Page 23 of Cursed Wolfsbane

My lips kick up in a small smile. Bastian flashes me a huge grin in return. Without warning, Bastian stands up while still holding me. I quickly wrap my arms and legs back around him so I won’t fall. “Despite what you guys think, I can actually walk.”

Bastian snorts. “I know that, but I have to keep my hands off you most of the day here. Let me enjoy holding you when I can.” He walks out of his office toward Malachi’s still carrying me. I don’t even know if it matters if anyone sees us together. The Wyldharts practically own WHU. Other wolves also go here, so Iwonder if student-professor fraternization is allowed when mate bonds are involved.

But that’s a problem for another time.

Pushing through Malachi’s office door, Bastian steps inside. He sets me down in front of Malachi’s desk. Spinning to face him, I’m surprised to see Malachi’s eyes narrowed on Bastian and his nostrils flaring.

“Really? You couldn’t wait until you got home?” Malachi grinds out. He grips his desk edge so tightly that it creaks in protest.

I glance between them, trying to figure out what Malachi’s talking about.

Bastian holds his hands up in surrender. “Don’t blame me! It’s Xander’s fault. I just walked in during the middle of it.”

Malachi tilts his head as he studies Bastian and me. “Where is he then?”

“Fucking shit up with pretty girl, as usual,” Bastian replies, frustration coloring his words.

Before Malachi can answer, I cut in. “What are we talking about?”

Both Bastian and Malachi stare at me in confusion, until Bastian’s eyes light with understanding. “Ohhh, she doesn’t know.”

“She doesn’t—oh….” Malachi trails off. He scrubs a hand over his face before meeting my eyes. “Wolves, especially your mates, can smell when you’re turned on and when you’ve come.”

I open and close my mouth at a complete loss for words.

Christ on a bike.

“What do you mean you can smell it? Every wolf can? How long will I be a walking billboard advertising that Xander made me come?” I squeak. My face feels like it’s on fire I’m blushing so hard.

This would’ve been helpful information to know. I had no idea they could tell when I was horny. Minus one cool point to being a wolf. I like having privacy with my feelings, not having everyone able to smell them.

Bastian chokes on a laugh. Malachi pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation before explaining. “You’re not a ‘walking billboard’ telling everyone that you came. Unless someone regularly pays attention to your scent, no one will notice. Since I’m your mate, I spend a lot of time thinking about your lavender and sunshine scent. I know what you smell like when you’re aroused, so it’s easy to tell that you’ve come recently. So what happened with Xander?”

Bastian looks down at me. I shake my head, and he gives me a small nod in acknowledgment.

“It’s none of your business. What happened is between me and Xander.”

Growling, Malachi stands up from his desk and stalks over to me. “It’s my business when he hurts my mate.”

I crane my neck back to look at him. “Nope. Still not your problem. And I never said he hurt me.” He did, but I’m not telling Malachi that. I have no desire to get between the brothers. The last thing I want is them fighting because of me.

“I can tell, baby girl.” Malachi’s features soften, and his tone gentles. “You’re good at blanking your face whenever you feel anything, but I can still see the tightening around your eyes, how your lips are turned in a tiny frown, and the slight downward slant of your eyebrows.”

“Oh.” I didn’t realize Malachi paid that much attention to me to notice the small changes.

He shakes his head at me like I should’ve known how closely he observes me. He opens his arms for a hug. I step into his embrace and sigh as I’m wrapped up by him. Being in any of the Wyldharts’ arms feels like finally taking a deep breath afterholding it until my lungs are screaming for air. There’s nothing quite as settling as being held by them.

“I won’t force you to tell me, but I wish you would,” Malachi whispers into my hair. He lets go of me to walk over to his couch, lowering his massive frame to the center seat. Bastian follows and flops down next to him.

Malachi motions me over to the sofa. Once I’m in front of him, he lifts me up by my waist and deposits me on his lap. I’m straddling him the same way I did Bastian earlier. Bastian looks like he wants to laugh at our encounter, but he’s holding it back.

I raise my eyebrows at Malachi. “You could just ask like a normal person instead of manhandling me.”

His lips kick up on one side in a half smile. “I could, but I prefer my way.”

“Of course you do.” I give him an eye roll.

“You’re such a brat,” Malachi tells me through a grin he’s trying to fight.

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