Chapter 11

Anna

 

I looked over eagerly as Len entered the room again to bring us the next course of food. We had already enjoyed something called Italian Carne Cruda and a very elegantly prepared halibut. As pleasant as Arminius was, I kind of wished dinner was just me and Austin. I was ready to spend time alone with him. This vacation hadn’t been the bonding experience that I was hoping for as of yet. Arminius’s staff had been hovering over us most of the day, making it difficult to fully relax. I think their intention was to provide us with everything that we could want or need, but all I really wanted was some quiet time alone with Austin.

Len put the first plate in front of Arminius. “Here we have rabbit sausage, turnips, and Castelvetrano Olive Passato.”

I licked my lips in anticipation as my dish was placed in front of me. My mouth watered at the tempting scents, but I waited politely for everyone else to pick up their fork before I even thought about digging into my own dish.

Arminius watched me with amusement in his eyes as I picked up my fork with enthusiasm. “Austin, I have to say that I envy you,” he said with a smile. “It’s rare in this time to find a female who will genuinely enjoy a good meal.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, there are plenty of us out there,” I told him seriously. “You need to drop the supermodels and go after the girls with curves. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.”

His eyes wandered down my form, which was encased in a dress that was slightly more suggestive than anything I would usually wear. “No, I don’t think I would be.”

I felt Austin’s hackles rise at the perusal and Arminius raised an eyebrow at him. “I had heard that you’re willing to share on occasion.”

My face turned bright red as my mouth opened in surprise. Had this evening been planned by Arminius with the intention of it turning into a seduction? Did he think that just because I was in a relationship with more than one of my wolves, that it meant that I was open to sleeping with any man that crossed my path?

“No,” Austin told him flatly. “Does that change our position here?”

Arminius leaned back in his chair, his mask of amusement never fading. “I can’t say that I’m not disappointed, but no, that doesn’t change the main reason why we are all here this weekend.”

The tension was thick in the air as Austin and Arminius held eye contact. I chewed on my bottom lip, nervous about what would happen next. I hadn’t considered that others outside of our relationship might be looking in and seeing promiscuity instead of love and devotion. I loved each one of my wolves with all my heart, sleeping with anyone outside of them would be the ultimate act of betrayal in my eyes.

Arminius broke eye contact with Austin, which was probably a good idea. To a wolf, breaking first would have been a sign that he was too weak to protect his female, and Austin would never allow that to happen.

Arminius looked at me. “Anna, I hope I didn’t offend you?”

I glanced at Austin and squirmed uncomfortably in my chair. I didn’t want to tell him that yes, I was terribly offended and ruin our alliance. But I also didn’t want to say I wasn’t and insinuate that I had been open to his suggestion. This was why I hated politics of any kind.

“I can see how our situation might be confusing,” I offered. “But I am deeply committed to the men that hold my heart.” I held my breath and watched his face. Had that been suitably inoffensive?

Arminius nodded thoughtfully. “My apologies for the misunderstanding. I hope we can still continue to enjoy the evening?”

I let out my breath in relief. Austin looked at me, waiting for my decision. I knew that if I gave the slightest hint that I wanted to leave, he would make it happen immediately. But I wasn’t going to let a slightly indecent proposal ruin an alliance that Austin had spent years cultivating. Sure, it might be a little awkward for the rest of dinner, but I could move past it if he could.

“Of course,” I told him with a bright smile. “It’s already forgotten.”

Arminius laughed, and I felt Austin relax beside me. “Let’s enjoy our dinner then,” Arminius said with a smile.

There were a couple of minutes of silence as we picked up our forks again and tasted the food. I had never had anything like this before, so I was completely delighted by it. While I enjoyed the mix of flavors, I tried to think of how to change the topic of conversation to something I really wanted to know. But what was the right transition from ‘hey, wanna have a threesome?’

“Tell me about my mom,” I finally just blurted out. That was one of the main reasons I was here. Arminius had known my mom and had facilitated my adoption through proxy, he had to have some good stories about her.

Arminius relaxed back in his chair. “You remind me so much of her.”

I leaned forward in interest. “How did you know her? What was she like?”

He smiled in amusement. “We crossed paths when she was a teenager. She was rebellious and got herself in some trouble in France. Luckily for her, it was in one of my clubs, and I recognized what she was right away.”

My interest was definitely piqued now. “What was she doing in France?”

He shrugged. “I think the boundaries and responsibilities of her pack chafed. She went looking for an escape and ended up in Europe.”

“Her pack let her go?” I asked in surprise. Austin and I exchanged glances. It would have been a big deal for the Canadian pack to let my mom wander around Europe by herself. The fact that she was a white wolf tasked with protecting our world from the fae made it even less likely that it was an authorized trip.

