Page 3 of Crescent Warrior

The previously innocuous gesture now carried a new meaning, making him wonder where she pressed her lips on the rim. Chugging the rest of the water, he nodded. “What time?”

“In the morning, before the boat leaves for America.”

Everyone was excited to see off their pack members. Not many Werewolves were staying behind, since the number of Bloodthirsty were dwindling in Europe.

Bloodthirsty were feral beasts born from hatred and rage. The Werewolves were created to protect humans from them. When reports of Bloodthirsty came from their human contacts in America, their newly crowned king and alpha, Damen, made the decision to take a large part of the pack there to form a new settlement.

He selected Hippolyta and Cole to stay and train to one day lead the rest of the pack that remained in Greece. A decision that Cole was grateful for. He didn’t think he could live without her.

She turned with the mug, returning it to the table before joining him once more, wrapping her arms around his neck and yanking him down to her height. Ever since he sprouted up, gaining inches on her, she resented it and insisted he duck to meet her at her level. The dark green flecks in her eyes called to him and he lifted his hand, cupping her cheek.

She leaned into the gesture, flashing her teeth in a smile. “Did you want to stay here? We can go to sleep together and then wake up and go directly to the beach.”

It was something they did all the time. Werewolves raised their families as a community rather than alone. Young wolves tended to fall into whoever’s bed they were visiting when they were tired, the adults of the home they were staying at tucking them in while their own parents could go to bed knowing that the collective pack would ensure they were safe.

Especially after his parents’ death, he didn’t enjoy spending his time in his empty home. He much preferred Hippolyta’s house, still filled with laughter, joy, and his best friend to make sure he wasn’t lonely.

He nodded, knowing he could wear something from Kosmos’ closet without much fuss. He was filling out in muscle as well as height, his body bulking in a way that Dru, Damen’s father, had recently nodded proudly at. His heart ached with the thought of his own parents, who weren’t there to see him become an adult.

“Cole,” Hippolyta murmured, moving closer to him, cupping his cheeks between her hands. “They’re still here. In you.” She pressed one palm to his chest, against his heart.

Of course she knew I was thinking of them. Lyta knows me better than anyone.

He and Hippolyta were distantly related, separated by centuries of generations. He knew he should think of her like a sister, but he’d never been able to.

“I miss them.” He avoided her eyes, but she leaned in, hugging him around his waist, resting her head on his chest.

She fit against him perfectly. Like the key to his lock. She was just tall enough for him to rest his chin on her head, her warmth spreading into him.

“They would be so proud of the male you’ve become.”

Tears sprung into his eyes and he held them back by sheer force of will, tightening his arms around her.

Thank the Gods she’s a Werewolf too, so I can hold her the way I need to.

If his mate ended up being a human, he would have to be so careful not to hurt her. A Werewolf could crush them with a hug. He resented it already.

“I love you,” she whispered, and his heart clenched painfully.

It was something he used to hear often from his parents, but now she was the only one who said it. The others in the pack loved him, accepting him as their son and brother, but sometimes, he needed the words.

“I love you too,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair.

She tilted her head up, smiling at him. “Come on. To bed with you.”

Huffing out a laugh, he released her, gripping her hand to pull her toward her bedroom. Plopping himself onto the bed and commandeering her pillow, he watched her as she sat on the edge to plait her hair.

He knew he was getting an intimate view of her. This was something that only a mate would see once she found him. His eyes trailed down her back, taking in her curves of their own volition.

She wore a simple day dress, having blatantly refused to wear anything more constricting. No corsets for her. Standing, she headed to her wooden dresser and turned to give him a small smile as she pulled her night shift out of one.

He closed his eyes, knowing that she was asking for privacy. They had a routine in place, even though he saw her naked whenever they went swimming without extra clothes to change into. The memories sometimes came to him in his dreams. They embarrassed him to no end.

The rustling of her dress as it fell to the floor made him acutely aware of the fact that she was standing naked in front of him. Biting his lip, he peeked one eye open, unable to stop himself, catching a glimpse of rosy skin and her perfectly rounded ass before the material fell.

She’s naked under there.

The ache in his cock wasn’t new. In fact, when it came to Hippolyta, he had been having awkward moments like this since he was much younger. The first time he came, it was to a dream of them kissing. Now that he was older, he wasn’t able to come at all without thoughts of her popping into his head.

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