Page 94 of What a Wolf Demands

Lily’s jaw dropped.

Yeah, Dom thought, he knew how she felt. Seeing the formidable Max melt into a puddle every time his wife showed up definitely took some getting used to.

Lizette Simard didn’t seem to suffer from the same problem—at least not right now. She marched right up to her husband and put her hands on her hips. “First you come home a day late, and now you don’t tell me when Dom and Lily arrive.”

The Alpha lifted his hands, all contrition. His voice was full of affection when he spoke. “Sheath your claws, petite. I just found out myself.”

Lizette swung toward Dom. “You didn’t tell Remy you were here?”

“I tried,” Dom said. He looked at Remy. “You didn’t answer.”

Confusion swept Remy’s features. He spoke around his sucker. “What are you talking about? I haven’t received anything from you today.”

Another feminine voice called out, this time from the grand staircase leading to catwalks on the second level. “Is this where the party is?”

Remy snapped to attention, his big body practically vibrating as a curvy blond descended the stairs.

Sophie Arsenault met his gaze and smiled, her pretty face soft with love and happiness.

He rushed to the base of the stairs, then took her hand as she stepped down the last few. He tucked her arm through his and led her back to the group, his chest puffed out like he won the lottery.

And in a way, he had. Sophie was exactly the kind of female he needed. Kind, smart, funny, and loyal—she checked every box. And she loved passionately. Probably more than anyone Dom knew, she loved with a fierce intensity. In a way, it was a miracle she was capable of that kind of love, considering she received so little of it as a child. Her own father had bartered her away like a piece of meat, then abandoned her when she found herself imprisoned by an abusive husband.

Remy had saved her, coming to her aid like a real-life knight in shining armor.

But the interesting thing was, Sophie had saved him, too. In her own way, she’d rescued him from a pursuit of pleasure that had become rote and meaningless and utterly devoid of real emotion. She’d showed him the redemptive power of true love.

Dom looked at Lily. Yeah, he knew something about that.

As if they’d rehearsed it, Lizette and Sophie went to Lily.

Max and Remy stayed back, the looks on their faces a mix of surprise and confusion. Remy glanced at Dom and raised his eyebrows as if to say, You have any idea what’s going on?

Dom shook his head.

Remy shrugged and focused on his wife, his demeanor relaxed. He knew women. Probably more than anyone alive, he understood how they operated. As he watched his wife, it was as if he’d decided some secret feminine ritual was afoot, and it was best he stay out of it.

Dom could only follow his lead, staying back and observing as Lizette and Sophie took one of Lily’s hands in each of theirs.

Lizette gave Lily a warm smile. “I’m Lizette, and you are very welcome here, Lily.” She looked at Sophie, who smiled and said, “We are so happy to meet you at last.”

Shock reigned on Lily’s face, but she recovered quickly. “Thank you.” She glanced at Dom, then offered the women a shy smile. “Dom’s told me so much about you both, I feel like I already know you.”

Lizette shot him a skeptical look. “I can only hope it wasn’t anything about my antics as a teenager. I was something of a problem child.”

“An understatement,” Remy muttered.

Lily smiled. “Nothing like that, I promise.”

Max caught Dom’s eye. “We should get started.”

Lily made a choking sound, her gaze flying to his. “Right now?”

“It’s okay,” Lizette said, releasing Lily’s hand and giving her elbow a squeeze. “No matter what happens, we’ll be by your side.” She glanced at Sophie. “Both of us.”

Sophie nodded. “Both of us.” Her mouth tightened. “No offense to your pack, Lily, but the males they sent are nothing but bullies.”

“Oh, no offense taken,” Lily said. “Trust me, they’re all like that.”

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