Four days later

Brick stretched his arms in the bed of the hotel room. His stomach growled, protesting its emptiness, and he patted it with a smile, knowing that his cravings would soon be satisfied by his mate.

He’d awoken the day after being shot, with Ivy curled around his wolf. The concoction that he’d been injected with lingered in his body, preventing his ability to shift.

With no other choice than to pad around on his paws, instead of resuming what they’d been about to do before the TMD arrived, he decided to spend the time until the serum wore off getting Ivy familiar and at ease with him in that form. He used the link with Duke to relay his thoughts to her, so they could continue to communicate.

By the second day, he was able to talk her into climbing onto his back, and he took her for a run through the woods. She shrieked in happiness, as he pounded through the trees and across the land, clutching his scruff in her hands.

Not wanting to terrify her, he left her behind when he needed to hunt.

They had opted to stay at Penwell’s, with Brick sleeping on the floor of her office, while she took the sofa bed. The space was large enough for him to walk around, and Ivy was comfortable there.

Late on the third day, Ivy told him that she needed to complete the analysis of her thesis and send it to peer review. A few hours after she left, the poison was completely gone from his system, and he shifted back into his human form.

“Man, your timing sucks!” Duke laughed. “Here, get dressed.”

“She needs to focus on getting her work done. I can respect that. Besides, the amount of food I’m about to consume would make her faint.”

“How about an all you can eat buffet?”

“I’m gonna put that claim to the test.”

Duke snickered, as Brick dressed, but then he turned serious.

“Did you hear what Ivy said about Ruth?”

Brick paused a moment, while pulling his shirt over his head.

“Yeah.”

“You avenged her without knowing it at the time.”

He drew the taupe fabric over his chest and tucked it into his jeans.

“Ruth would’ve loved her. Ivy has the same fire Momma did.”

“Are you happy with this match?”

“I am. My wolf chose the perfect woman for me.”

Duke slapped him on the back and said, “I hope I’m next!”

“Me, too. I want our children to grow up together.”

“Holy shit! You’re already thinking kids?”

“I’ve got a lot on my mind, but right now, my stomach is overruling any other thoughts.”

“Let’s get moving then, Alpha.”

Later, they strolled through the double glass doors of World’s Feast Buffet and took a seat at the back of the room.

A waitress came to their table and said, “Hey, fellas! Doing the rounds, or do you want a menu?”

“Buffet. Both of us, and a couple of beers.”

“All righty! I’ll get your drinks. Make sure to use a clean plate each time you go for more.”

Brick slid out of the booth and headed to the meat section. Bypassing the dishes altogether, he lifted one of the stainless-steel tubs of ribs out of its spot on the bar and made his way back to their table.

“Sir!” the waitress called out, rushing over, waving her hands in the air. “You can’t do that!”

“Why not?” Brick replied, as he set it down, before taking his seat.

“What about the other customers? There’s no way you’re going to eat all of that!”

“Watch me.” He raised one to his lips, stripped it clean of meat, tossed the bone onto the table, and went to the next. “Our drinks?”

She waited until he’d downed another ten in record time. After she walked away, Brick wiped his hands on his napkin and took his phone out of his pocket. Pulling up Ivy’s phone number, he sent her a text.

Everything okay?

Yes I just finished wrapping it all up and emailed it out.

So you’re free for the rest of the night?

I am.

Can I pick you up later?

Yes I’d like that.

Brick typed, I need your address, baby. He paused, looking at the words... and what he was calling her—baby. It seemed natural, intended and meant to be, and he hoped she felt the same. He clicked Send.

Scarfing down the ribs, with his eyes pinned on his phone, he waited for her response.

3750 Beverly Chase #41

He smiled and tossed another cleaned bone onto the table, and then it dinged again.

You’re too big for me to call Baby.

After licking his fingertips, he sent his reply with a smirk.

You screaming my name is fine by me.

Hurry.

Be there in an hour.