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He swore he could feel his cheeks heat, but he ignored it. “It’s usually there when I’m around you,” he said honestly.
Her eyes widened, and he wanted to curse. He wasn’t good at this mating business. He didn’t know what to say, even though it was his duty toalwaysknow what to say, what to do. He hadn’t started off on the right foot with her, and every time he took a step forward, he messed up and fell back once more. One day he hoped he’d get the hang of this, but he had a feeling Brie would be the one leading him there. They might have mated for the wrong reasons, but now that she was his, he was going to make sure they had a true mating in all the ways that mattered. He refused to go about his life like his parents had. His mother had lost everything she was because of his father, even though what she became in the process was everything he’d feared.
Brie reached up and cupped his cheek. “Your face is so expressive sometimes. Where did you go just then?”
He sighed then turned his face to kiss her palm. “I was thinking of our mating and comparing it to my parents.” He shut his mouth quickly, surprised he’d said that at all.
Her eyes widened yet again, but she didn’t stop touching him. “You don’t speak about them,” she whispered.
“I don’t,” he agreed. The phone rang then, saving him from opening himself up for the hurt.
Frustration slid through Brie’s eyes, but she masked it well. He rolled away and sat at the end of the bed, picking up his phone on the next ring.
“Yeah?” he said, not bothering to look at the readout.
“I know it’s early, but can we meet soon to talk about the hunting runs?” Brynn asked, her voice brisk.
It sounded as though she’d been up for awhile, and he knew that was probably true. While Gideon’s first priority was finding Leo, he had enough on his plate that he’d put Brynn in charge of the details. She was a strong wolf and hunter. He didn’t know why the goddess hadn’t blessed her with additional powers, but he had a feeling there was a reason for that…one that hadn’t presented itself yet.
Gideon ran a hand through his hair, the strands going past his shoulders. He had to get a haircut soon, only he didn’t know when that was going to happen with so much shit piling up.
“Sure. Give me an hour.”
“Good enough.”
“Get Ryder too. We could use his brain.”
“Done.”
She hung up quickly, not bothering to say goodbye. When Brynn was in hunting mode, she wasn’t much for pleasantries.
Brie set her hand on his upper back between his shoulder blades, and he let out a breath. He hoped she wouldn’t bring up what they’d been talking about. He still wasn’t ready to lose her once he told her everything.
“No luck with Leo?” she asked. Good, they were moving on. For now. He knew it was only a small reprieve, but he’d take it.
“Not yet. I think we’re going to have to put more men on it.”
He stood up, not turning around. He wouldn’t be able to hold himself back once he took a good look at her and her tumbled hair and sleepy expression.
“Do you have enough?” she asked. He heard the rustle of sheets and knew she was also getting out of bed. “You have people on the wards, the normal runs, and the tunnels between us and the Redwoods in case the humans find out about us. That’s spreading ourselves a little thin, right?”
He nodded then turned around since she wasn’t in bed anymore to tempt him. Goddess, she was breathtaking. Her chestnut hair was indeed in tumbles around her face but not as tangled as it was when he spent the night running his hands through it.
“We’re not going to run out of wolves any time soon, but I don’t necessarily enjoy having to face in so many directions at once.” He liked this, their talking of such things as Pack matters as they got ready for the day. It was what he’d always thought of when he imagined finding a mate. He found himself wanting to know her opinions, thoughts, and needs. Maybe if he could step back and not take over like his wolf urged him to do, he could actually act like the mate she needed, rather than the mate she had.
“If you need more wolves, and your soldiers can’t do it all, I know there are a few mid-ranking Pack members that could probably help.”
He froze in the act of washing his face and turned to look at her. “Really? Who?”
She shrugged but didn’t look at him.
“Brie, little wolf, you’re my mate. I want to know what I’m missing. I’m bound to miss some things that look as if they’re taken care of. I can’t be everywhere at once.” He grimaced. “As much as it pains me to say.”
Her eyes met his. “You know, some wolves that used to live outside the den, blending with the human world, are moving back.”
“Yes. It’s too hard to hide their need to roam with the way the world is watching.” Yet another matter he had his eye on. It was exhausting to think about.
“Well now that they’re here, they’re fitting in the den somewhat, but they don’t have as clearly defined roles as they used to. They’re not soldiers, maternals, or submissives.”
