Page 30 of Reformed Wolf

Mr. Caruso considered me for a second, then took my hand for a firm shake. He smiled, reluctantly but warmly, then pulled me in for a tight embrace. I was so caught off guard that I stumbled into his chest. “Love him like he deserves,” he whispered in my ear, and when he drew back, his eyes were glassy.

“I will.”

As we filed outside, it seemed to signal that the festivities were over, and the party broke up, everyone leaving the basement in small groups. Our own progress was limited to a slow walk to where Shan left the vehicles outside the gate. I breathed deeply. The fresh air immediately helped clear my head, and while every inch of me hurt, I could already feel my body healing. By the time we were halfway to the street, I could walk on my own with just Dylan at my side, ready to catch me if I fell.

The twins, Dawn and Sasha, were waiting for us when we stepped through the gate, with their tight white-blond curls frizzing in the damp evening air. They’d likely been brought along as backup just in case things went sideways, but I was glad they hadn’t been needed.

Sasha looked up from where he was leaning on the hood of one of the trucks. “Hey, there he is! You had us worried, Tris.” He pushed off the truck and came over to give me a hug, and Dylan nimbly stepped in front of him, chin up, chest out, and the small hairs on the back of his neck rising, as though his panther was pissed.

“It’s okay, baby. He’s just a friend.” I wrapped an arm around Dylan’s waist and pulled him back into me, kissing below his ear. There would be no question about who I belonged to, but I was secretly loving the jealousy.

Sasha frowned, then sniffed at the air, his confusion shifting to amusement. “Wow, the end of an era. Congrats, man. Welcome to the pack.”

Dylan was hesitant to accept the welcome at first, but he must’ve realized he was being a little childish and eventually muttered, “Thanks,” tucking his chin into his chest.

Shan was rounding the first vehicle. “Why don’t you two ride in the back with me and Jude. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

Before he could get too far, I asked, “Actually… could you spare the truck? I don’t think I can wait until we get home, if you know what I mean.” I was tempted to add a wink-wink, nudge-nudge, but I decided it wasn’t necessary. We all knew exactly what I was talking about. I peeked at Dylan to catch the blush creeping up his neck. I would never get tired of seeing him like this.

“Are you sure you’re fit to drive?” he asked.

“Sure, I’m feeling better already. See?” I tried to do a little jig, and I just barely managed to stay on my feet, swaying to regain my balance.

Shan chuckled, shaking his head, and tossed the keys to Dylan, who snatched them out of the air with catlike reflexes. “Do you drive, Dylan?”

“Um… yes?” I suspected it was similar to how Jude drove, rarely and without a license, but I figured he would get the hang of it fast enough. We didn’t have far to go.

“All right. We’ll see you soon then. Tomorrow?” It was a casual question, not a demand from my Alpha, but I knew there was a lot of work to be done back at camp. Damon was likely working overtime trying to get the spring plants in the ground, and Brody would have a hard time taking care of Mal and the chickens.

“Tomorrow,” I agreed. As much as I would love to take a month-long honeymoon with my mate, my responsibilities weighed on me.

We said a quick farewell, my packmates driving off in one of the trucks, then Dylan and I loaded into the other.

He laughed nervously. “My mom let me drive once, when I barely old enough to reach the pedals.”

“Gas pedal on the right, brake on the left. Just go slow; we’re not in any hurry.”

“Speak for yourself,” he muttered, tugging on the crotch of his pants and adjusting himself. “You’d better buckle up.” I chuckled but did as he asked.

Even driving with the windows down, I could still pick up the scent of his slick. I could barely keep my eyes off him as he drove us back to the motel. His strong hands gripping the wheel like I imagined he would grip my shaft, his thighs flexing. He was so perfect, I couldn’t believe he was mine. I was the luckiest alpha who’d ever lived. As soon as my cock began to stir, I considered myself recovered enough. I was good to go.

“Okay, turn right up here. Slow down a bit… slower…” I tried not to laugh as we took the turn hard. “Perfect, great job. Park right along the side there.” The truck jerked to a halt as he slammed on the brakes.

Dylan fumbled around, trying to figure out how to put the truck in park, and as he finally turned off the ignition, he blew out a sigh of relief. The ensuing silence was punctuated by Dylan’s panting breath and my racing heart. We shared a long, heated look before we simultaneously reached for the door handles.

The motel room was just as I’d left it, my bag still half unpacked, a greasy pizza box on Jude’s bed. I was suddenly hyper aware of how ratty the motel room was. “I’m sorry, it’s nothing fancy,” I said, quickly shoving the garbage into the can in the corner, sweeping any crumbs off the bed onto the floor.

“Don’t care,” he grunted before launching himself at me. He slammed into my chest, arms around my neck, and brought his legs up to wrap around my hips. I allowed my balance to tip, falling back onto the bed with a squeak of protesting springs.

It wasn’t until this very moment that I realized just how repressed he’d been in our previous interactions. Our kisses had all been super hot, but because of the position he’d found himself in, he’d always known they couldn’t lead to the next step, so he’d never allowed himself to get wholly invested. Now, though? Gods, this was next-level feral alley cat.

“Clothes… off…” he demanded between frantic kisses.

I flipped us over and pressed him into the mattress, hip to hip, erections throbbing side by side. “What’s the hurry, kitten?” I teased in a low rasp, slowing things down and tweaking a nipple lightly through his shirt, before continuing down his torso, relishing the flex of his abs as he writhed.

Dylan whined, trying to wiggle himself free. “Please don’t tease me. You can’t possibly be so mean! Haven’t we waited long enough?”

“You think this is me being mean?” I asked, rolling my hips to build friction, and he shuddered beneath me. Oh, I had all kinds of fantasies about making my mate beg and scream my name—but not tonight. He was right, we’d done enough waiting, and after tonight, we would have a lifetime for me to take my sweet time.

---