Page 60 of Shadowed Bond

When we part, I take her hand, my thumb brushing over her knuckles, and lead her out.

“You do realise that this means you will have to listen to me?” she says as we walk down the huge staircase of the Rossi Mansion.

I give her a flat look. “Let’s not get carried away.”

“I am your Luna.”

“I’m your Alpha then,” I counter.

“Exactly, meaning you shall listen to me.”

I snort. “You wish,” I scoff.

She raises an eyebrow.

Yeah.

I’m fucked.

I stare back at her.

As confident as I sound, I have a feeling she’s going to fucking have me wrapped around her finger.

Ahren stands by a car – a fucking beauty, one of his own – and I don’t show how fucking excited I am to get behind the wheel.

“Don’t crash it,” he says dryly, tossing me the keys.

“Nice car,” Charlotte says. Ahren smirks at her, his eyes flicking to her neck where my mark sits. A shimmering dark teal with a wolf, a trident, and a wave all combined into one compact design. My own is pretty neat, too: a moon with water beneath it and three claw marks running through it.

“Thanks for everything,” I say to Ahren.

“Anytime, Ares. Drive safely,” Ahren says. “I look forward to Sienna’s reaction when she finds out you’re mated. Another Westwood settled. Three down.”

“Three down…” I repeat. And each woman we are mated to is pretty strong: Sienna, Shahira, and Charlotte.

I shake his hand before I get into the car, and Charlotte gets in beside me, then we set out onto the road back towards home.

We reach Blood Moon and Blue Moon pack grounds just before afternoon properly settles. No one here knows I’m mated, but they’re about to find out. I park outside the Westwood Mansion on Blood Moon territory. Sometimes I feel a tad fucking sad that it’s not home anymore, not being able to mind-link my brothers, Dad and even Grandma, although I ain’t about to tell any of them that. Ever.

I get out, and Charlotte does the same, looking up at the mansion with an unreadable expression. I remember her last visit here, when I became Alpha… She was here as a guest, and now, now she’s here as part of the family.

I hold my hand out to her, and she walks over to me, but instead of taking it, she wraps her arms around mine, pressing herself against me. I look down at her and cock a brow.

“Are you nervous, Princess?” I ask, trying to hide my amusement.

“Of course not,” she answers with an icy expression.

“You fucking are.”

“Just…”

“Shut up?” I supply helpfully.

“Yes,” she whispers as we begin walking towards the door.

I open the door; as usual, it’s unlocked, and the smell of delicious food reaches my stomach. I nod in approval. I had told them I’d be returning today, and it’s a good thing I did, meaning there’s definitely food for us. What I hadn’t told them was that I wasn’t alone.

Shoving both hands into my pockets, Charlotte still holding my arm, I saunter straight through the archway that leads to the lounge and come to a stop.