His fangs slid into her neck and the pinch of pain smoothed out to pure bliss as she came a second time. He extracted his fangs and licked the marks tenderly, then he hugged her against him, both of them breathing hard.
“My beautiful mate,” he said hoarsely. “I love you.”
Too blissed out to do more than shiver at the pleasure that still pulsed through her, she smiled. “I love you too, my sweet wolf.”
The following night, Trick couldn’t shake the nerves.
He’d shifted tons of times since he was a teenager but tonight was different. He was shifting for Cass for the first time.
She was his mate now and wearing his marks, but he wanted her to see all of him and that meant in the fur too.
Cass walked out of the house, putting his hoodie on because the night was cool.
He drew her close. “I like you in my clothes, but I like you better in nothing.”
“All right, you horn dogs,” Juliette said with a laugh as she, Sigh, and Dare walked into the backyard.
“Spoilsport,” Cass said.
“Later,” Trick whispered, wiggling his brows.
“You know it,” Cass said.
Dare cleared his throat. “So we’re not real big on ceremonies here, Cassidy. You’re wearing Trick’s marks and you’re his truemate, and that makes you part of the pack and part of our family. Welcome.”
“Thank you,” Cass said.
Sigh and Juliette clapped, and Juliette gave Cass a hug.
“We’ll see you out there,” Juliette said.
They parted ways, Dare heading off on his own, and Sigh and Juliette walking into the woods together.
Trick smiled down at her. “Beautiful, just remember that I’m still me in my shift.”
“I trust you.”
He loved that she trusted him.
He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and kissed her, then moved off the patio.
Trick held her gaze as he stripped, enjoying the way she bit her bottom lip and didn’t seem to even blink. He winked at her and let himself go into his shift, going from two legs to four, dark fur covering him, his tail whipping back and forth as his claws dug into the soft ground.
Cass let out a soft gasp and stepped forward, dropping to her knees in front of him.
“Oh, you’re beautiful.” She sank her fingers into his thick fur and pressed her head against his. “My Trick.”
She stroked his fur, rubbed his ears until his back leg kicked, and then she giggled shamelessly and kissed him on the nose.
“Should we walk?” she asked.
He nodded with a low grumble.
They headed toward the river and walked along the bank for a while, and then she stopped and stared across to Mill Creek.
“We were so close but also far away. It’s wild, isn’t it?” she asked. She kneeled next to him, leaning against him, then said, “Trick, I’m so happy we found each other. I love you so much.”
He let out a rumbling growl.
