“Did your parents?” I asked, frowning when I couldn’t think of how to word it. “Share blood, I guess?”
Kyla thought for a few seconds before responding. “You’re wondering if Riggs should let you feed on him? Maybe thinking you wouldn’t mind him having that connection?”
I blushed. “I don’t know what I was wondering, to be honest.”
“I don’t know what my parents did when they were alone. If they were sharing blood, they were smart enough not to admit it to anyone. That’s all I’ll say.” She winked.
“Oh,” I said, stopping Kyla before she could get up and leave. “Has Riggs given you any clue about the plan?”
“No. He’s either been with you or trying to bond the pack. I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to him one on one.”
“I’ll try to give him a push to make time once this is all over,” I said, smiling.
Kyla smiled back. “Thank you. I would appreciate that. Riggs and the pack should be back soon, by the way.”
As if on cue, I heard a loud howling from the distance and several more rang out in response.
44
Riggs
I shifted back to my human form once I was inside. I felt so fucking alive. It was like every nerve in my body was electrically charged—ready to arc out with energy at the slightest touch.
I hadn’t realized how distant I’d grown from my wolf until I had him back like this. Part of me had been withering and dying, and I’d been too damn blind to see it.
The pack and I got dressed again, picking up our clothes from where we’d shifted before our run in the woods. There was no shame for our nakedness when we shed our wolf forms. It took time for the mind to return to normal, and during the early moments after shifting I was still more wolf than human. I saw naked human flesh as desirable as a human saw a “naked” dog.
Sylvie was waiting for me in the diner. I went to her and kissed her deeply, which drew a surprised sound from her that was muffled by my mouth. She laughed a little when I pulled back, then bit the corner of her lip.
“Did you have fun playing?” she teased.
I remembered my wolf tackling and rolling with Rourk’s wolf by a stream. I remembered nipping at the heels of Aranelle’s wolf as we raced through a field of dandelions lit by starlight. With a grin, I nodded. “I did, actually.”
The diner had been packed with every single full Hunter from the pack. I’d spoken with the Elders and made sure the howlers were kept carefully away from Kyla and Sylvie for now. I wanted to make sure I was completely bonded to the pack before I risked testing my ability to control them around the scent of vampires. In all, there were forty-two Hunters here. Less than when I’d left, but not by much.
I caught sight of Pax in the corner ordering some food. Every werewolf in the pack played a role in keeping the town functional. It was the price we gladly paid for independence and privacy. So Shaun and Pierce showed no reluctance to get behind the counter and cook hot meals for all the hungry bellies after our run in the woods.
I’d almost forgotten how much I missed the food here. Even the fare at The Wet Flea had been a poor imitation.
Pax had come limping back a full day after our fight. He was heavily wounded but acknowledged me as his Alpha and fell in line as a werewolf should. Nobody degraded him for what had happened. Strength rose to the top. That was simply the way of things, and Pax was no longer the strongest. There was no shame in it, but he also wasn’t the Alpha anymore.
Sylvie sat with me while I scarfed down enough food to feed four full-grown men.
She watched me with an adorable little smile while I ate, like she was enjoying seeing how much I enjoyed it. I had to keep reminding myself not to offer her any. It would’ve just been a cruel reminder.
Aranelle approached us. “May I speak with Riggs?” She was asking Sylvie—a sign that she was granting Sylvie the proper respect deserved for the mate of the Alpha.
Sylvie looked over her shoulder as if she wasn’t sure who Aranelle could be talking to. “Oh,” she stammered. “Uh, yes. Sure.”
Aranelle gave a small dip of her chin. “We confirmed they are where you thought. The Cleaners seem to be the only ones in the building, too. Maybe a dozen of them, but we’re not sure on that number. Those are just the ones we’ve seen.”
I nodded. “Good. We’ll move in a few days. Tell everyone to make any preparations they need to make.”
Aranelle nodded to me, then gave another slight bow to Sylvie before she went back outside.