He chuckled. “They didn’t let her do anything. She definitely had a mind of her own. I think the only reason she agreed to go back was because that was her only option at the time.”

It sounded like I did have some things in common with my mom. We had both struck out on our own to make our own way as teenagers. But I hadn’t been as adventurous as her. I had only gone across a bunch of states to go to college. She had left the country to explore a whole new world. “So she went back to her pack? When did she meet my father?”

Arminius paused to reflect. “I don’t know how or when they met. I just know that several years later she contacted me and asked for my help. She wanted to leave her pack for good and bring her newborn babe with her.”

“That’s when Emerys hid me with the humans?”

He nodded. “It is.”

“So what happened?” I burst out in frustration. “Why did she bother to leave me with the humans for that short period of time? Why not just take me and go?” Austin rubbed my back but waited for Arminius to answer.

Arminius looked thoughtful. “I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure.” 

I reflected on that for a moment. So far, I hadn’t met anyone who could tell me what really happened to my mom. My father didn’t know - or wouldn’t tell. I had hoped that Gemma would have some useful information because she was from my mom’s pack. But Gemma had never even met my mother and was completely useless as a source of information. “Who do you think killed her?” I asked Arminius quietly.

His eyes hardened. “I suspected her pack, but I questioned her pack master and was satisfied that he knew nothing about it.”

“You don’t think he lied?” I asked inquisitively. What made Arminius so sure?

The amusement came back into his eyes. “You don’t know very much about lamia?”

“I don’t know anything,” I admitted, glancing down at the table. “But I want to,” I added hopefully. I did remember the twins telling me that the lamia hid the truth behind Evelyn’s death by erasing the memories of the humans involved, but what else could they do? Could they do the same to a powerful pack master or just to humans?

“We have our own magic different from yours,” he started to explain. I leaned forward in anticipation. I had a feeling that it wasn’t that often that a lamia would open up like this to one of our kind.

Arminius turned his attention to Austin. “This stays between us.”

“Of course,” Austin murmured in agreement. He didn’t look nearly as interested as I was. Did he already know all of this? Or was he just playing it cool?

“You use your magic to shift, but we need ours to survive,” Arminius started. “We need to be able to feed on humans and make them unaware of what happened, so we have the ability to see or alter the memories of others. We can also bend others to our will if we’re strong enough.” Arminius paused and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “It’s not really blood we feed on.”

“Really?” I breathed in surprise.

“We feed on the very essence of the human soul.”

I frowned, did he mean magic? What was a soul even made out of? “But humans don’t have magic. What is it exactly that you get from them?”

He shrugged. “Whatever it is, it’s enough to keep us alive.”

I thought about that. “But you do drink their blood?”

“The younger ones among us have to. They don’t have the ability to pull what they need without drinking blood. But the experience can be quite pleasurable with the right partner.”

I tried not to blush at the insinuation and kept on task.“So you use their life force to survive,” I theorized. “What happens if you take from one of us? Can you absorb the magic instead?”

He gave me a grin that reminded me of a Cheshire cat. “We can. It’s one of the reasons we won the war against the fae.”

I scooted forward in my chair. Arminius was a wealth of information. I wish I could sit here and pick his brain for hours. Austin cleared his throat, and I looked back in his direction. He looked like he was fighting the urge to pull my chair back to him. I settled back and tried to be patient.

“What happened?” I burst out.

“What happened is that we are the only thing above the fae in the food chain and that never sat well with them. Things eventually came to a head when they decided to make a bold move to eliminate us for good.” Arminius’s attitude was slowly changing from casual and amused to incensed.

I was almost afraid to ask what happened next, but I really wanted to know. Luckily, I didn’t have to interrupt because he continued on his own. “Our men gathered for battle against them, leaving the women and children protected in a secret enclave.” He glanced over at me. “It was a different world back then.”

He made a fist. “The fae used their portals to evade us and went right to where we had hidden the most precious among us. None of them survived.”

My eyes widened in horror and I swallowed. That was awful, what kind of an army purposefully would slaughter the helpless?

Arminius shook his head. “They thought that would break us, but we had nothing left to live for. We went after them relentlessly, not stopping or backing down. They cut us down as fast as we could come at them, but we eventually wore them down with our numbers. Our population was decimated by the time we obtained our victory. Many of us chose to die in battle rather than go on without our loved ones.”

“And so they left this world,” Austin said softly.

“They did,” Arminius agreed. “There were a few among them that were so horrified by the actions of their military that they fought on our side. Those are your ancestors.”

Austin and I exchanged glances. That was why some of the fae had been left behind here. They wouldn’t have been welcomed back into their world after taking the side of the lamia.

