Page 16 of Crescent Warrior

The only way he learned anything anatomical was through illustrations. It was going to be an entirely new experience to try being with her for the first time. Not that there was any hope of that happening with the way Hippolyta was treating him.

He watched her handle the SUV with confidence, her hands lightly touching the steering wheel, and he found himself becoming inexplicably more aroused. Would she touch him like that? Gently at first, but then harder, with more force? He growled in the back of his throat and Ambrosia gave him a startled look.

“What’s with you today, Cole?”

He shrugged, meeting Hippolyta’s eyes in the mirror again. She looked away at once, but her scent was different. He had asked her once if she was aroused. The same perfume lingering in the air right now was on her skin back then. If this was her arousal, making his cock ache and his mouth water to taste her, then she lied to him when they were younger.

He was so distracted that he almost didn’t notice when they turned off the main road onto a smaller one. It wouldn’t be visible to cars.

Good.

Safety was their number one priority, and while he knew every inch of the layout of the compound that was home to the majority of the pack, this was his first time seeing it in person. Hippolyta stuck her face out of the window so the camera could see her and the gate swung open.

Driving through, he admired the seemingly never-ending driveway before they rolled up to the main building. Made of gray stone, it was an intimidating reminder of their strength and endurance. Four stories high, it was able to house many more Werewolves than it currently did.

He looked at his mate, wondering if they could add to the growing number. Mated pairs seemed to be popping out of the woodworks recently, and that meant that pups weren’t far behind. Kyril and Harmonia already had a young son, Niles, and the female was pregnant once more, celebrating the good news by sending an e-mail with her first sonogram to everyone in Greece.

They were overjoyed. Each new addition was something to be grateful for. Now that their alpha pair was united, he could only imagine that Damen and Selene would want to have their own family soon. Ares and his new mate, Selene’s sister Danielle, might also have plans.

When Danielle first arrived to this compound, it was with the suspicion that Damen trapped her sister somehow. Ares wasn’t able to divulge their secrets to her and she pushed him away, rejecting their bond. When she was finally faced with what they were, she tried to leave, but Ares convinced her to stay and give their mating a chance.

How the hell was I mated before everyone else but I can’t even get near my mate, much less plan to have a family with her?

Annoyed, he was scowling as they exited the car. Ambrosia shoved him in the side playfully as Hippolyta went straight for the front door. He grabbed his bag from the back as his mate left the garage.

He knew the labyrinth of their home well, intimately familiar with where her suite was. His eyes narrowed as he followed her, a plan already formulating in his head about where he would be sleeping.

“Why are you guys being so weird? I didn’t realize you knew each other before now.”

He looked over at Ambrosia, who was easily keeping pace with them, noticing that her brow was furrowed. Hippolyta veered off toward the kitchen, but he didn’t bother to follow her. He needed to get himself settled before she figured out what he was doing.

“Lyta and I were best friends growing up,” he told Ambrosia.

Her eyes widened with shock and he bit his cheek, just stopping himself from blurting the rest. He didn’t want to make things awkward for his mate even as he ached to scream the truth from the rooftops. “I’ll just go put my things away and then I’ll meet you in the dining room?”

She nodded, hurrying off after Hippolyta.

I can’t stand Cole.

Hippolyta stopped to kiss Dru on both cheeks as she passed him in the kitchen. “Get something to eat while you’re here,” she told him, pinching his arm to show him how much muscle he lost.

“For what?” he asked, smiling at her. “I’m not long for here.”

“Theios Dru, if you don’t stop saying that…” she threatened, trailing off meaningfully.

“I may be old and frail,” he chuckled, “but I’m sure I can take on a pup like you, little one.”

“And if I win, will you stay with me longer?” she asked, reaching out to grip his hand tightly.

Dru lost his mate in battle a few years ago, and now that his sons were settled into their matehood, he was looking forward to being reunited with her. Mated wolves never lived long without their other halves. Mates were the twin flames of one soul.

I wonder how quickly I would die if Cole did.

The thought made a shot of pain slam through her chest, worse than the daily ache of being apart from him. She squeezed her eyes shut, her body quaking.

“As I am now,” Dru sighed, shaking his head, “I would do anything so I can be with my Iris.”

She nodded, meeting his gaze. His eyes were soft and filled with love. He was more like a father than an alpha to her—training her to be stronger and teaching her everything he knew.

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