Page 24 of Posing for the Artist Wolf

Brielle’s mouth fell open, her cheeks flushing. “I didn’t... Something went missing? I assure you, I?—”

“Relax, relax,” I laughed, waving off her stammering explanation. “I’m just kidding. I want to thank you for getting the place cleaned up and inventoried. Saved me a lot of work.”

Relief flooded her features, and she offered me a tentative smile. But that was her only sign of discomfort as she answered a quiet word from her mate with a wide grin and cracked joke.

I felt a pang of kinship with her. Human, just like me, and she was entirely at ease with the shifters at her side and in her orbit. If she could find her footing among the beasts, then I only needed to conquer the mountain of new clique anxiety.

Kai’s thumb stroked a soothing circle against my hip. I turned my face up to his, caught in the warm affection of his eyes. A gentle smile teased his lips. The ghost of a memory skated through my mind—impossible to pinpoint over the last week—of his mouth exploring my skin with reverence. Of my body arching beneath his touch.

“There you are!”

A warm voice cut through the memory, and I struggled to drag my thoughts back to the present. I turned to find the pair of home invaders weaving their way from the hall marked ‘Restrooms’. Shauna looked a great deal more refreshed than in my kitchen, her cheeks flushed with color and her hair hanging down her back in a braid.

“I’m so glad you came. I’m Shauna, and this is Phillip. Officially, nice to meet you!” she exclaimed, hands cradling her belly. “We wanted to apologize again for... well, breaking and entering.”

I waved off her concerns. “Water under the bridge. How are you feeling?”

Shauna grimaced, her hand rubbing a slow circle. “Tired of being pregnant. This baby can’t get out soon enough.”

Phillip chuckled, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “Just another month, love. You’ve made it this far.”

His hand joined hers over her swollen belly, and it was impossible not to see the tenderness and love there. Any lingering doubts I might have had about her relationship with Kai evaporated. She’d found her own happiness. Her own family. After what Kai told me had been their home and pack, she deserved the chance to start again.

Kai leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. “I’m going to grab us some drinks. Want to come with?”

I nodded, grateful for the excuse to move through the crowd. As we made our way to the bar, I felt the weight of curious glances following us.

“So,” I said, settling onto a barstool, “what’s the go-to drink for a pack night out?”

Kai’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Depends. Are we talking about the drinks they serve, or the ones Orion tries to sneak in?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Let me guess—he’s the reason for the ‘No Outside Beverages’ sign?”

“Got it in one,” Kai chuckled, flagging down the bartender. “Two of the usual, please.”

As we waited for our drinks, Kai slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. He nuzzled my neck, breathing deep. A shiver rippled through me, the softest of whimpers escaping my lips.

“I could get used to this,” Kai murmured against my skin. “You, me, and our pack.”

A sudden commotion from the pool tables drew my attention. Kai swore under his breath, turning to see what the problem was. The woman holding the cue ball was glaring daggers at Orion, who was refusing to take his turn in lieu of pleasuring his cue stick.

Despite their differences—in size, demeanor, even species—there was an undeniable warmth between the whole lot of them. They moved around each other with the ease of long familiarity, finishing each other’s sentences and busting balls in turn.

It was... nice. Comfortable. Even with the unknowns hovering around me, my shoulders relaxed. A tight knot inside me began to loosen.

Maybe, just maybe, I’d found a new family.

The tavern door swung open with a gust of winter air, and the atmosphere shifted. I watched as pack members subtly straightened, conversations quieting. A tall, broad-shouldered man with intense blue eyes strode in, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on us.

Kai tensed beside me, his hand finding mine. “Here we go,” he muttered.

Rafe reached us just as the bartender set down our drinks. He ignored me completely, focusing his stern gaze on Kai. “I said no more surprises,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.

Kai’s posture was pure defiance as he tucked me against his side. “There was no avoiding this one, alpha.”

I felt a thrill at the way he stood up for me. Silly, probably. Idiotic, sure. But he picked me. Over taboos and orders against humans, Kai chose me. Human, clueless, still adjusting, me.

I slid my hand into the back pocket of his jeans and felt a smirk tug at my lips.

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