“The treaty was for all of the fae to return to their world, but we looked the other way for those that stood by our side.” Arminius paused. “But I think all of us agree that your kind has become something other than fae.”

I glanced down at my plate, unsure of how I would even classify myself. Was I fae or was I a wolf?

Austin agreed with Arminius. “The concept of the fae is foreign to most of our kind. We’ve just recently announced the truth of our heritage, and very few were pleased to find out about the very existence of the fae.”

Arminius grimaced. “Yes, and not many of us were pleased to hear about their return.” Arminius glanced at me, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

Len chose that moment to reappear with dessert. “Presenting a dark chocolate budino: chocolate sables, whipped ricotta, and white chocolate gelato.”

My mouth watered as he sat the small dishes down in front of us. This was a really good time for some chocolate. I took a small bite and barely held in my moan as the flavors danced across my tongue. This was the perfect finish to a stressful dinner. I tried to savor it slowly, but my small portion was gone before Austin had even taken a couple of bites of his. I blushed when he caught me looking longingly at his portion of dessert, but he just smiled and switched my empty dish for his full one. It was these small acts of kindness that showed you a man’s character.

Arminius watched the dessert transaction with an unreadable look in his eyes, but didn’t say a word. It probably violated rich people code to eat off one another’s plates, but I didn’t care.

I sat back in my chair after I finished and enjoyed the satisfied feeling of a full belly. “Thank you for dinner,” I told Arminius. “It was lovely.”

“You’re very welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He swirled his glass of wine in his hand before taking another sip. “I do have more planned for this evening.” He stood and smoothed down his shirt. I got to my feet and hoped that my belly wasn’t looking like I had a food baby inside.

“Come,” Arminius beckoned to me, and Austin tensed. Arminius kept his eyes on me as a small smile ghosted across his face. “I have a gift for you.”

I took Austin’s hand and followed Arminius, my curiosity piqued. He led us out of the dining room and into a library/office area. I wanted to check out the books he had on his shelves. Certainly he must have accumulated a few gems over the years, but instead I kept my attention on him.

Arminius motioned for us to sit while he slid a painting across the wall to access a safe. My eyebrows rose, and I exchanged a look with Austin.

“What do you think it is?” I asked Austin with our bond. I wish I could say that I was patient enough to simply wait for a couple minutes to see, but I wasn’t.

“Whatever it is, don’t accept it right away,” Austin cautioned me. “We don’t know what he might expect in return.”

I nodded, but my eyes were glued on Arminius’s back as he drew a good-sized white cardboard box out of the safe and set it down on the table in front of us.

“I had assisted your mother in setting up several safety deposit boxes,” Arminius explained. “Once I met you, I had their contents collected and delivered to me until I could meet with you privately.”

I shot a quick glance at Austin, and he gave me a nod. I stood and moved to pull the box across the table to me, but Arminius laid his hand on top of it. I narrowed my eyes but resisted the urge to tug it away from him.

He gave me a mild smile. “I haven’t looked through the contents, but I ask that you return my generosity by indulging my curiosity.”

I blinked in surprise. If he was so curious, why not go through it before giving it to me?

Austin stood and laid a hand on the small of my back. “We can do that, assuming you acknowledge that the contents belong to Anna.”

“Of course,” Arminius said with a smile. Tension rose in the room as the two men faced off. My patience was just about out, so I gave into my desire and started to tug the box from underneath Arminius’s hand.

He shook his head and gave me an indulgent smile. “Please, go ahead.” He removed his hand and sat in the chair opposite me, leaning back casually.

I opened the cardboard box eagerly. What had my mother deemed so important that she hid it in a safety deposit box far away from her own pack?

I took out a couple of sealed plastic bags containing cash. I could see how that would be useful to a single mom on the run, but I was looking for something more personal. Something to give me insight as to who she was as a person. I took out a large yellow envelope next and dumped out the contents on the desk. Three fake IDs tumbled out first. I picked one up and gazed at the picture of my mom longingly, but set it aside for now. I would have time later to study them in detail.

There was more paperwork in the folder. I flipped through it quickly to see bank records but stopped on the last page. This looked like what might be my real birth certificate. I smoothed my hand over it gently. The spot to list my father was blank, which was not really surprising. I ran my finger over my mom’s signature, trying to picture the moment that she would have signed. Had she been holding me in her arms?

I handed the stack of paperwork over to Austin, who had remained close to my side. Arminius was lounging in his chair and sipping on wine, but the focused look in his eyes told me that the casual act was just that – an act. He was very interested to see what I was going to pull out next. The money and paperwork hadn’t been sealed or hidden, so he would have gone through all of that already. He was waiting for a big reveal that had yet to come.

