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God. Turning into a vampire was like going into heat, a phenomenon I thought was only applicable to wolf shifters. Between the kisses with the twins and my straying thoughts, my panties were wet. Then again, with six mates, that was pretty much a perpetual state.
Seven mates, my mind reminded me. I exhaled loudly, my cheeks puffing with air I blew out slowly. My gaze traveled over Kota’s still form while I finally let myself think about that little tidbit of information. I hadn’t had time to dwell on it with everything else going on, and then it seemed irrelevant. At least, for a little while.
How could I tell my mates about the potential seventh when we couldn’t even reestablish the mate bonds? My heart warred with my mind, but I decided to table the discussion, though I knew when they found out they wouldn’t be happy I kept it a secret.
Chayton’s broken cry still echoed in my ears, the phantom sound heart wrenching, and my mind was made up.
For now, this was the best course of action.
Just until you rekindle the mate bonds. Then you can tell them and search for your seventh.
Decision made, I slipped from the couch and wandered down the hall in search of Dason’s office. I hadn’t done much exploring on the first level past the living room, dining room, and the kitchen, so I carefully peeked behind two doors, one a bedroom, and the next a half bath, before coming across a room at the back of the house with a large executive desk inside. It tingled with magick, telling me it was conjured rather than purchased.
I bit my lip and stared at the laptop sitting on the desk. Would Dase be upset if I used it? My fingers tangled together, fidgeting, before I backed out of the office and followed Dase’s scent to another heavy wooden door.
Knocking softly, I peered inside when he called out to me.
His room was just as bare as the others, containing only a dresser and a bed with no decor on the walls. I couldn’t wait to make this place feel more like home.
“Hey.” I smiled, and he waved me in, holding up a finger to let me know he’d be just a minute.
He juggled the cell from one ear to the other, speaking quietly to the person on the other end of the line while he gave me a drugging look, raking his eyes over my form like I was wearing lingerie instead of the leggings, tank, fitted button-down, and wolf necklace I was sporting. There wasn’t much bare skin for him to ogle, yet he still made me feel like the sexiest creature alive.
I walked into his room and ran my fingers along the edge of his dresser, while he gave noncommittal responses to the person on the phone. He lounged on the bed, watching me explore, shooting me a sexy wink when I glanced at him.
I blushed and fiddled with the watch, wallet, and ring lying on the wooden surface of the dresser.
This new attention he was giving me was going to go to my head if he wasn’t careful. The more he let me in, the less I’d be able to walk away if he changed his mind. We still hadn’t had that talk about the future, though I was beginning to get the picture just from the house.
Dason wanted a family. A big one. Why else would there be at least twelve bedrooms? Obviously some of them were for the pack, but the rest? Was I ready for that?
I peeked back at Dason.
Maybe not yet, but someday, yes.
Though it wasn’t something I thought about all the time, I’d always wanted to create a home that was different than the one I’d grown up in. I wanted my kids to have a different upbringing than I’d had. My dad had tried to be there for me, but work was always an important mistress, and my mother was more like a jailer than a parental figure. As the adopted daughter she didn’t want, she only used me to make herself look better to the ladies she deemed important enough to socialize with. Like when she dragged me to luncheons and brunches and acted as the loving mother, only to pay me no mind in between. I spent most of my childhood alone, and more times than not I could be found in the woods behind the house because the hollow, marbled halls of the Victorian I’d grown up in felt lonelier than the bustling forest.
This house Dase had built, with its bare walls and unfinished projects, felt more like a home to me than the one I’d grown up in.
Over time, I’d fill it with things that made it feel more like our place—pictures on the walls and trinkets that made it cozy. This would be our safe haven together.
But if there was one thing I’d learned throughout all the upheaval I’d been through these past few weeks, it was that home could be anywhere as long as you were with the people you loved.
And Dason, Chayton, Axel, Kota, Jolon, and Syler already resided in my heart. They were my family.
The one I chose.
“Efram, hold on,” Dason said, finally cutting into the conversation before lowering the cell. “Sorry. I’m getting updates about our territory and notes on the last Kwoli Pack meeting since I was unable to attend. This might take a little longer. Do you need anything?”
Dason winced apologetically, but I brushed his concern away.
“You’re fine. I didn’t really need you for anything.”
“Damn, way to wound my pride.” Dason smirked, his eyes narrowing in challenge. “I’m sure we could findsomethingyou need me for.”
I bit back a smile to hide my amusement and arched an eyebrow instead. “I don’t know… I have five other men at my disposal. I think I’ve got my bases covered.”
It was Dason’s turn to raise a brow, and then he prowled off the bed, striding toward me like the predator he was. My heart raced, and I backed into the wall near the doorway as he invaded my personal bubble… not that I was complaining.
