“We would. A woman in need of help can always get help from the Enchanted Pack,” Jackson said, agreeing with Eddie. “Is there anything anyone wanted to add?”
“Considering Cassandra is still breathing after being caught under a panther whose intent was to kill, she obviously knew a thing or two about panthers. She was too skilled — too knowledgeable in fighting a panther, for an average Shifter,” Felix pointed out, flexing his hands on his head. Intriguing tattoo designs climbed up his arm and around the base of his neck.
“That’s where she and Romeo messed up. Cassandra knew how to handle a panther because she is a white panther. It's probably why Flora didn’t kill her ass,” Dylan says, glancing at Flora.
“So, what is Romeo?” Luxe asked.
“A damn fox,” Dylan spits out. He was clearly still pissed about Romeo escaping from him.
“Flora, you're a panther Shifter?” Luxe asked her eyes trained on Flora. Flora could only nod. Luxe gave her a nod and a warm smile in return. One that said Luxe would keep her secret.
“So, what are we going to do?” Willow asked, pushing her glasses down. Flora couldn’t decipher whether her friend’s scrunched brows were due to her question or the fact she just found out her friend was a panther. Flora was glad to see her friends were going to be okay and safe in the Packhouse with her. Despite not really wanting to be there herself, it was nice to know that in the end she, Willow, and Luxe were safe and protected.
“We don’t know,” Jackson mumbled.
22
DYLAN
“You okay?” Dylan whispered, interlocking his fingers through Flora’s as they left the meeting room.
“No,” she muttered, her eyes blankly staring in front of her. He hated seeing this look in her eyes. One he’s seen so many times before during his past rescues. But hearing her be honest with him was a guilty pleasure he could never get over.
“Come with me for a minute,” Dylan said. He pulled her back down to the first floor.
He pushed open the door to his room, the comfort of it bringing a sense of home to Dylan’s heart. He hadn’t slept there for the last month and honestly, he just missed his bed. Their shoes reflected in the mirror that leaned against the wall by the door, just as he had left it. His wolf’s hairs lay on the carpet from the last time he shifted in there. Watching Flora in his space, she took a step forward, just enough to admire her shoes in the mirror. Then a sharp look up to him, giving him the eye contact he now desired from her. Raising an eyebrow, she questioned him: his rules, his room, and how to proceed in his space.
Dylan only offered a shrug, he would let this woman do anything, to him, to his room, to his life. Whatever she wanted to do, he’d let her. She bent to take off her shoes, setting the black heels neatly next to the mirror. Her heels blended in perfectly like they belonged in his space. She dragged her feet on the dark gray carpet, sitting on the very edge of his bed.
“This is Dylan Enchanted’s room,” she said, looking around as if she missed something the first few times. Sketches of his wolf adorned the light gray walls, something that Flora noticed almost immediately. She openly stared at them, causing Dylan to blush. He wanted to rip them down but remained still.
“Since we’ve been staying together, in the same bed, would you like to...”
Dylan started to ask, but the sudden rush of heat pulsing up his neck made him pause. Fears of her saying no and him being embarrassed started coursing through his mind. His fingers drummed along his thigh as he tried to rein in his nerves. He’d never had such a problem with his nerves before. But Flora Larkspur made everything different. Made him different. He wasn’t sure of himself anymore and he wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
“Dylan,” Flora said, edging him on to continue. Her eyes peered into his and held a heat that had no business lighting Dylan on fire like it did. She smiled, which was good, a win in his mind. Still, he wished he never said anything. They were on his playing grounds now. He had to make the first move and he was nervous.
“Doyouwanttosleepwithmeinhere?” Dylan tried again, forcing the whole sentence out this time.
“Say that one more time? I don’t think I heard you,” Flora said standing up, a knowing smirk on her lips. She knew damn well what he had said, but for her, he’d try again.
“Will you sleep in here, with me?”
“Oh, like sex? Or just sleeping?” she asked. Her hands ran up and down his arms.
“Why not both?” he murmured, snaking a hand behind her waist and snatching her closer.
“Why not both?” Flora repeated. “I would love to stay in here, on this gray bed, with these gray walls, with the gray carpet and décor,” she trailed off laughing as they looked around the room.
“Gray is a great color.”
“It is. I do love it, but some other colors wouldn’t kill you.”
He pressed on into the room, lying in the bed next to her. Flora scooted closer, leaning her head on his chest. She gripped his shirt hard; he couldn’t see her face, but he felt the tears dampening his shirt. He didn’t say anything, just rubbed a hand up and down her back as the emotions flowed.
Finally. Finally, she’d let go, and thankfully she was comfortable enough to do so with him.
“I’m sorry, I just...” Flora cried, looking up at Dylan. Her tears glided over the many freckles that dusted her nose and cheeks.
