Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(15)

She rolled her eyes, pushed on his chest, and then sat up. “Don’t get a big head.” Her eyes drifted to his jean-clad dick, and he snorted. “Well, from what I felt, you’re big enough already. On that note, I should let you get cleaned up, and I should do the same. At home.”

His wolf growled, and he wanted to do the same. He didn’t want her to leave, but he knew they were taking things slow. Forcing her to stay with him forever and never letting her out of his sight would probably defeat the purpose.

He nibbled on her lip then rolled off the bed, landing on his feet. He held out a hand. “Would you like me to walk you home?” he asked, knowing they both needed air, or they would be stripping off their clothes in no time.

She shook her head but took his hand. “I’m a quick walk under the moonlight away. And I need to breathe. If I were to let you come home with me…well…”

He grinned then kissed her, letting his lips brush against hers in a gentle caress. “I’ll see you in the morning, Em.”

“I’d like that.”

“You’re not getting rid of me any time soon.”

“I don’t plan on it.”

With that, he walked her to his door, but not out of his life.

She was his mate and knew it.

He was one step closer.

Thank the goddess.

****

Emeline stretched her hands to the ceiling, trying to wake up. She’d tossed and turned the night before, cursing herself for not staying at Noah’s. On the other hand, if she’d stayed there, she’d have thrown her plans in the air and mate marked him right then.

Images of her riding him while they wore their clothes filled her mind, and she groaned.

Okay, enough of that. Noah would be there soon, and they would spend the day together. They hadn’t really talked about what exactly they would be doing, but she had an idea. The day before had been a day full of surprises and, like their toast had promised, discovery.

While she would have loved to spend the day rolling around in the grass with Noah and learning every inch of him, they had other things to do. Namely, work on the spell for North. Each of them had serious preparation to do, as well as studying up on techniques. It would have been great if she could have told Lexi and North what she and Noah had found, but she hadn’t wanted to get Lexi’s hopes up.

So when Lexi had called just a few moments before, Emeline lied. No, not lied, she had told the other woman they were still working on it. They were, after all, but she hadn’t elaborated. Emeline was just too worried that they’d find out, as she and Noah worked at it, that it wouldn’t work and she’d disappoint them when there had been a way to prevent it.

When she and Noah got closer to the end of their timetable, they would tell North, Lexi, and the rest of the Jamensons. There was no way they’d be able to keep their excitement to themselves for long. If the others happened to mention the way she felt, well, then they could attribute it to her new relationship with Noah.

She smiled wide, her cheeks hurting from doing that so much.

Her mate.

Noah was her mate.

She still couldn’t quite believe it.

She also couldn’t quite believe that she hadn’t completed the mating the night before. Even though she would have loved to cement their bond, she knew it was the right decision to wait until she was centered.

And from the way she was feeling at the moment, she knew it wouldn’t be that long a wait for either of them.

Thank the goddess.

“Why are you smiling, girl?” Meryl snapped from the doorway she hadn’t heard open.

Emeline turned on her heel, cursing herself for not locking the door. While the den was safe now, she still should have made it harder for Meryl and the other elders to come into her home without asking. Before, they had been welcome because there had been no other way. Now, though, Emeline wanted her space.

Well, it was too late now.

Also, the fact that Meryl called her “girl” was not lost on her. Emeline just chose to ignore it. Meryl, being as old and batshit crazy as she was, was also far too set in her ways. There was no pleasing the woman. It had taken Emeline leaving the elder part of the den to start to see it fully.

“I’m happy, Meryl. Good morning. Would you like some tea?”

Meryl snarled. “No, I don’t want any tea. I want to know why you’re disgracing yourself and the Pack. I smell that pup on you. It’s an abomination. That’s what it is.”

Emeline froze, her eyes wide. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, girl. Noah isn’t for the likes of you. You’re an elder. You’re not to act like a tramp and screw the little pups in our Pack. You’re supposed to stay within our elder den and act accordingly. Fraternizing with the pups is a sin.”

Dear goddess, Meryl had officially lost her marbles.

“I don’t know where you get by talking to me like that, Meryl. You’re an elder, sure, but so am I. I demand the same respect as I give you.” She held up her hand when Meryl started to speak. “No, this is my home. You don’t get to come in here and bully me. First, I can screw anyone I want. You don’t get to tell me who I share my body with. Second, Noah is of age. We’re wolves. Get over it.” Funny how she could say that now, but that was neither here nor there. “Third, Noah is my mate, so you better get used to me fraternizing with him. Now if that’s all you have to say, you can leave.”