I reached back into the cardboard box to pull out an elegantly carved wooden box. It was stained a dark color with roses covering the four sides, more worn in some places than others. Something told me that this box was old, and my instincts made me handle it gently. I ran a finger lightly over the snarling wolf that was carved onto the top of the box.

A distant memory prickled the edge of my mind. I felt like this wolf and roses should mean something to me… something I’d forgotten. I shook my head to clear out the cobwebs and examined the box closer. There wasn’t a clear way to open it.

I frowned and held it up so that it was practically touching my nose. There was no line along the sides to even show me how it would open. No handles, no buttons, no openings.

“Perhaps try blood,” Arminius suggested with a glint in his eye that I didn’t particularly like.

I reached out with my magical senses to get a feel for what might lie inside. My eyes lit up when I realized that this box felt similar to the inverted magic that Talen had taught me how to feel for. There was definitely something of interest in here, something that I needed to get my hands on.

“You think that smearing my blood on it would help?” I asked Arminius bluntly.

He laughed and reached for a silver letter opener, handing it to me by the hilt. “Just a drop or two should do it. I doubt your mate would appreciate it if I offered to do the bloodletting.”

Austin stilled behind me. “No, that would not be acceptable.”

I set down the box so that I could have both hands free for this. I ran my finger along the tip of the letter opener, feeling the cool touch of the silver against my skin. I pressed the tip of my index finger into the sharp point of the metal and flinched when blood welled up. I did not want to think about the possible bacteria that I had just exposed myself to, but I doubted that Arminius keep alcohol swabs around for disinfecting his letter opener before he gave it to people to stab themselves with.

I set down the letter opener and squeezed my injury so that a drop of blood splattered on the box. Instead of marring the surface like I had expected it to, the drop traveled across the carvings and slid into the wolf’s mouth. My jaw dropped in surprise when the blood disappeared entirely and the box opened with a soft snick.

This was definitely a magic box, no doubt about it. Arminius leaned forward, forgetting to pretend he didn’t care. I pulled the box a little closer to myself and apprehensively raised the lid. What was I going to find in here?

There were two journals. I picked up the one on top first. This one was bound in dark brown leather and its pages were thick and aged. The spine creaked as I opened it to the first page to see spidery cursive handwriting scrawled across the pages. To my disappointment, I was completely unable to read any of it. I wasn’t sure what language it was written in, but it wasn’t English.

I sighed and reached for the second journal in the box. This one was much more modern with a pink unicorn on the front that made me smile. Had this been my mom’s journal? I picked it up and thumbed through it, once again disappointed when I couldn’t read any of it.

Arminius cleared his throat. “Your mother found every way she could to thumb her nose at tradition. So, I think you’ll find that the unconventional one is hers.”

I held it up to my nose and inhaled deeply but there was only a slightly musty smell. There was no hint of the scent that would have belonged to my mother. Maybe it was my wolf side, but I desperately wished that I had something, anything, that had her scent on it. But who was I fooling? Even if I had her scent, I wouldn’t recognize it.

I sighed sadly and placed both books back into the strange wooden box. I would have more time later to examine the books in greater detail when I didn’t have an ancient lamia staring at me with an unreadable look in his eyes. What was it that he had to gain from giving me this? Why was he being so generous? It would have been easier for him to keep these things for himself. What was his angle?

Arminius didn’t seem bothered by my scrutiny, but was that just a pleasant mask that he used to try to hide the true thoughts that lay beneath? He stood up from the table and sat down his glass of wine. “Would you like me to place it back in the safe until you leave, Anna?”

I closed the box and saw that it had now returned to its previously unopenable state. There was no sign that it had been opened.

“We have your assurance that Anna can take it with her when she leaves?” Austin asked with suspicion lacing his voice.

“Of course,” Arminius told him. “I wouldn’t have given it to her if I hadn’t intended to let her keep it.”

That was clever. Remind us that I wouldn’t be looking at this right now unless he had shared it with us. But he was right, if he hadn’t wanted me to have it, then why show it to me? If he couldn’t open it before, he couldn’t open it now.

A part of me wanted to ask him what language the books were in. If he had traveled the world for centuries, then he must be familiar with a host of different languages. Would he be able to read the journals? What was written in them that was so important that my mother had locked them in a magical box?

I slid the box back over the table toward him. “Thank you,” I said simply. “I appreciate you sharing this with me.”

He gave me a nod before placing everything back into his safe hidden in the wall. “I suggest retiring for the evening.” Arminius picked up his glass of wine again. “The witches are arriving in the afternoon, that gives us the morning to discuss strategy.”

“Excellent,” Austin agreed. He ran his hand down my back and my spine tingled. This was the first night that Austin and I would spend alone together in… well, ever. Heat crept over my flesh as I thought about what might happen tonight.

