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It isn’t an exaggeration. Healing always takes its toll on Halle, but right now she seems as if she is barely standing.
“I’m fine. I don’t need to be sent to bed.”
Cade rolls his eyes even as he kisses her temple. “Everyone, pick a room and try to get some rest. I’ll take first watch.”
I press a kiss to Dove’s head before stepping toward him. “Me too.”
He looks at me, and I think he’s going to tell me it isn’t necessary, but then he nods. “Until we know how things are going to play out, someone will always be on watch.”
“Let me get Dove settled, and I’ll come back down.”
I grab our bags from the pile near the door and hold my hand out for Dove as we head upstairs. She’s visibly exhausted.
I pick the first room that hasn’t already been claimed, pushing the door open and glancing around. There is a large double bed, a closet big enough for both of our things, and two nightstands with robust lamps on them.
I hold up a hand, signaling she should wait while I check out the small bathroom and closet before peering under the bed. Her lips quirk into a smile as I walk back to her.
“We’re kind of old to believe in monsters hiding under the bed.”
As soon as I’m within touching distance, she wraps her fingers in my shirt, pulling me against her. The anxiety building inside me is instantly quashed the moment she touches me. I don’t know how she manages to calm the raging beast inside me, but I know she is all I need to keep me from losing my mind.
“When it comes to your safety, I’ll always check,” I say. “I know we don’t have any choice but to be here, but I’m still going to be careful until we know exactly how trustworthy these people are.”
Her smile fades, her brows knitting together as her eyes scan my face. “What if this is a mistake and I’ve led us all into a trap?”
The look on her face makes my stomach knot. I press a kiss to her forehead, letting all the love I have for her melt into the gesture. “Everyone came of their own free will, Dove. You’re not responsible for their choices. If it’s a trap, we’ll handle it.”
“Tessa trusted us to bring her here. I don’t want her baby to be hurt.”
I love how soft she is, how much she cares about those around her, but this is not something that can sit on her shoulders. “Tessa will be fine. We’ll make sure of it.”
My lips move down to the mark on her neck. When I swipe my tongue over it, she lets out a groan that goes straight to my cock.
“You can’t make sounds like that, Dove. I don't have time to make love to you right now.”
“Is that what you've been doing?” I can hear the smile in her voice. “Are you making love to me when you bury your cock inside me?”
Fuck. My balls tighten, demanding release as my wolf lets out a high-pitched whine. “I want to kiss that dirty mouth of yours, but it’ll have to wait.”
I give her one final flick over her mark before pulling back. One day, when we’re mated, I’m going to give her a real claiming mark and watch her come undone when I lick it.
“Try to get some sleep. I’m downstairs if you need me.”
“I’ll try, but I’m not sure how much sleep I’ll be able to get without you beside me.”
I go back for one final kiss, knowing if I linger much longer, I won’t return downstairs. “Lock the door.”
I hate to do it, but I step out of the room and wait for the sound of the key in the lock. Once I’m satisfied, I head downstairs. I can hear movement from the rooms as I pass them—my brothers and their mates settling into their spaces.
Could this become home?
I find Cade in the living area, standing at the window, peering out over our new community. Even if I couldn’t see how tense my alpha is, I can sense it through our pack link.
“Do you think it was a mistake coming here?” I can’t help myself from asking.
I want to know what he is thinking and if I might need to protect Dove from any residual anger the others might have.
He shakes his head after a moment, not taking his eyes from the glass. “Staying would have been suicide. More hunters would have come, and I don’t think we would have had the strength to stand against them. If it hadn't been for Callum and his men, we’d have been screwed. Should we have come here, though?” His shoulders draw up. “Time will tell, I guess. Is Dove okay?”
