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“Me too.” Her grip loosened, and her fingers brushed lightly through my fur. “You need a shower.”
I made a noise of agreement.
“Jill and Riley said I should be careful not to go into your den, or let you into mine. They said it had something to do with scent. Ezra disagreed, and thought it would be fine if I went into your den, but said I shouldn’t let you into mine unless I was ready to accept you as my mate.”
I made a noncommittal noise.“Having a female’s scent in a male’s den will drive him to think about her more and want her more. The unmated females warned you against it, because they’re still considering multiple males. They haven’t committed to my brothers, so they stay out of their dens to prevent them from growing too attached. Ezra sees no point in you staying out of my den, because she understands the importance of fate’s decisions to us.”
“What does that mean?”
“In the past, a female allowing a male into her den would be her way of declaring her intentions toward him. No other male would go near her. If she decided to bring another man in, the scent of the first would drive the second to violence.”
Her eyebrows shot upward. “Damn.”
“A male wolf takes fate’s decision very, very seriously. Only three men in our history have ever not sealed a bond with the women fate led them to, and it was because the females refused them based on their past actions.”
“So Ezra thinks you’re already set on me enough that there’s no point in staying out of your den, because the damage is already done on that front.”
“Correct.”
Her lips pressed together, and I saw frustration on her face. Uncertain what I could say to ease it, I remained quiet until we reached her den. I would need to surround it with boulders or place a large tree over it, to secure it, but I would have to wait until she was willing to do so with me, because I wasn’t comfortable enough to leave her alone for that long.
I grabbed the slab of wood in my jaws and hauled it upward, opening it for her.“The pack eats breakfast early, but sleep as long as you want. I can cook for you whenever you’re ready.”
Red stained her cheeks, contrasting beautifully with the vibrant pink of her hair. “Thanks.”
“Of course. Climb down carefully; if you are hurt, I will come in to check on you, consequences be damned.”
The red on her cheeks deepened. “Alright.”
With that, she eased herself onto the ladder and slowly began her descent. A moment later, I heard her feet hit the floor, and she called out quietly, “You can close it. Thank you.”
“If you need anything, let me know. I’ll be right outside all night.”
“You should go home and shower,” she protested.
I closed the slab in response, saying nothing to her suggestion.
There wasn’t a thing in our world that could drag me from her side. After centuries of waiting, I had finally found my female. I was nowhere near foolish enough to walk away from her after so damn long without her.
Over time, I would prove myself to her, and she would accept that fate was correct. I would love her in ways no other male ever could—and I would protect her just as much.
eight
RORY
My face was still burningwhen I turned around at the bottom of the ladder, and peered around the den I’d been given. Or assigned, maybe. My vision was already much, much better than it had ever been in the dark before. I could make out the colors and shapes almost as easily as I could during the day.
As I took everything in, my shoulders relaxed.
It was perfect.
The space reminded me of a comfy studio apartment, with a simple, nice kitchen, a large bed up against a wall, and a bathroom and closet on another wall. There was enough space that it didn’t feel squished, but not so much that I wouldn’t feel at ease.
I pulled the lever Amarok told me would lock the den, and watched a thick stone plate slide into place over the opening above my head.
It made me feel much more secure, and relaxed me further.
When I checked the kitchen, I found it stocked with equipment, but no food. I stepped into the closet afterward, and my lips curved upward when I found a similar variety of clothing to what we’d found with the other pack. There was a row of bodysuits and massive tees in multiple sizes.