Arminius flicked his eyes between Austin and me. “The rooms are soundproofed for privacy, so feel free to enjoy your evening.” The knowing look in his eyes made my cheeks burn but I held my head high. I had nothing to be embarrassed about. Austin and I would enjoy ourselves tonight.

We said our goodnights and made our way back to our opulent stateroom.

I had kicked off my uncomfortable heels before Austin had even shut the door behind him. I hoped that I had packed something more comfortable than this dress to lounge around in. Or maybe I should stay in the dress? I finally had Austin to myself, something that I had been waiting way too long for. Maybe I should stay pretty for a little longer?

I turned around to see Austin watching me carefully, as if he was afraid I was going to make a run for it. I frowned, that definitely wasn’t the mood I had meant to set for the evening. I was nervous about spending time with him, but it was more of a good nervous, not a bad nervous. I sighed. That didn’t even make sense to me, how was I supposed to explain it to him?

I walked over to where he lingered near the door. “Hey, I finally have you all to myself.” I leaned in close and wrapped my arms around his waist.

I could see the tension slowly fade from his body as he relaxed at my touch. “And I finally have you all to myself.”

“So…” This was so awkward. Why was this awkward? This was Austin, the man who had taken me into his pack and gave me a home. I blinked in realization as it came to me. It was awkward because Austin had always been slightly out of reach. I had been thinking of him as our pack master for too long.

It was time to get to know Austin the man, Austin the wolf. Most of the wolves in the pack had a tendency to put him on a pedestal, and I had been just as guilty. Tonight was the night to see him stripped down, in more ways than one. I licked my lips but before I could say anything there was a knock on the door.

I saw a flash of irritation in Austin’s eyes that probably mirrored my own before he turned to open the door. Len, the butler, was standing there with what looked like a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver ice pail. “The master sends a bottle of Dom Perignon Luminous Rose Champagne with his compliments.”

“That’s very generous of him,” Austin said politely as he gestured for Len to enter.

Len expertly popped the bottle without spilling a drop and poured a tiny bit into the first of the champagne glasses before handing it to Austin. “Does it meet your approval, sir?”

Austin took a sip and savored it for a moment. “It does.” Austin handed his glass back to Len for a refill. I just stood there awkwardly in my bare feet, wishing I hadn’t been so quick to fling my shoes across the room. I don’t know if I was ever going to be comfortable with the rituals of the wealthy or feel less like a fraud in these situations. It just seemed weird to me to have a guy here to pour our champagne for us. I couldn’t help the slow smile that spread across my face at the thought of straight-laced Len witnessing the twins and I drinking straight from the bottle and passing it amongst ourselves. The horror.

Austin handed me one of the glasses once Len was done pouring. “Thank you, Len. That will be all. Be sure to relay our thanks to our host.”

“Of course, sir.” Len gave a slight bow and then left, the door closing behind him.

While the idea of having a butler and a team of people around to bring you anything that you want might seem nice, the reality just made me uncomfortable. I would rather be at home with my wolves. I took a couple of sips of champagne and tried to enjoy it as I was sure it was outrageously expensive.

Austin set down his glass of champagne and reached for me. “You’re uncomfortable.” I set down my own glass and let him pull me into an embrace. I gazed into his dark blue eyes and saw a flicker of worry there. “Anna, nothing has to happen tonight that you aren’t ready for.”

I smiled. “It’s not that.” I paused, did my nervousness make him think that I didn’t want to be here tonight?

“Austin,” I said softly. “I’ve been looking forward to spending time alone with you. It’s taken way too long to get to this point.”

He chuckled. “I agree. I just don’t want you to feel pressured or obligated…”

I shook my head. “I’m just a little nervous because I’m out of my element here. Everything is so… fancy here. I feel like any minute now someone is going to realize that I don’t belong in a place like this and tell me to leave.” I dropped my eyes in embarrassment.

I hated to admit that my past was still holding me back, but it was the truth. I had gotten better at holding my head up high and making certain that people on the outside couldn’t see my insecurities, but obviously not good enough if Austin could read me this easily. I wanted to be a female that could be at his side in all situations, someone he could be proud to have on his arm at the upscale events that were necessary for his position.

“Anna, you deserve the very best in this world.” Austin raised my chin so he could look into my eyes. “Never let anyone make you feel like less than them. I wish I could give you a life of opulence and wealth, but it’s going to take more time-”

I stopped him right there. I might feel a little out of place in this type of environment, but I definitely wasn’t asking for this lifestyle. “I don’t need mansions, expensive clothes, butlers, or any of that. All I need is you, our pack, and a place to run as a wolf.”

A smile spread across his face. “I can do that,” he said softly. I gazed into his eyes for a moment before leaning in for a kiss. I brushed his lips gently with mine and he responded with a kiss that tasted like champagne.

