“Until just a few moments ago?”
She nodded, her eyes wide.
“So…um…just what exactly did you tell them?”
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her hands in her lap tightened, entwining her fingers together into a clenched knot. He covered them with his own, using his calm to settle her. Except, of course, he wasn’t fully calm. The last thing they needed was for the wolves to realize that Frankie was sexually involved with a bear. That would cement her as a traitor to the pack.
“I shouldn’t have been able to do that,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like the pack link is flooded with orgasms all the time, even if the alpha is getting it on.”
He swallowed. “You broadcast your orgasm?”
She shrugged, her blush burning hot on her skin. “Maybe they just got happy, loving feelings.”
“And…um…how did everyone react? Can you tell?”
“Yeah. They’re…um…confused.” Her gaze wandered out to the street. “They were all ‘I hate bears, I hate Frankie.’”
“And then you flooded them with an orgasm?” He couldn’t help it, humor laced his tone. Fortunately, she caught the ridiculousness of what had happened. Her lips curved, and she ducked her head in embarrassment.
“I think so, yeah. Now they’re just milling around, wondering what to do.” She looked out the window. “It’s hard to go kill people if you’re stuck in afterglow.”
Now his smile turned into a grin. Trust Frankie to find a new way to avert a war. “So can you broadcast at them again? Something like, ‘Bears are the good guys’?”
She closed her eyes and apparently tried to send the message. Ryan received it loud and clear. Not in words, but in a sudden flush of feeling that went:Bears were friends. He liked the bears.It probably helped that he was already part of the bear clan, but that wasn’t what surprised him.
“Should I be getting that message?” he asked. “I’m not part of your pack.”
She opened her eyes, and when she spoke, her voice was filled with happiness. “Yes, you are. You are my pack.”
Okay, so that was new. A bear in a wolf pack. He kind of liked the idea, assuming she and he were the only two members. But apparently everyone else was included in that link and that wasn’t nearly as nice. He shifted uncomfortably on the bed, and this time she was the one who squeezed his hands.
“Can you feel me?”
He knew she meant psychically, and so he tried to narrow his focus down. To feel—
Her!
She was warm and solid, like a bright pillar of strength. He could settle himself inside her light and feel the power of their link. It was wonderful, and it shook him to his core. No one and nothing had ever been this deep inside him before. What if she betrayed him? What if she went bad? But her light was so bright, so strong that he couldn’t believe she’d do it. Not just because she was a good person, but because they were so linked together it would be like betraying herself.
“I feel you,” she whispered. “It’s like I can sink into your presence.” Her eyes shone. “You’re wonderful.”
He swallowed. “So are you.” But who else was on this link? He tried to feel around for anyone else, but all he felt was her. “Is anyone else…here?” He was just getting comfortable with trusting her. The idea that suddenly her entire pack could touch him mentally was terrifying.
“Not like you. And not…” She shook her head. “I can barely feel them.” She shrugged. “You swamp everything.”
Was that good or bad? What exactly did this mean?
She took a deep breath. “I think it’s us together.Webroadcast that orgasm.Wehave the alpha power.” She frowned trying to understand the details. “I can send to you, but I don’t think I can get anyone else. Maybe we have to do it together?”
His eyes widened. “Send that ‘bears are friends’ message together?”
She shrugged in an I-have-no-idea gesture. A moment later, they entwined their fingers and tried to send it. Ryan felt a little ridiculous shooting out a mental thought, but Frankie seemed to be completely at ease with the idea. So he tried…and came up empty.
“All I get is you,” he said.
“Yeah, me, too.”
“Maybe we have to be…um…revved up to do it?
