Filed to story: The Wolf Prince’s Fated Love
I mirrored his pose and rattled off the security update with practiced habit.
“Perimeter is secure, our personal guard has taken up position alongside your father’s people, and I’ve gotten a full download from their head of security. It’s been quiet. The whole household’s been in mourning since your mother’s passing.” I paused, the next part more delicate. “They did mention that it would mean a lot to the staff if you would be willing to visit the site of your mother’s pyre and hold a memorial service at the family cemetery.”
He nodded, expression grave as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“I would like that as well.”
“I’ll ask Reed to arrange it with Cristian, if that’s good with you?”
“Perfect.” He slouched against the chairback, new weariness lining his shoulders. “I keep expecting her to come in with a tray of Nina’s cookies and a glass of milk like I’m ten. But she’s not going to.”
The sorrow was thick in his voice, and I ducked my head. I wasn’t good with words, and at times like this, I felt it to my bones. I was a doer. I could arrange, protect, and make things happen. But comforting a friend in his time of grief? I didn’t have the words for that.
Thankfully, he shook it off, reaching for a pitcher of water the staff had left out on the table with a pair of glasses. He poured a drink in silence, offering it to me before pouring his own. It was crisp and cool, the taste of home.
Brielle had crossed the room so quietly, I jumped when she stepped up to his side, wrapping him in a supportive hug.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered against the top of his head.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, and my throat got tight at the sight of them.
Damn, I wanted that.
A fated mate, my perfect other half.
But I was running out of time, and sitting around moping about it wouldn’t make the perfect woman appear.
Leigh is the perfect woman, my wolf snarled at my stray thoughts, but I shook off his grouchiness.
If she were the one, she’d have marks by now. A heated kiss was enough to bring on marks for some couples-like the one standing in front of me-whereas we’d spent a marathon night together, having sex at least six or seven times. If that wasn’t enough to pop marks on either of us, well… she wasn’t my fated mate.
It stung, of course. But those marks were part of the wolf’s inherent magic, and wishing wouldn’t change a fucking thing.
Though my wolf’s insistence reminded me of something that had been nagging at me, and as Brielle stepped back from Kane’s embrace to go back to her book, it seemed like as good a time as any to ask, when there weren’t any extra ears listening.
“Brielle?”
“Yeah?”
“Is it possible to do a DNA test without hurting a baby?” Her forehead wrinkled at the question, so I hastily added. “Before they’re born?”
Shock replaced the confusion, and she cast an unreadable look at Kane before answering me. “Yes, of course. A simple blood test from the pregnant mother and the prospective father is all you need for shifters. No harm whatsoever, but Gael, if you’re asking about Leigh’s baby…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t put you in the middle,” I said, quickly rising from the chair, eager to avoid an awkward conversation. She was probably going to try to reassure me, but she hadn’t heard what Leigh had admitted. “I just wanted to know if it was possible, so thank you. I’ll leave you two to your night.”
I didn’t let myself think about my cowardice as I ran from a tiny little she-wolf and the accusing glare she leveled on my back. I escaped into the deserted hallway, heading for my silent, empty room.
ELEVEN
Leigh
The giant sleigh bed in my borrowed room was fancier than anything I’d ever slept in, and I kind of loved it.
Okay, so I completely loved it. The dark wood was smooth under my fingertips, gracefully curving in hand-carved lines, and the mattress was like a cloud. I’d fallen asleep within minutes of settling in earlier, skipping out on the tour. Brielle and Olivia had been excited about the clinic, but I was sure I could find the gym just fine on my own.
Something had woken me, though. Probably just unfamiliar-house sounds-a castle as old as this had to have some quirks, right?
It was pitch-dark outside, the outdoor lights of the castle snuffed out after ten p.m. so you could see the stars without interference. I got up to pee, then loitered in front of the window, enjoying the view of velvet darkness spattered with twinkling crystal stars.
You couldn’t see them this well back in Texas, and we’d stayed so busy in Alaska that I’d never taken the time.
But now I found myself thinking too much as I stared out at the natural beauty of the night.
A creak in the hallway interrupted the moment, but I ignored it until I heard a second, then a third. Was someone out there?
My stomach rumbled angrily, the sound loud in the quiet room. Maybe they were going to find the kitchen, and I could tag along?
But when I peeked out into the hall, Olivia was wearing a floor-length nightgown, complete with neck and sleeve ruffles-that must have been a loaner, and I tried not to chuckle at the ridiculous sight-but her distant look and glazed eyes struck me as odd. Was she sleepwalking?
“Olivia?” I whispered, not wanting to spook her. She turned my way and waved, but kept walking slowly toward the end of the hallway where the rooms dead-ended at the giant suite that used to belong to Kane’s parents.
“Are you okay?” I asked, stepping fully into the hall. I didn’t know her well yet, but she seemed nice enough. This was odd.
“I think so, I just couldn’t sleep. I’m getting a weird feeling.” She tucked a loose chunk of red hair behind her ear, pressing her lips together as she continued down the hall, steps slow and uncertain.
“Uh, what kind of weird feeling? Do I need to call one of the guys, or… ?” I wasn’t sure what to say, but I was drawn to follow her, my wolf’s curiosity piqued and my rumbling stomach temporarily forgotten.
“I don’t think so? It’s probably nothing.” She stopped walking when her palm rested on one of the big, carved double doors of the suite. She shook her head lightly and backtracked, stopping at the last door in the hallway before the suite.
I watched with silent interest, scratching at the stupid bandage still on my palm. It was a sensory nightmare. I wanted it off, but when I’d looked under the edge earlier, my damn palm was still glowing.
She twisted the glass knob on the door, poking her head in to make sure the room was empty before slipping inside. I followed her, too curious to do anything else at this point. I didn’t feel like she was up to anything sketchy, but there was something in the air, something I couldn’t put my finger on.