I pulled away with a smile, my heart racing. “We might as well enjoy our expensive champagne in our elegant stateroom on this extravagant yacht.” I gave a casual shrug. “Since we’re already here.”

Austin chuckled. “I believe we promised to let the world burn tonight.”

“It’s a good thing we’re on a yacht in the middle of the ocean, then.”

We both laughed and the tension was broken. I picked up my champagne glass and took another sip. It wasn’t Barefoot Bubbly, but it would do. I wandered over to the side of our room that had a wall of windows and looked out at the stars. “I don’t think yachts were made for wolves,” I said softly as I pressed my hand to the cool glass. I’d rather be out underneath the stars where I could breathe in the fresh air and stretch my legs out in a run.

Austin came up behind me and brushed my hair to the side so that he could kiss my bare shoulder. “I don’t think so either.”

“I’m not nervous for the reasons you might think,” I murmured. It still bothered me a little that Austin might think I was concerned about feeling pressured to be with him. Austin stilled behind me, so I continued. “I’m just always a little nervous around you because...”

I paused for a second to gather my thoughts. “I just worry that you might think that I can’t be everything that you need. That you’ll realize that I’m not as elegant as your mother or not as refined as some of the other females. I want you to feel confident that I can be by your side in all situations.” I drained the rest of my champagne. “I might feel more comfortable in sweats, but I can pull off a ballgown when I need to. I don’t want you to feel like you made a mistake with me.”

Austin chuckled and met my gaze in our reflection. “Bringing you into the pack was the best decision that I’ve ever made.”

My heart melted, but I continued. “I’ve gotten the impression that you were raised in a wealthy environment.”

Austin shook his head. “One of the reasons why I love you is because you aren’t like the women I grew up around. I love my mother, but she doesn’t always have her priorities straight. I know that you will always put pack and family above personal gain, power, or wealth.”

My heart melted once again at his words. Austin loved me? I turned to face him and he laid his hands on my waist. “I’m not done,” he murmured. “Let me erase all of those doubts for good.” He gently brushed a hair off my face. “I love that you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty when there’s hard work to be done.”

I blinked in surprise but he continued. “I can trust that my pack is safe in your hands when I have to be away. You bring us all together in a way I didn’t expect.”

I blushed at his praise, and he glanced down at the empty champagne glass dangling in my hand. “Let’s get you a refill.” I trailed behind him as he walked to the other side of the room to pour me another glass.

“Did you know that I’ve never seen James with a genuinely happy smile on his face until we met you?” Austin asked as he handed me my glass back.

“He doesn’t smile very often,” I admitted. “But I’ve learned how to read the micro-expressions on his face and in his eyes.”

Austin laughed. “That’s James.” He topped off his own glass. “Do you know how much the twins have settled down since you came to our pack?”

I looked at him in surprise.

Austin shook his head. “Cody talked them into coming to Seaside, but I could tell that they were going through the motions, unsure of their place. Once you came into the picture, I saw their attitude change. They see their future with the pack,” his voice softened. “With you.”

“I’m almost afraid to see what they were like before,” I chuckled.

He shook his head. “They’re good guys, but were reckless with their own lives. I think they were just careening through life and enjoying it while they could, unsure of just how far they would make it and not too hopeful that it would last long. Now they have a future to work toward, something to center them.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I took a gulp of the champagne.

Austin smiled at me affectionately. “And Cody. I’ve never seen his eyes light up the way that they do when he hears your voice.”

I blushed and downed the rest of my glass. I was going to be tipsy if I kept going at this rate.

Austin took a drink before setting his glass down. “You have Caleb coming out of his shell. He used to be reluctant to come out of his room, he didn’t really connect with the other pack members. But now? He’s happy to come to our pack dinners, and I see him starting to truly bond with the other guys.”

“And it doesn’t bother you to share?” I asked curiously. I’d felt the urge to rip Gemma’s hair out on more than one occasion, I couldn’t imagine living like that every day for the rest of my life.

Austin shook his head. “I know that they are there when I can’t be. I won’t lie and say that I’ve never felt a flash of jealousy or sadness when I’ve seen you with them, but that’s because I want to be close to you the way that they are.”

“We haven’t had time together yet,” I reminded him. “We’ll get there.”

“I know,” he said softly. “And I’ve tried my best to be patient and try to focus on my work and what I need to do, but there have been days where I just want to say ‘fuck it all’ and go home to you.”

“Now’s our chance,” I told him. “Tonight it’s just you and me.” I held out my glass for another refill and he obliged. I was rolling with the ‘fuck it all’ attitude today.

