Hefting the last box out of the truck, I slammed the tailgate closed with my knee and lugged it up to the house. “This is the last one, sweetheart,” I called out over the box, feeling my way with my toes around the mass of unpacking going on.

“Why thank you, sweetheart,” Jess’ voice replied, her smirk audible. “Next on the list is naked painting.”

Blue’s giggle sounded to my left. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

“As long as it’s just the males,” I warned, setting the box down. No way was any other male seeing Blue naked. My gaze fell on her neck. She had her hair up in a messy ponytail and my claiming mark was clear for everyone to see. I was immediately rock hard and itching for my mate.

She looked up, her blunt teeth rolling her bottom lip into her mouth as she bit back a sigh. Then she shook her head, jerking her head at Jess, who was engrossed in unpacking silverware. Who knew we needed silverware?

“Naked painting it is, then.”

Giving me a look that promised she’d make it up to me later, and laughing at my low growl, she grabbed the box I’d just put down and tutted at me, carrying it into the kitchen, where Ella and Trevor, Mac and his mate Rogue, Bru and his mate Willow, and some of the other single male wolven had congregated. Supposedly, they were helping, but it pretty much looked like they were drinking my beer. Apart from Ella, of course. She had the twins with her, tucked up in some sort of contraption with wheels attached to the bottom of it.

Once Blue had set the box down, I grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around and stealing a kiss.

“Give your mate a chance to breathe, man,” somebody called out, but everyone else laughed, minding their own damn business, like they should be.

“That box is heavy, you know,” I murmured, setting her back on her feet after I’d walked her into the hallway, away from the watching eyes.

Blue smirked, looking pretty pleased with herself. “Light as a feather, actually.”

“You’re going to make a guy feel useless if you keep this up.” I flexed a bicep for emphasis.

Skimming it with her nail, she pursed her lips. “I can think of plenty of uses for you, and none of them involve carrying boxes.”

Now that’s what I liked to hear. Pressing her against the wall, I nipped at the claiming mark on her neck, her low groan spurring me on like nothing else could. “What about Jess?”

Blue tilted her head, giving me easier access. “She’s a big girl, she can take care of herself.”

My hands had just cupped her breasts when the sound of claws clicking on wood signaled a very unwanted interruption. “What is it Troy? I’m kind of busy.”

Wade wants you, he sent with a smirk attached.

“Wade can wait,” I growled out loud, so Blue knew what we were talking about, but immediately small hands pressed at my chest, her delicious cinnamon scent fading until only apple remained. Damn it. Following my mate and Troy into the living area of our new home, I nodded at Wade, who’d managed to find the only seat available in the sea of boxes. “Chief.”

“Nial, Blue, lovely home you have here.” His eyes darted to Jess, who had moved onto another box, with yet more silverware in it. “Not too far from Trevor and Ella’s place.”

“Exactly. Blue needs to get to work.”

“And to see me,” Jess piped up, pushing her purple bangs out of her eyes. Popping up to her feet, she stretched, and I didn’t have to check behind me to know that every single male wolfen’s eyes had nearly popped out of their head. Since Jess had turned up, we’d turned into a half-way house for strays. Blue thought it was kind of funny.

I didn’t. She was Blue’s best friend, her sister in all the ways that mattered, and no male would be taking advantage of her if I had anything to say about it. Wade caught my eye.

Nipping a sigh in the bud, I made the introductions. “Chief, this is Jess…” Blue was Smith, because she didn’t have a name to call her own. I didn’t know Jess’s story.

Jess stuck out her hand. “Jess Black.”

Wade accepted her hand with a smile. “Chief Wade Lombard, but my friends call me Wade.”

Her smile stretched, nervous panic tightening her face “Or Jessamine if you check my driver’s license, but I’ve never been in trouble with the law. I’m law abiding, that’s me. Even if I have purple hair. I’m not a trouble maker, sir. Though I did steal a candy bar by accident once, but I went back and paid for it as soon as I’d realized—”

Blue cut her off, rolling her eyes. “Jess has an issue with authority, but she’s harmless really.”

Wade just laughed, waving her off. “Hazard of the job. I’m harmless, too.”

My snort escaped, before I could smother it with my hand.

Jess twiddled with a strand of her hair, looping it around her finger before grinning back at him. “Yep, I run my mouth off when I’m nervous. Don’t mind me, I’ll just go back to unpacking.” With a wave, she sauntered off in the direction of the kitchen, giving several males a case of whiplash as they tried to look busy.

“She seems nice,” Wade said, more to himself than anyone else. Seeming to come back to himself, he stood up and looked around. “I thought I’d drop in and congratulate you.” Retrieving a bottle from somewhere, he passed it to Blue, kissing her cheek. “Lorna, my mate, would love it if you would both come around for dinner sometime soon.”

We walked him to the door and he paused before getting into one of the duty police trucks. “I knew fate would work out for you both, I’m just glad you decided to have a little faith.” He was looking at me when he said that last bit, and I grinned.

“I had faith in Blue.”

“Good enough.” He nodded. “Rhen is trying to look after us and keep us safe, we’ve just got to keep fighting and looking for the signs. Find more one true mates for our people.” He glanced back at the house, then slid into the truck, giving us a wave as he backed up the drive, not waiting for our answer. He already knew it. We were all ready and willing to do our part.

Blue slipped her arm around my waist, leaning into me. She pushed her new glasses back up her nose, this pair with a pink rim—she’d left her other pair back in alternate Mac’s apartment—and waved. “I like him.”

Shuffling her around until I could look into her eyes, I skimmed her lips with mine. “I like you.”

“You love me.”

I tilted my head, pretending to consider her statement.

A finger poked my chest.

Staring down at the offending finger, I mock scowled. “You like poking me.”

“And you like it.”

“I like poking you,” I conceded on a growl, nuzzling her neck and earning a squeal.

“You love me,” she insisted, sliding her hand up between us to cup my jaw.

“Yes, my mate. I most certainly do.”