Page 50 of Crescent Warrior

More loud shouts and whistles were heard as they made their way closer, hands going straight to Selene’s stomach, making her jerk back in discomfort.

“Are you pregnant yet?” Ajax, the eldest of the pack, asked, his mate Melania smiling at them before she turned to give Pollux a hard look.

“And you! Could you not even give me one grandchild!”

Pollux rolled his eyes, reaching forward to tug Damen and Selene out of his parents’ clutches. Selene was sputtering, her eyes wide and shocked.

“You can expect it to only get worse after this,” Pollux muttered. “Castor’s mate, Penelope, ended up having Nyx because of pressure from our mother more than anything else.” He hurried forward with them, making sure his parents were out of earshot. “They hid all their contraceptives before her heat.”

He was rolling his eyes when he reached out to grab Cole into a hug, kissing both his cheeks.

“Have you brought her home, then?” he boomed, lifting Hippolyta into a hug and spinning her. Cole watched her beaming expression when she hugged Pollux close.

“I’ve missed you, old man.”

“Old?” Pollux scoffed. “I am young enough to give you a beating, if that is what you mean.”

“I dare you to try,” she laughed.

Cole admired her as her eyes sparkled and her hair shone in the bright light. Greece and Hippolyta were always his two favorite things. Having them together warmed his heart more than he ever thought it would.

“We have prepared the houses,” Pollux called, making Hippolyta squeal as he tossed her into the air and caught her before putting her down, as he had always done as a child. “Let us go get everyone settled and then we can have a meeting of the Elder Council.” He looked to Damen for agreement, smiling when he nodded, leading them toward the cars.

“Come on,” Cole called to Hippolyta, reaching out to press his hand to her lower back, leading her toward his car. He knew Nyx would bring it for him and spotted her waving wildly in front of it. He felt his mate stiffen under his hand and leaned down to press a kiss to her hair to ease her discomfort.

“Lyta!” Nyx screamed, running toward them, her skirt flying behind her, huge sunglasses covering most of her face. Her hair was loose, wild, dark curls surrounding her as she hurried for a hug. She squeezed Hippolyta tight. “I’ve never seen you come here! I’m so happy you could make it!”

“Me too.” Hippolyta cleared her throat, hugging her back. “It’s been a while since you came to see us too. Has Cole kept you busy?”

“Always.” She laughed, reaching forward to squeeze Cole’s forearm with her delicate hand.

He cleared his throat, pulling away from her. Nyx was affectionate with her entire family, but he didn’t want Hippolyta to ever think they shared anything more than a familial relationship.

She was the youngest female wolf, more like a niece than anything else. Nyx quirked a brow at him before shrugging, grabbing one of the bags on Cole’s arm, leaning up to give him a tight squeeze and kiss both his cheeks in welcome. “Now, come on, I’ve set up your house so well, Lyta, you’re going to love it!”

Hippolyta glanced back at Cole, her eyes wide with trepidation. If he knew Nyx, then she was right to be worried. She went overboard when she got excited, and her exuberance could be overwhelming unless taken in small doses. He grinned at his mate, trailing after her as Nyx chattered on, catching her up on what she missed since they last met.

Since Phaedra and Kosmos stayed behind to help take care of Harmonia, Hippolyta would be staying in her childhood home on her own. Dru insisted on giving Cole his home when he left, the bigger space allowing him to host Council meetings and spread out his monitoring system.

Now, he dreaded going back there alone. Perhaps he could find an excuse to stay with her. Damen couldn’t be expected to not stay in his childhood home with his mate, after all.

He watched Hippolyta with the hunger borne of years of yearning for her to be with him. Nyx glanced at him and her eyebrows popped up, her eyes narrowing.

“Hey, are you okay?” she whispered, reaching out to squeeze his forearm again.

He nodded, never taking his eyes from Hippolyta, watching the temper flash into her eyes before she reached forward to take his hand.

“Did you want to stay with me while I’m here?”

The swell of joy in his chest at her words almost made him gasp for air. “Of course,” he murmured, squeezing her fingers between his. “Just like I used to.”

Nyx was watching their interplay, her eyebrows almost to her hairline. “You’re,” she said, pointing her finger between them, “going to be staying together?”

“Do you have a problem with that, maimoudaki?” he asked, grinning at her.

Her mouth dropped open. “Cole-bear, are you smiling right now?”

HIPPOLYTA HATED THE irrational jealousy that she felt for Nyx.

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