† Maddock †

She wants us.

I smiled in agreement.

The smell of her desire still clung to my skin like pastries straight from the oven.

Dinner last night had been a torturous intensity as I waited for her to come to me. My wolf had even been silent, content for now with the

knowledge that we were providing food for our mate after a long day of her being away from our den.

If it weren’t for the yipping pups who’d stayed up so late last night,

Sage might have had the chance to slip away. I could see in her eyes that she wanted to speak to me and I’d dreamed all night about what words would have come from those beautiful lips of hers. My mate had been

gentle and patient with the pups, putting their needs before her own.

I should have sent them away.

But the conversation took me by surprise.

It wasn’t witchcraft that had lit the fire in my niece’s eyes when she’d spoken of her desires for the future of the pack, but Sage had given the spark in a different type of spell.

The magic that could only come from showing kindness where little was given before.

Kera was born to be a leader, but whatever spell my witch had cast showed me just how confident my niece was now in accepting that role.

I’d listened in amazed silence as she explained in exact detail all the steps she planned to take in order to pull the Cerberus pack out of the dark ages as she’d called it. All these years I thought she was still learning, but she’d been keeping secrets of her own.

Kera said she was ready now, but Sage and I agreed that there was no rush. I don’t think Sage understood what rushing would entail. But I

knew, and was grateful that she cared without having all the details.

My mate was kind and worthy of devotion. She gave so much of her magic to everyone around her without asking for anything in return.

Well, she’d asked for meat.

She gets all the meat she wants.

There was a deer carcass hanging from the trees that I’d butcher later today for what she called a “soft launch” tomorrow.

I blew out a heated breath and the steam of it framed my face in the early morning hour. I was trying to stay silent so my mate could get more sleep as I laid the foundation for the second cabin.

This project needed to be done sooner rather than later. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stare into those honey brown eyes and watch her quiet her own needs.

I intended to make her scream those wants out loud. But I had to get the pups out of the way first.

*

“Do you ever sleep?” Sage’s sweet voice drifted across the yard like the songs of the waking birds who were shaking morning dew from their feathers.

I staked the last of the burned and treated logs against the base of the concrete foundation to protect it while it dried.

The smell of fresh brewed coffee mixed with cinnamon and roasted acorns made my stomach rumble with a deep-rooted hunger. Sage carried a mug down the porch wearing those fuzzy slippers that looked like rabbits with her brown hair mused from sleep.

I’d be a lucky man to wake up next to this woman every day. Though I didn’t plan on sleeping for a while once she’d said she was

mine.

Me either.

She smiled shyly as she held out the mug.

I wiped off my hands and accepted the cup, realizing I’d never

answered her. “I’m more concerned with how you slept. Did I wake you again?”

She shook her head as she lowered her face. “That makes me uncomfortable.”

“What does?” I sipped the coffee, hating the way she squirmed under my gaze.

Sage took a deep breath and then her eyes met mine. “You always seem worried about me. I don’t need that kind of thing.”

“Is that all?” I downed the rest of the cup to hide the relief in my smile. “That’s too bad. You’re always worried about everyone else. It’s time someone worries about you for a change.”

If she stared at me with those big brown eyes a moment longer, the pups were getting an early morning wakeup call and being sent for a run.

“You’re frustrating.” She sighed. “Is this because of the fated mates

thing?”

“Is it because my destiny is forever tied with yours and your

happiness is now my own when I never thought I’d be so blessed as to find the other half of my soul?” I shrugged, wondering how this little witch had turned me into a hopeless romantic overnight as I set the mug on the wood splitting stump. “Probably.”

“When you put it that way…” A smile spread across her face as she laughed with her whole heart.

The sound was contagious. I was pulled to it.

I gripped the back of her neck with my hand and traced my thumb across her bottom lip, loving the way her breath caught in her throat as her pulse beat hard under her skin.

The magic in the air was hers. It lit up the world with an ethereal

glow. I wondered if she could see it. “Did you decide what you want, little witch?”

Her pupils widened with desire as she stared at my lips. “I think I’d like to try.”

My wolf howled and I quieted the beast by lowering my mouth to hers and breathing in the intoxicating scent that was her very essence.

Her lips parted expectantly, so smooth under mine, and I tugged the plump bottom lip out with my teeth, eliciting a gasp from my mate.

I dove in hungrily, tasting her mouth and stealing her breath, devouring everything she had to give as the magic of the bond flared to life.

She wrapped her arms around my neck to pull me closer, wanting more, so I gave it to her.

I cupped her perfect ass into my palms and pressed our bodies together.

Her moan was everything. My witch was hungry.

The boldness and intensity of which she returned the kiss set my soul ablaze.

She wanted more.

My hand slid up the back of her shirt, finding smooth skin, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, fusing our bodies together as she moaned again.

A loud crash in the cabin made her jump.

She moved away from me with an unsatisfied cry and my wolf surged forward, growling at the displeasure of his mate.

I took a step back before she felt his murderous rage. “What happened?”

“We’re so sorry! We were trying to be quiet.”

Sage shook her head as if shaking off a dream and smiled sheepishly as she touched her lips. “Wow.”

I nodded and adjusted the zipper of my jeans. She’d taken the word out of my mouth.

“If you’re asking what I want, I’d like to try that again sometime.”

She moved toward the cabin. The distance in the air was cold, but her words made my body burn with an ache.

“Tonight,” I said huskily, coughing to clear my throat. “I want to take you somewhere tonight.”

