Page 45 of Claimed

“Um, I was startled,” she says, although I have a feeling that’s not the entire story.

“Startled?” I ask.

“When I was with the twins, Maddox came in and it startled me, and poof! I was a wolf again.”

“Poof, huh?” I ask in amusement, and she nods.

“Shall we see how long you can stay human this time?” I ask. “Maybe we can start making it a game. Who can keep you human the longest?”

She smiles shyly at me and nods. “I think I’d like that.”

I tell the others the plan through the bond, and they’re all on board. We decide not to overwhelm her and have them come join us one at a time.

“Maddox is coming in first,” I tell her. “He’s bringing you something to wear.”

I help her sit up, keeping the blanket wrapped around her to make her feel comfortable. When Maddox steps into the room and her eyes connect with his, I can literally feel the tension between them. The good kind.

“Little mate,” he growls as he slowly walks over to us. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Hi,” she squeaks before biting her lip.

“I brought you my shirt,” he says, and I roll my eyes, knowing he wants his scent all over her. He doesn’t hesitate to pull it down over her, and I help her pull her arms through and dislodge the blanket.

“Thank you,” she says, her bright blue eyes looking up at him through her eyelashes.

“Why is she looking at you like that?” I ask him through the bond.

“Like what?”

“Like she’s just waiting for you to spread her out on this couch and rut her.”

I see his lip twitch in amusement. “She just likes me, that’s all,” he says as he sits on her other side and lifts her up into his lap.

He wraps his arms around her and shoves his nose into her hair, inhaling her like he’s never touched her before. I can’t blame him. Our interactions with her human side have been extremely limited, always restricted to keep the five of us touching her at once.

I take a moment to study her. She doesn’t seem scared or upset. Perhaps just a little nervous, which is to be expected.

“Can I come in yet?” Chase yells from the hall.

“What do you think, little mate?” Maddox whispers in her ear. “Should we let him join us? Or I can send him away if you like. He can be a little loud.”

“Hey!” Chase yells out, obviously hearing with his heightened wolf senses.

Cherry giggles and Maddox groans, making me grin, knowing she has that effect on him too.

“Come on in,” I call, and Chase doesn’t waste a second running into the living room, straight to where she’s perched in Maddox's lap. He bends down and plants a kiss right on her lips, pulling back with a satisfied smirk before dropping down on Maddox’s other side.

“What are we watching?” he asks. “Oh, is this True Blood?”

I know he’s playing it cool, trying to stop Cherry from shifting, and it works. Her attention is drawn to the TV instead of the alpha currently clenching her in his lap like she’s his lifeline.

“What’s taking so long?” Hunter asks through the bond. “Can’t I come in yet?”

I look at her out of the corner of my eye. I can tell she’s not completely relaxed, but as the seconds tick by, she melts further and further into Maddox.

On the TV, one of the vampires bites someone’s neck, and Chase uses that as an excuse to subtly find a way to bring Hunter in. “Oh, that makes me crave steak.” He glances up at Cherry as he asks, “Are you hungry, pretty girl? Hunter’s been marinating steaks all day for us.”

“Good idea,” Maddox answers when she looks unsure. “We could do with a good dinner.”