“I need these moments,” Austin confessed as he handed my glass back to me. “In front of the pack, I need to play the part of the all-powerful, all-knowing pack master. I need to be mindful of everything, make sure I don’t do or say anything that will make them question my leadership or my authority. But with you, I can relax and be myself.”

I looked at him in surprise. I hadn’t realized that he felt so much pressure, he had always come across as a natural leader to me. “I kind of know what you mean. It’s kind of like being at work versus when you go home.”

He nodded. “You’re good for me. You’ve been good for all of us.”

“And you have been good for me,” I told him with a smile. “I’ve changed for the better since I first met you.”

Austin chuckled. “I’ll never forget the day we first met, I don’t think I’ve ever seen James’s face so red. You press his buttons, but you have an honesty and sense of integrity that he respects.”

“Enough about me,” I said with a shy smile. “Let me tell you why I love you.”

Austin gave me a warm smile as I walked toward him. “I love that you always put the pack above yourself, everything that you do is for the people around you. Even now,” I murmured to him as I put my arms around his waist. “You’re thinking about the happiness of the other guys.” I pressed my body against his. “Even though you have me here, all to yourself,” I said that last line in the sexiest purr I could manage as I ran my hands up his chest and around the back of his neck.

He licked his lips and I could see the desire start to burn in his eyes. “I think it might be time for me to show you how I feel.” He lowered his mouth to mine and our lips met in a kiss that was hesitant at first, but quickly turned passionate. My heart raced at the thrill of having Austin here in my arms, my body pressed against his.

Austin broke contact to look into my eyes, and I tried to catch my breath. My face was flushed, my lips swollen from his kisses, but I still wanted more. “May I suggest moving this to the bed?” he asked with a glint in his eyes that I definitely liked.

I grinned. “Absolutely.”

I gasped in surprise when Austin scooped me up in his arms to carry me across the room to the bed. I wound my arm around the back of his neck and enjoyed the ride. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he murmured as he laid me down gently on the soft covers.

I propped myself up on my elbows. “And I’ve been waiting for this moment for too long.” It seemed like the champagne that I had guzzled had gone to my head.

Austin’s eyes widened a little in surprise, and I giggled. It seemed like Austin was expecting a sweet, innocent Anna tonight. He was about to find out that he was getting a healthy dose of spice with his sugar.

He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside with a ripple of muscles. I licked my lips as I took in the work of art that was Austin’s body. He wasn’t as large as Cody, but he was ripped. I wanted to explore all the dips and valleys of his chest, six pack, and sexy v that disappeared into his pants. Pants that he was unfortunately still wearing.

I wanted to trace my fingers over the tats that decorated his arms, chest, and back. Tats that his suits and conservative button-down shirts usually covered. I loved the complexity of Austin and I was eager to see the side of himself that he usually kept hidden. The businessman, the council member, and the pack master were the sides that he showed to the public. I wanted to see the real Austin, stripped down and raw before me.

I pulled at the long dress I was wearing impatiently so that I could get up on my knees to greet Austin with a kiss as he stepped up to the edge of the bed. His hands ran up and down my body, causing shivers to run along my spine. I nipped at his lower lip as he found the zipper to my dress and slowly pulled it down.

Cool air caressed my bare skin as I slid my dress down and it pooled at my knees. Austin stepped back and reverently ran his fingertips up my arms as his eyes drank in the sight of me in my lacy red bra and panties. He was looking at me as if I were a cold glass of water set in front of a man lost in the desert.

I got to my feet on the bed so that I could escape the dress wrapped around my legs. I laid my hands on Austin’s shoulders to keep my balance and his gaze raked down my nearly naked body.

I wanted to see Austin lose control. I wanted to break past his smooth exterior and see the raw need that lay beneath the surface of the confident pack master.

I pulled him back onto the bed with me, and he chuckled as he braced himself on his elbows, careful not to put his full weight on me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, determined to break his perception that I was a delicate little china doll. I was a wolf, and I deserved everything that he could give without holding back. I was his equal, and I wanted to see him treat me like it.

I slid a hand through his hair and pulled his mouth toward mine, not being gentle at all. Heat flooded through me as I felt his body sink into mine as he devoured me with his mouth. I could feel the control slowing bleeding out of him and I wanted to push him even further. I ground my hips against his and moaned as I felt his erection pressed in between us.

He slid his hand up my back and I leaned up so that he could undo the clasp of my bra. He rolled off me, baring my breasts to the cool air. My nipples pebbled as he raked his gazed over my nearly naked body. Austin knelt in between my legs and ran his hands across my abdomen and down to my hips, leaving a trail of goosebumps as he went. The devotion in his eyes made me feel like a goddess being worshipped before him.

I started to move, but he growled for me to hold still. His hands traced around my panties and to my thighs, leaving me trembling for more of his touch. A slow smile spread across his face before he lowered his mouth to the inner part of my leg, just beside my knee. He gave me a quick bite and then a wicked smile when he heard me gasp.

