Page 199

My mouth drops open in shock. Soren throws back his head and lets out a booming laugh. “He just… Oh, Fates! He wasn’t chasing you. He was trying to get you to play fetch.”

I can’t contain the laughter that bubbles up from my chest, and apparently, neither can Branwen. Before long, all three of us are gasping for breath between laughter.

Shade sits back on his haunches, glaring at us all, tail sweeping in agitation through the grass.

Vae blinks down at the ball in his lap, incredulity etched in every line of his expression.

“What the actual fuck…” he mutters, scraping a hand down his face.

As though he’s personally embarrassed by Vae’s inability to grasp what his role is in this game, Shade leans in and uses his nose to nudge the ball into his stomach. He creeps back a few feet, crouches close to the ground like he’s going to pounce, and waits. His eyes flick pointedly from Vae to the ball, then back to Vae.

“Absolutely not,” he scoffs, pushing to his knees. “I am not throwing that ball for you. You chased me around the grounds like a psychopath from Hell, and now you really want to play fetch?”

The sight of a grown male arguing with a cat sends another wave of giggles pouring out of me.

I crouch down and call for him, “Come here, boy… I’ll play fetch with you.”

Shade glances at me, huffs, then turns back to the Alpha in front of him and narrows his golden eyes.

“What the hell kind of panther plays fetch?” Soren asks, still chuckling.

“It’s not a panther,” Vae spits, glaring at us. “It’s Satan’s housecat.”

Shade’s ears flatten close to his head, a low rumble vibrating in his chest. Vae throws his arms up in exasperation and finally gives in.

“FINE!”

He picks up the ball like it’s a bomb that might detonate any second and hurls it across the yard.

Shade shoots after it like an arrow loosed from a bow. Clumps of grass tear up beneath his claws and explode across the lawn.

The side door opens, and Daxen appears with Caelan following behind him. There’s a distinct gap between the two males, which worsens when Daxen turns to Caelan, who blatantly ignores him.

With a sigh, Daxen turns back around. The pain in his grey eyes makes my chest ache.

Then my mind totally blanks because… both Alphas are shirtless. And they’re both dripping with sweat. My throat goes dry. Yanking my gaze from the dips and lines of their muscular forms is impossible.

Daxen isn’t as bulky as Caelan, but he’s more defined. And both males have a V of muscle in their abdomen that disappears under the waistband of low-slung shorts.

Branwen links her arm in mine and tugs me away from the two Alphas. The moment they’re out of my line of sight, I take a deep, shuddering breath.

My face heats in embarrassment, but Branwen simply pats my hand like she totally gets it. “There you are, love. Much better now.”

“Do I even want to know what’s going on here?” Daxen drawls, grabbing a towel from the stack Soren set in the grass and using it to wipe the sweat from his face and chest. Caelan grabs one as well, thanking Soren, whose eyes flick toward Branwen with a knowing smile.

She shrugs, then gestures toward Vae, who’s watching Shade return with a look of resignation. “The third is for the pretty one with no brain. He’s gonna need it for all the slobber.”

“Wow, I’m impressed,” I grin as Shade returns full of triumph and drops the ball at Vae’s feet expectantly.

“Are you playing catch with that thing?” Daxen asks, bewildered.

“Not on purpose,” Vae grouses, staring at the ball in disgust. I honestly don’t blame him. It’s covered in saliva. Because he has zero patience, Shade picks up the ball, holding it gently between his huge teeth and nudging Vae in the stomach.

Vaelenor groans, accepting the ball and hurling it across the yard. “This is so fucking beneath me.”

“I dunno,” Soren hums. “It looks about right from here.”

Caelan barks out a laugh. Catching my eye, he gives me a playful wink before walking over to me.