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Some of the tightness leaves his face, but he still seems concerned.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Telling me. Now that you’re mated, it would be easier if I wasn’t here. If she didn’t feel anything for me, you could use your bond to push me away.”

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t. It would hurt her, and I refuse to hurt my mate. No, our mate. I feel her emotions through our bond. Her heart belongs to both of us.”

“If I have to share her with another man, I’m glad it’s with you,” he replies, reaching out to land a slap on my bare shoulder.

I grunt in response, still thinking. Finally, I say, “I could bite you. Create a bond with you as well.”

His mouth falls open as he stares at me.

“Why are you so surprised?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

“That was the last thing I expected you to say,” he admits.

“She will want us all to be bonded. I can tell.”

“What is the bond like? Can you hear her thoughts?”

I shake my head. “Not exactly. I feel her emotions. Sometimes I catch images. The bond will strengthen as time passes. Someday, we may be able to read each other’s thoughts, but it will likely be years from now.”

“Will it be the same for me?” he asks.

I nod.

His head turns, and he looks at Scarlett, watching her as she wanders further away from us, still oblivious to our presence. I will have to talk to her about being aware of her surroundings. It’s not safe.

“I want it,” he states. “I want to be connected to her.”

His eyes flick back to me. “And I suppose being connected to you won’t be so terrible either.”

I shrug. “You do not have to do it.”

Hunter cocks a brow at me, his face becoming arrogant. “Don’t I?”

My only answer is another shrug.

He sighs. “We should talk to Little Red before we do this. She deserves to know and to be involved in the decision.”

“Tell me what?”

Hunter jumps, and we both turn. Somehow, our clever mate circled around behind us. I’m impressed because she managed to remain downwind so I wouldn’t scent her until she was close. Perhaps she was more aware of what was going on around her than I thought.

Hunter laughs. “Gods, Scarlett. Are you trying to scare me to death to be rid of me?”

She tosses her long red hair over her shoulder and smirks at him. “You and Sir Wolf decided to stalk me through the woods, thinking I wouldn’t notice. I’m only returning the favor. I can’t help it if I’m better at stealth than you are.”

I can’t suppress my answering chuckle. I love the fire in my mate. She is small, but fierce. I think my wolf admires the viciousness in her even more than I do.

“Now, answer my question,” she says, crossing her arms beneath her breasts.

The low neckline of her dress gapes a bit at the motion, showing the valley between her heavy breasts. My mouth waters at the sight. Especially since my mating mark is visible at the base of her throat.

Hunter clears his throat, and I blink before focusing on her face. Her expression says she’s not amused by my distraction, but I lift a shoulder. She can sense how I feel about her. Just like I’m sure she can sense my arousal right now.