Page 17 of Osiris: The Wolves
“Me too.”
“Will you spend the night with me?”
“At your place?”
“If that’s okay. I can bring you here before work so you can get ready.”
“That works for me.”
They got up and dressed, grabbed bottled water from the fridge, and walked to the bookstore where his Camaro was parked. He opened the door for her and then shut her inside, and when he was behind the wheel, he said, “On the way to the bar, what can I tell you about wolves?”
“Tell me how you guys wound up in King Lake and why there are only three of you. I thought that packs were bigger.”
“They usually are. Our home pack was about a hundred. The alpha decided that there weren’t enough matings and babies, and he ordered all the unmated adults to pair up – either choosing on their own or he’d arrange it. My brothers and I have always wanted to wait for our truemates, so we said hell no.” The alpha – that wrinkly old jackass – said comply or split, so they split. They’d heard about King Lake which had been founded as a haven for shifters a few decades ago, and was nearly deserted by the time they showed up. “We’re the most recent transplantsin town. The dragon clan’s been there about eight years, and the bears about five.”
“That’s it, though? Just the three groups?”
“There’s homes sitting empty in small developments around the lake, so more groups could come in, but it’s just our three groups for now. We’re a live and let live sort of town. We all know each other, but we don’t meddle in the other groups’ shifter business.”
“Ah, so no alpha council?”
“Nope. It’s pretty simple – just don’t be an asshole to other shifters.”
He parked in front of the small home he’d claimed when they came to town. He stared at it for a moment, thinking about that day they’d come to King Lake and decided to carve a place for themselves in the world. He looked at her and she smiled.
“I’ll give you the grand tour after work. Ready for dinner?”
“Starved.”
“I bet it’s because a sexy wolf was in your bed, huh?”
“The sexiest.”
He got out of the car and came around to open her door and help her out. He stared down at her with a smile, his wolf’s tail wagging happily.
“What’s your middle name, Juliette?” he asked, smoothing her golden hair over her shoulder.
“Lenore, after my grandma. She died before I was born, so I never knew her. Yours?”
“Zelle.”
“That’s just as interesting as your first name.”
“My parents had a sense of humor for sure.”
He took her hand and walked with her toward the bar.
“What made you ask that?” she asked.
“Because I want to know the little things, too. And knowing that your middle name is Lenore after your grandma is a littletidbit about you that I know now.” He tapped his temple and wiggled his brows. “It’s a vault, baby. I’ll remember everything you say forever.”
“Uh oh,” she said with a laugh. “That sounds like a dangerous thing.”
“All right, I’ll only remember the important stuff. Like your middle name. Or what you sound like when you cry out my name.”
She made a little choking sound and covered her mouth as she giggled. “You just like to make me blush.”
“Correction, I love it.”