She nodded as she walked and looked wistfully back to me. Those big brown eyes were clouded with desire that she blinked away. “You have training again with the pack today, right? Will you make sure Coral is

okay?”

magic.

The spell she’d cast was fading, but I’d never recover from this

“Of course,” I said.

“Then I’ll make you some breakfast before you go.” She gave me a

final smile before heading back inside the cabin.

I stood there staring at the drying concrete of the foundation as I ran a hand through my hair, trying to quiet my raging beast.

This was torture. Sweet, delicious, soul crushing torture. But Gods, it tasted good.

*

I hate this.

My wolf was in a mood as we paced the training grounds. The taste of Sage was still on my tongue, tantalizing me with the promise of tonight. I hadn’t really thought about where we would go. I just knew I needed to get her somewhere far away.

And completely alone.

“Enforcer, will the Alpha be joining us today?” Alder broke my train of thought.

“Does that concern you?” I bit out a little harshly, but after the conversation with his father Joseph yesterday, I needed to remind both wolves of their place.

He cocked his head to the side, showing submission. “No offence, Enforcer. It’s just…” He looked over his shoulder at the wolves he usually ran with and then his gaze flicked briefly to the female pups. “We thought he’d take care of the situation with the latent so we could train in wolf form today.”

I knew he was probably restless after training mostly in human form on Monday, but that didn’t stop me from baring my teeth as I towered over him. “Last I checked, I decide what type of training we do and a pack is only as strong as its weakest member. She wants to train. Is there a problem with this?”

“No Enforcer.” He lowered his head to hide the frustration on his face. “I’m only saying that she’s a little girl and doesn’t belong here without her wolf.”

“Kera is a girl.” I growled at him. “Does that make her less?” “No. Not Kera. She’s a–you know–different type of girl and the

latent might be someone’s mate if she can get her wolf so a bunch of us are worried about hurting her.” He shrugged. “No disrespect.”

I was growling at the insinuation that only wolves can mate other wolves and the insult to my niece and Coral while thinking up the perfect punishment for the male’s insubordination.

“Hey Alder,” Kera solved it for me, stepping in front of Coral even though the pup hadn’t heard the exchange. “You think girls can’t fight in human form?”

Alder cursed under his breath.

I chuckled softly as Kera marched across the grounds.

Alpha power rolled off her shoulders when she squared up in front of him. “If you’re worried you aren’t strong enough as a human, maybe you should call upon your wolf. I’m willing to take you both down in this

form.”

I loved it when my niece set a challenge. She could wear them out almost as well as I could. Alder hesitated, knowing the odds were against him, but the rest of the pack gathered around throwing taunts.

There was no way the shifter could walk away now with his dignity intact. He looked to me as a last lifeline and I shrugged. He’d dug this hole. Let’s see if he can climb out.

I had to hand it to him though. He knew he was defeated, but he pulled his shirt off and widened his stance with closed fists as the pack formed a ring around them.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Kera smirked as she raised her open palms and cracked her neck.

Alder nodded once, agreeing to the fight, and rushed in headfirst like he stood a chance.

Kera stepped left at the last minute and let his momentum carry him forward.

He hit the ground hard, twisting to the side as he anticipated her attack. But Kera had something most wolves lacked. The patience to let the fight come to her. Alder jumped to his feet and charged in heavy.

Kera took another step back, letting his bulk carry him to the ground again. Knowing his tactic was failing, Alder crouched low to study her

moves in wait.

She gave him nothing to watch but a wicked smile and open palms. He rose to his full height and inched in with his fists up to protect his face.

Alder jabbed low and she moved her hip to the side, countering with a slap to the back of his head that sent him to his knees in the dirt.

Get him girl. My wolf barked his approval as Kera feigned right, letting an angry Alder bulldoze his way forward and dodging his

outstretched hands.

What my niece lacked in brute force, she made up for in speed and wit. Alder would beat his own self up before she delivered the finishing blow.

All I had to do was watch the show.

“Is she going to be alright?” Coral was suddenly beside me, sneaking up as quiet as a wolf.

I ran my hand over my head, studying the pup as the adrenaline from the fight surged through the crowd and riled all our beasts. The girl’s wolf was there, close to the surface, I could sense it also trying to crawl out.

It had to be pure stubbornness that kept these sisters from giving into their basic primal natures.

“Kera is fine. She’s an alpha.” We both turned back to the fight as Kera planted a firm roundhouse kick to Alder’s backside.

“I was talking about Sage,” Coral whispered as she watched her friend bust the male’s nose and spray blood across the ground. “Kera’s a badass. She’s got this. I was wondering if Sage is freaking out now that the fated mate thing is out of the bag.”

“She told you that?” I asked, fight forgotten even as the cheers of Kera’s certain victory rang out around us.

“Please.” She drew out the e’s. “She didn’t have to tell me anything. I know my sister. I’ve never seen her as lit up as she was dancing around the kitchen this morning after you two kissed in the yard.”

“She’s happy about her restaurant,” I said gruffly, hoping to hide the sheer happiness those words brought to me. “And you shouldn’t have been spying, pup.”

“It’s not spying if you were standing out there for all the world to see.” Coral laughed, but there was a tension in the sound.

If I didn’t know any better, it would have seemed like she was struggling to control her wolf.

She glanced up at me with a protective fire in her eyes. “You better swear to me that you’ll be good to her. I may not be as strong as these guys, but I promise I will be one day, and I will kill you if you hurt my sister.”