Page 137 of UNAwere

‘So what is it exactly?’ I ask, shrugging on a sheer, long-sleeved black top and my daisy dress. I pull my damp hair out of the neck of the top and muss it.

‘It’s a way to make sure… a Were’s penis doesn’t come out… at the end of fornication.’

I raise a brow at her.

She sighs. ‘It swells.’

My eyes widen. ‘What does?’

‘The penis!’

She sits down on the edge of my bed and closes her eyes. ‘The penis swells inside the orifice, so it can’t be removed when it comes.’

‘Oh…’ I’m blushing, remembering how Jude had said he wanted to bury his knot inside me. Remembering how his cock had swelled, while we… ‘That makes sense.’

Hannah shakes her head. ‘Luminaire really let you down.’

I nod, frowning. ‘It did… But I have you now.’ I smile at her. ‘To teach me all things Were.’

She snorts. ‘Happy to oblige.’

I go back to the bathroom and fix up my hair. And when I’m ready, I head back out and follow Hannah to the dining room.

‘This dinner isn’t going to be like the last one, is it?’ I murmur.

‘No.’ Hannah grips my hand. ‘Your alpha is here, and Warner won’t dare touch you in front of him. Not until the ceremony is over tomorrow.’

‘Oh.’ I let out a breath of relief. ‘Goodie.’

‘That doesn’t mean you can be all over Jude,’ she warns, amused.

My cheeks flame. ‘I wasn’t going to.’

We enter the dining room, and I immediately see him, on the other side of the table. He’s standing, speaking in low tones with Lucas, but he must sense me enter because he turns his head and meets my gaze. And he smiles. Slightly. Softly.

I admire him, how he’s wearing a black T-shirt and a light jacket. The long part of his hair has been pushed back, but there are a few strands that brush against his forehead. And he’s trimmed his beard, or at least combed it, because it sits neatly on his face.

‘Stop staring,’ Hannah murmurs, and I break my gaze from Jude’s first.

Nolan sees me from where he’s been standing at the head of the table, talking to a few of Warner’s trusted. He comes over, smiling, and I hug him again.

‘You look well,’ he tells me.

‘Thanks. Um…’ I gesture to Hannah. ‘This is Hannah.’

‘We’ve met, Sybbie,’ she says to me, voice kind.

‘Yes,’ Nolan says, smiling at her. ‘I was quick to admire Hannah’s “take no bullshit” attitude.’

I grin. ‘Me too.’

‘I’ll go get us a drink,’ Hannah tells me.

‘How are you, really?’ Nolan asks me quietly when she’s gone.

I shrug. ‘I’m fine.’ My eyes find Jude again, and I can see he’s already watching us. I quickly look away from him and back at Nolan, giving my alpha a smile. ‘How’s Maeve?’

‘Good. Really good. She misses you, though.’