Page 22 of Wrestling With Werewolves

“Big Daddy’s being an asshole, and I’m exhausted by it all.” I figure that’s as close as I can get to the truth.

But Connall’s as intuitive as ever, which is exactly why I picked him to be my Second when my former Second moved. “Mmm. I thought it might be about Lola.”

I stop in place and spin to face him, forcing my hands into my pockets. Big Daddy paces behind my chest bone, snarling and being a general dick.

“What makes you say that?” Big Daddy’s tone is clear in my voice, but Connall laughs, his smile as knowing as ever.

“You’re different since she arrived. On edge, distracted. I’m guessing she’s not the person you remember, and maybe that’s got you feeling some kind of way?”

Moons. Maybe he’s too intuitive for his own good. Is he suggesting I find Lola attractive? Is it that godsdamn obvious?

Luna, Big Daddy snarls again, snapping at me in our shared space.

She’s not our Luna, I bark back. There’s no fucking way. There hasn’t been a Luna-bonded pair in over two thousand years!

I sigh. “Big Daddy likes her.”

Connall’s auburn brows drift upward, a surprised expression replacing the earlier thoughtful one. “And how do you feel about that?”

“I wish he’d stop,” I admit.

Can’t. Won’t. Never.

“He likes her a lot,” I hedge.

“I see,” Connall says softly.

Unfamiliar, anxious butterflies fill my stomach, rocketing around as I stare at my Second, running my fingers through my slicked-back hair. “How do I get him to stop? I can’t do this with him… It can’t happen.”

Connall smiles at me. “Well, I invited Vikand to the leadership meeting like we talked about, so we can discuss Big Daddy’s increasing persistence, if you want.”

I gulp. “I forgot to tell you that I invited Lola too.”

Connall barks out a laugh. “Well, that’ll be interesting.” He stares into my eyes. “You know, Richard, if Big Daddy feels that way, he’s probably onto something.”

I know! That’s what I want to shout. Every wolf shifter knows our wolves are the most intuitive part of our being. That’s why being in lockstep with one’s shift is so critically important. And I always have been…

“Did I lose you?” Connall bumps my shoulder with his.

Back off, Second, Big Daddy snaps.

“I’m good,” I mutter. “Just need to sort this out.”

“Things have a way of working out,” he murmurs, green eyes gone soft as he stares into the trees ahead of us.

Suddenly, I wonder if he’s not talking about my issue with my wolf so much as his own problems.

I don’t get a chance to ask because he jogs off into the trees, continuing our rounds like any other day. Lost in thought, the minutes pass as I follow him. Eventually, he challenges me to a foot race on our way back to Bad Axe. My thoughts are so muddied, I trip and face plant and he kicks my ass, beating me by a solid ten seconds.

Connall opens the door with a smug smile as Big Daddy berates me for not putting him in his place.

“Gettin’ slow, old man,” he teases when I stalk through the door.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to toss him against the wall and bite him, make him cower beneath my alpha nature. It’s what most alphas would do. We protect, but we also keep everyone in line. I never really enjoyed that bit of leadership—it’s one of the primary reasons I gave up my spot as Marco’s Second all those years ago. It’s what led me to come to Ever and work with Abemet to start this lovely haven.

I always longed for a more relaxed way of life.

So I push through Big Daddy’s insistence and stalk up the dark back hallway past my office and into the bar, where three wolves and a handful of others sit with the princess. Vikand rests his belly on a curved centaur bench, a beer in his hand. Lola stands behind the bar, twirling a glass on the tip of her pointer finger as they roar with laughter and clap.

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