Chapter 8

We ate dinner at his cousin’s house. Mark and David had been married for seventeen years, and I could see how in love they still were. Mark, Trey’s cousin, doted on his husband, and the meal looked delicious. I was a little surprised when Mark set a plate before me. But I didn’t dig in, even as the three wolves began eating.

“Is something wrong?” Mark asked, and it took me a second to realize he was speaking to me.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Before I could even get my thoughts in order, Trey touched the back of my neck.

“Eat, Asher.”

“I, uh,” I kept my voice low, even though I knew it was stupid. The kitchen wasn’t that big, and wolves’ hearing was exceptional. “I’m allowed?”

Mark gasped, David make a choking noise, but it was Trey’s growl that held my attention. I could hear the anger in it, but I somehow knew it wasn’t directed at me. Trey took a deep breath, and I watched as he reined in his wolf.

“Yes, Asher. You’re allowed. In fact, I insist on it.” He pulled me closer so that his lips were right at my ear. “And we’ll be talking about this when we get home.”

I knew he meant his house but the fact that he called it “home” really touched me. I shook off the feeling. It was stupid. I couldn’t get too comfortable. Carver Pack was not my home and I shouldn’t start thinking of it that way.

“Yes, Alpha.” I dutifully picked up my fork and started on the roast on my plate.

The rest of the meal passed pleasantly enough, even if there was a subtle tension thrumming in the air. When the plates were cleared, Mark invited us for coffee and conversation, but Trey declined.

“We best be getting back,” he said, scent-marked his wolves, then headed out the door. I gave Mark and David a silly little wave that embarrassed me, and quickly followed.

It was only a few blocks back to the alpha house, and Trey strode at a fast clip. He was several inches taller than my own five-ten, and the difference was all in his legs. His long, muscular legs. I didn’t realize I was staring at his ass until that moment, and I tore away my gaze, then broke into a jog to keep up with him.

Duncan was waiting when we got back to the house. I’d come to realize Duncan was Trey’s beta, his second in command. He greeted us with a grin, but it faltered at whatever he saw on his alpha’s face.

“We’ll talk tomorrow, Duncan.”

“Sure thing, Alpha. Need anything before I go?”

“No. Head home to your kids. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Duncan tilted his head, offering his neck to his alpha, and Trey didn’t hesitate to drag his wrist across it. But the moment Duncan was gone, Trey shut and locked the front door. He flipped off several lights, then made a beeline for the living room. I followed behind him, just as I had all day, but stood awkwardly after I crossed the threshold. Trey made himself comfortable in the large recliner, but I didn’t know what to do with myself. Should I sit, too? Or was I supposed to head to my room and leave him alone now that we were secure in the alpha house again?

“Asher, come here.”

I started moving before I made the conscious decision to do so, and suddenly found myself standing in front of him. Trey’s assessing gaze took me in, but by now, I was used to it. That didn’t stop me from fidgeting, though. Was he waiting for me to say something?

Abruptly, he sat forward, and with a very pointed gaze, gestured toward the floor in front of him. I knew what he wanted, and even though my mind rebelled at the thought, I couldn’t stop my body from kneeling at his feet.

All day long, there’d been something tugging at me. I couldn’t quite put a name to it, but I hadn’t let myself think about it much. As I knelt there, my body relaxed, and I could finally identify the feeling. Peace. Walking behind him, being at his side all day, had given me this feeling, and if I’d let it in, I would have felt it sooner. But I’d been keeping it at bay, not wanting to think about what it meant. But now? Now I couldn’t deny it any longer.

“Such a good cub,” he murmured, and his voice washed over me, settling into the cracks in my soul. When he wrapped his long, strong fingers around the back of my neck, I settled even further and let out a sigh.