“I want to take my time with you,” he murmured. “I want to taste every inch of your body, make you mine completely.”

I just nodded wordlessly as he kissed his way up my thigh, getting closer and closer to my heated core. He looped his fingers around the sides of my panties, and I shifted my hips so that he could pull them off me. He slowly worked them down my thighs, baring me to his gaze and caressing my sensitive skin with the sides of his hands. I raised my legs so that he could pull the panties up over my ankles and fling them across the room.

Austin pulled my knees apart. “I want to taste you, but not yet. I want you writhing and begging for me first.” My eyebrows rose at the intensity in his voice and his eyes, but this was what I wanted, to see Austin without a filter. “Put your arms up over your head. Link your wrists together and don’t move unless you want me to stop,” he ordered.

God, this was hot. I didn’t think I would be into this sort of thing, but giving up control in this situation was really turning me on. I trusted Austin absolutely.

Austin explored my body with his hands, his mouth, and his tongue. He avoided touching my nipples or in between my legs, but he managed to find every other erogenous zone on my body. I was shaking with need, my blood on fire for him, and he hadn’t even really begun yet.

I was in trouble.

I exhaled shakily as he caressed the outside of my breasts, slowly working his way closer to my nipples. The ache inside of me was growing with every moment that he touched me, every moment that he wasn’t inside of me.

Finally, he took one nipple in his mouth and used his hand to play with the other. With every flick of his tongue and his fingers, need pulsed in between my damp thighs. “Austin, please…” I panted as I squirmed.

“Please, what?” he teased me.

“I need you,” I moaned. He slid his hand down from my breast to tease my slick folds. I couldn’t help but grind myself up against his hand. I craved him like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

“You’re so wet,” he murmured as he explored my body. He abruptly changed positions so that my thighs were over his shoulders and I could feel his breath on my most sensitive bits. “Are you ready?” he asked with a grin.

I gave an eager nod, speechless for what was yet to come. My eyes rolled back in my head as I felt his tongue exploring me, I almost exploded the second he found my clit but I managed to hang on as he teased me.

I whimpered and moaned as he brought me to the edge again and again, only to back off right before I was about to cum. I finally had enough and wrapped my hand in his hair, holding his head in place, and put an end to this exquisitely pleasurable torture.

Austin pulled away from me with a teasing grin. “What did I tell you about the hands?”

My jaw dropped as he pinned them up above my head again and leaned over me. His erection was jutting out, and I could see that he was ready for me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and rubbed up against him. “I’m ready,” I purred.

He leaned over to kiss me and I could taste myself on his lips. “I’m ready, too,” he admitted. “But I want you on your hands and knees with that sweet ass up the air.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but I was even more turned on than I was before. He released my wrists and I turned so that I was face down on the bed, vulnerable in the way that I was exposed to him. Austin rubbed himself up against my slick heat, teasing me as I moaned. He gripped my hips before guiding himself fully inside me. I opened myself up to him completely, giving in to the sensations that rocked my body.

Austin started slow, giving me an opportunity to adjust to his size. He filled me completely, caressing deep inside me. He slowly pulled almost all the way out of me before driving back in with a rapid thrust. I gasped at the unexpected sensation and pleasure built inside of me as he did it again and again.

I cried out with every thrust as his rhythm increased its pace. The pleasure grew to new heights that I had never experienced before and it felt like it wasn’t just mine. I could feel Austin the way that I did when we used our pack bond to communicate, but this was different, more intense. It felt like his very essence was inside of me, that I was inside of him. Our sensations and emotions tangled together until I was lost completely. Our bodies slammed into one another in a punishing rhythm that had made me soar higher and higher.

I felt like I was flying high, riding a wave of pleasure that was about to crest. And when it did, it was like the entire world stopped. Waves of ecstasy reverberated through my body which triggered Austin to release as well. His orgasm felt like an echo of my own, and it took several minutes for me to come back down to earth.

I struggled to catch my breath as Austin and I collapsed on the bed, our bodies entangled together. “Is it always like that for you?” I managed to get out.

“No,” Austin stilled. “I’ve never… connected with anyone like that before. I’ve heard rumors, but to actually experience it…” he let out a breath. “That was amazing.”

“It was,” I sighed. If I was honest with myself, I’d never truly opened myself up to another person so completely. The champagne may have played a small part in getting me to relax, but I had also made a huge breakthrough with my own personal issues. Hope filled me, and I realized that I had a real chance to have something I’ve always wanted but didn’t think I would ever find. I never thought that I was good enough or that I deserved it, but I had found true love. This moment with Austin was just the beginning, things would get even better from here.