Page 16 of Howl About That

"To our new partnership. May it be everything we hope it can be."

Wow, could you be more obvious?

But she raised her glass without hesitation, her blue eyes holding his with an intensity that made the air crackle between them.

"To a successful and lasting partnership."

The word 'lasting' hung in the air between them like a promise, and his wolf practically howled with joy. They touched glasses with a soft chime, then settled into eating the perfectly prepared chicken pasta. The silence stretched between them, filled with the weight of everything unsaid—the mate bond humming like a live wire, the impossible attraction neither could deny, and the dozen complications that made acting on any of it right now seem like madness.

One step at a time. Figure out if you can work together before you start planning a future.

Minutes later, Keiro could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air like a storm about to break. Every casual glance Poppy sent his way sent heat racing through his veins, and the way she occasionally caught her bottom lip between her teeth when she thought he wasn't looking made his wolf restless.

Keep your head straight.

But keeping his head straight proved impossible when she was sitting close enough that her wildflower scent wrapped around him like a drug, when the soft lighting cast golden highlights in her dark hair, and when every instinct screamed at him to close the distance between them and claim what was his.

Poppy finally set down her fork, her blue eyes meeting his. "So, what do you envision this partnership looking like?"

The question hit him with layered meaning that made his mouth go dry. She was talking business—he knew that logically—but the way her voice carried that breathless quality and the way her gaze lingered on his mouth suggested she was thinking about far more than land development.

Keep it professional. Don't read into things.

"I envision our business partnership being one where we can be completely open and honest with each other," he said, his voice rougher than he intended. "Equal footing. Mutual benefit. Financially, of course."

The words felt inadequate the moment they left his mouth. What he really wanted to say was that he envisioned a partnership where she didn't have to carry everything alone, where he could take some of the weight off her shoulders, where they could build something together that went far beyond business arrangements. But admitting that would cross lines he wasn't sure she was ready for him to cross.

The air between them grew thick with tension as she studied his face, her pupils dilating slightly as if she could read the thoughts he wasn't voicing. When she leaned forward just a fraction, the neckline of her dress shifted, and Keiro had to grip his wine glass to keep from reaching for her.

"That sounds reasonable enough," Poppy said, her voice carrying a husky quality that made his wolf surge forward with want. "Honesty and trust and respect are crucial."

She paused, and he could practically see her internal struggle playing out across her expressive features—the Alpha who needed to maintain control warring with the woman who was clearly as affected by their proximity as he was.

"Speaking of trust," she continued, her gaze piercing, "can I trust you? Can I trust that you aren't trying to string me along or use me for some hidden agenda?"

The question hit him like a punch, and he responded before conscious thought could temper his words.

"Yes, you can trust me." The conviction in his voice surprised even him. "I would never use you or string you along for any reason. There's absolutely no hidden agenda here."

Tell her the full truth. She deserves that much.

"I genuinely bought that land last night because I sensed you were in trouble, and while I may have overstepped because you're my fated mate, that was no excuse to solve your problems without really knowing what they were or asking if that's whatyou wanted." He met her eyes directly, letting her see the sincerity there. "For that, I'm truly sorry."

Shock flickered across her features—not at his apology, but at his complete honesty. In his experience, Alphas rarely admitted mistakes, especially not to other Alphas they were trying to impress. But something about Poppy made him want to strip away the careful facades he'd spent years perfecting.

She didn't accept his apology, but her expression softened slightly. "Well, maybe this happened for a reason. Let's just try to move forward together."

Together.

The word hit him with unexpected force, carrying promises and possibilities that made his chest tighten with want.

"Of course," he managed. "Let's focus on the present and figure out our next steps."

"Right. So the next steps will be signing papers obviously," she said, slipping back into business mode. "I can meet you tomorrow to handle that. Then we can decide what to do with the land—what to build that will benefit us both. I know having a wolf Alpha owning land on pride territory may be problematic, but don't worry. I'll handle the politics with the elders."

She's protecting me already.

The realization sent warmth spreading through his chest. "Perfect. That way we can move forward without extra complications. So what do you want to build?"