Cade’s words once would have made me irrationally angry, but the way he was looking at me right now made me feel like his words weren’t meant to be mocking. It felt like a promise, one I was scared to take to heart.

Before I could think further on it, Cade’s cock slid inside and I gasped. Feeling him fill me was an experience in itself. It felt like the world righted itself when he did, and left me wanting to mourn when he withdrew. Nothing existed in this moment but him and me. Cade pulled up, lacing our hands together at mysides, his eyes connected to mine, and I was lost in the way his body made mine feel as he pumped in and out of me.

“Fuck, grip me like that again, Bells,” Cade grunted, tightening his hold on our clasped hands and slamming into me.

I complied, coming apart with a hoarse cry, my walls spasming around his length until I felt his warm rush of release coat my insides. Cade collapsed to the side once he was spent, pulling me into his arms, and peppering my face with small, reverent kisses. My eyes fluttered closed and I enjoyed the afterglow until my alarm rang, and reality crashed around me.

“Stay,” Cade whispered in my ear. “Charles and Lindsay can handle breakfast.”

“Lindsay has class this morning. I’m not making Charles cook for so many wolves by himself,” I replied, disentangling from him, my body going instantly cold as I did.

“I can set up another person to help him. You don’t have to do so much, Bells.” Cade stood and followed me into the bathroom.

“I do. This is my pack. I need to see this through.” The words were a mantra by now, and I was beginning to wonder if I was trying to convince others or myself with them.

“I can—”

“You’re already helping. The grapes are almost fully harvested and the shared cost of the bills are going a long way.”

“I—”

“How I run the pack isn’t something that’s up for discussion, Cade.”

I turned on the shower and finally looked at him as I waited for the water to come to temperature. He looked angry, but then he let out a huff of air and walked to me. He pulled me into his arms, and I rested my head against his chest.

“Have breakfast with us this morning?” he asked after a moment.

“There’s not enough room in there for Adam and me,” I replied, pouting.

He and Violet had asked me like five times now, and it seemed ridiculous to me that they hadn’t figured out why I wouldn’t join them.

“Wait, that’s why you won’t join us?” he asked, looking down to meet my eyes.

“Duh. Adam can be a messy eater and there’s very little space around the desk. You and Chris aren’t exactly small men.”

“Can’t we use the conference room next door?”

“Will Violet be okay there?” I asked.

Sometimes I thought Cade knew more about my sister than I did. He spent more time with her, while I was always running around like a chicken without its head.

“I think as long as Chris is there, she’ll be fine.”

“Okay. I’ll get a tray for us together when I’m done,” I conceded, making Cade’s eyes light up. I hated to bring this up and ruin the moment, but I knew I needed to, so I pulled back a little and looked up at him. “Cade, a-about this thing between us...”

A worried look came through his features as I took a deep breath. “You’re not going to say we can’t do this, are you?” he asked.

“N-no. It’s just... I’d appreciate keeping this between us for now.”

Cade’s face hardened at my words, and he took a step back.

“A secret? You want this to be a secret?”

“Well, n-no. Not n-necessarily,” I stammered.

“Then, what are you asking me, Bells?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“I just don’t think the packs need to be aware of what’s happening. It’s new, and you’re going to leave eventually. I worked hard to earn some respect with my pack.”