He sat back on his haunches, watching me, waiting. Who would have thought that little old me would someday have a werewolf hanging on my every word? Not me, that was for damn sure.
“Whatever you need to do, you can do it, I’ll be right here.”
“Run,” he huffed out.
“Good. Go run.” It sounded simple, but I was overjoyed at the idea of him running free, knowing he’d spent so much time locked up in Rudy’s room, thrashing and trying to get out.
“Bowen come.”
I snorted a laugh. “Yeah, sorry, big guy. I’m not much of a runner at human speeds, so there’s no way I can keep up with you.”
