Page 27 of Claimed

“The second one was a little better than the first,” Hunter says, trying to be optimistic.

“It was,” I agree, with a nod as I grip the steering wheel. “It also had only three windows in the entire home.”

“I wonder why those vampires are moving anyway,” Hunter says as he leans over my shoulder to look down the road we’ve just turned onto.

The first house we saw was owned by a warlock family and stunk of potions and herbs. Cherry couldn’t stop sneezing the entire time she was in there. Hunter, Bain, and Chase ended up taking her outside while Maddox and I took a quick look around. It was far too small for us, anyway.

The house we just left was secluded in the woods, which we liked. But it’s clear the vampires who live there craved the dark. The house had a creepy, Victorian vibe that just isn’t us.

I’m really hoping the third house is suitable. I don’t want to buy something small and have to move again later. Peggy already let us know that there are several houses available with three bedrooms if we’re willing to consider going smaller.

It’s not that we wouldn’t mind sharing, but we’re big guys, and we need a big space. Most homes with three bedrooms just didn’t have the overall square footage we would want to feel comfortable.

Peggy turns down a street, and I notice the homes here are all large bungalows, each spread out on a big lot.

The street ends in a circle, and Peggy pulls into a drive at the very tip. I park beside her in the massive driveway and step out, instantly scanning the house and the neighbors.

The next-door neighbor's house is at least a couple hundred feet away on either side, making it feel spacious. I get a faint whiff of bear shifter and something else, some sort of large cat. Shifters would be good neighbors to have, assuming they were decent people.

As I step into the house, I make sure to stay as far from Peggy as possible, not wanting my mate to think I’m flirting or showing any sort of interest.

It’s strange to have someone jealous of women talking to me. I’ve never had a girl or woman like me so much that they fear losing me to someone else. But I get it. In some ways, I’m grateful Cherry has been walking around town as a wolf; it means men haven’t been able to stare at her. And I’m sure they would. She’s beautiful. Far too beautiful for the likes of me.

Whatever reason the Goddess has for fating me to her, I am eternally grateful. Cherry is perfect. Beautiful, yes. But also sweet, funny, and a breath of fresh air for our pack. Perfect.

“Okay, this is way better than the last two,” Chase says as he moves into the large open-plan kitchen.

“Significantly better,” I agree as I run my hand along the white quartz countertop. “I can imagine prepping all sorts of food on this massive island.”

I see Chase and Hunter exchange worried looks. “Don’t you dare say a word,” I warn them through the bond, making Chase raise his hands and eyebrows as if he hadn’t just been thinking about my cooking. I’m getting better at it and don’t appreciate his snark.

“Check out the living room,” Maddox says as I wander over to join him, Bain, and Cherry. It’s twice the size of the one in Nebraska, and, along with the kitchen, they span a large portion of the home, offering light from both the windows at the front of the house and the large ceiling-to-floor windows along the back.

The best part is the view out back. I catch the edge of a large natural-style swimming pool with what looks to be a diving rock and a small waterfall. Beyond that, a forest spreads out as far as you can see, which is miles. The ground beyond moves up and curves into lush green mountains, layered one behind the other, their peaks softened by a faint haze like they go on forever.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Peggy asks as she steps up to the patio door and pulls it open for us. We follow her out and take a better look at the large backyard, but that view, it’s breathtaking.

I feel Cherry against my leg, and I stroke her ear as I ask her, “How would you like to wake up to that view every day?”

She rubs her head against my leg, so I take that as a yes. When I lift my gaze, I find Peggy frowning at us. I raise an eyebrow in question, and she looks a little surprised as she speaks. “Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare, it’s just…”

“It’s just what?” Chase asks as he moves to Cherry’s other side, pressing his leg right against her to tell her he’s there.

“Nothing, sorry. I shouldn’t have stared.”

“No, tell us what you were going to say,” I ask her. “Please?”

She looks a little nervous as she licks her lips, but she eventually answers. “I didn’t realize you were all her mates.”

“It’s uncommon where we are from,” Maddox says without actually confirming she’s correct. “Do you see much of that here?”

“It’s really not my place to say,” she says, looking a little worried. “Oh! Have you visited the bakery on Main Street yet?”

Maddox shakes his head, frowning at her abrupt change in subject, and she nods. “Yes, well, you should definitely check it out. They have the best pastries. Who knows what else you’ll find there?”

She glances around, and I remember that other shifters live in this neighborhood and realize that, for some reason, she’s being secretive.

“We’ll be sure to check it out, thank you,” Maddox says, catching on to her hint.