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"The twins would think so."
"How is Bob this morning?"
"Whining. More so because until he heals, he can't see Juliet. Too hard to explain. So, he's annoyed about how long he has to wait until he gets laid."
That answer was a weight off my mind. "He's going to be okay."
"Yes, he will. And so are you." Jeremy placed his arm around my shoulders. It shocked him more than me when I let him. He was so happy.
Stopping mid-step, I stared at Jeremy wide-eyed. "I can feel you, feel your emotions, like I do Dale."
For the first time, Jeremy smiled shyly. "We are pack, Vera. You mated with Dale to get your bond. But when you protected Bob last night, when you recognized him as your pack, you forged the pack bond with us all. That is what brought all the pack here last night, not Dale. They heard and responded to your cry for help for Bob."
Smiling, I threw my arms around his neck. "You're my family. I never had this with the other pack."
Moving me back to see my face, Jeremy frowned. "What, at all? Not even before Malcolm killed your father?" When I shook my head, Jeremy looked curious. "That is unusual, Vera."
"Welcome to my life."
Reaching the house, I smiled as we stepped inside and made our way to the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked when I stopped and grinned.
"This is my baby now. Dale may be the Alpha, but in my kitchen, I'm the boss."
Snickering, Jeremy lowered his voice to a smooth tenor. "I'll be sure to let Dale know you're on top in the kitchen."
Biting my lip at the desire coming off him, I stepped back. "I thought you weren't affected by my pheromones now?"
Jeremy laughed. "Oh, I'm not. But, you are still a beautiful female, Vera. A man can dream."
"Not about me, you can't."
"Don't worry, no one in the pack will act on it. You'll always be safe with us now. Even if anything happens to Dale."
"I thought if one of a mated pair dies, so does the other?"
Frowning a little, Jeremy rubbed my upper arms. "If you died, it would kill Dale, yes. Not instantly, but his broken heart would see him follow you soon after. For she-wolfs it doesn't work the same. You will grieve him, but the pack will buoy you up, especially if you have cubs, you will be able to survive his loss. After some time, you may choose to mate with the new Alpha or give your soul to the moon to be with your mate. Either way, the bond isn't what kills mates, it's their broken hearts."
"Wait, wouldn't you be the new Alpha?"
"Hence, why I still find you attractive, Vera. If anything ever happens to Dale, it will be my instinct to take his place and take care of you."
"And by taking care of me, you mean take care of yourself."
Snickering, Jeremy walked away. Sighing, I went to check on Bob, who was only concerned with making sure that I was okay. That conversation got nowhere. Resigning myself to the kitchen, I cooked Bob breakfast and something for our guests.
Jeremy was licking the bowl clean when Dale led the Liderii inside. "Jeremy, if you go with Ralph's beta, they are going to deliver the body along with the summons. You can request what you were asking about at the same time."
Popping his finger from his mouth, Jeremy took the clean bowl to the sink. "Leave it, I'll wash it up." Giving me a kiss to the temple, Jeremy put the bowl aside and disappeared with one of Ralph's men.
Chuckling at the look on my face from Jeremy's affection, Dale directed the Liderii to the lounge. Cerese came to talk with me instead.
"What is it like?"
Lifting my eyes from my prep-work for dinner, I considered her question. "Like every part of your body is cramping, and your muscles are crushing the bones they wrap around. To ease it, I focused on stretching out the cramp, and as I stretched, I changed."
Cerese was wide-eyed. "And you took full-form?"
