Page 62 of Ember's Claim

“Sweetheart, I do know,” she says softly. “But don’t be too sweet. It’ll make me paranoid that you think something bad is going to happen.”

We continue our conversation for another ten or fifteen minutes before we finally disconnect.

I’m pretty sure I can’t run a pack and live at home with my family.

Getting older really sucks.

My heart hurts.

I don’t think I was ready for all these changes to happen quite so fast.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Anders

Lorcan disappears upstairs, leaving me alone with Veryn.

I should be checking in with Bryant and the other wolves I can trust. However, I’m stuck on the couch, waiting to see if Ember needs anything.

“So,” the dragon says conversationally. “I’m guessing by your reaction to Ember and that asshole sparring…” He stretches, tossing an arm over the back of the couch. “You’re her mate too?”

“My wolf and my lion never agree about anything, but they’re in agreement about her,” I say, appraising him carefully.

Their bond is fresh.

Sharing can be complicated; it takes a lot of work and compromise when shifters are involved.

“I’m not shocked.” He sighs, shoving his straight black hair away from his face. “Although, I wouldn’t have turned down a little more one-on-one time with her before the two of you showed up. It doesn’t matter. It is what it is. I grew up in a pack. I get it.”

My head tilts.

“I knew talking to her mom was going to make her sad.” Veryn glances at the stairs as he absently rubs his chest. “Ember is strong when she needs to be, but she’s soft at heart.”

I mean, isn’t that basically all women? I’m not sure what to say, so I give him a nod to let him know I’m listening.

“She’s also in full-blown denial about the whole heat thing. Everything in me wants to go up there and comfort her, and I will if you’re not going to get your ass in gear.” He gives a pointed look.

My hands tighten on the arms of the chair as I prepare to push myself out of my seat.

“You can tell all of that from the bond?” I ask, moving to stand.

“Yeah, and a whole lot more,” he mutters.

“She might not want me to bother her,” I say, scratching my jaw. “I think you should come too.”

Jesus Christ.

What am I? Twelve years old and afraid to go into the haunted house alone?

My lion chuffs his displeasure.

“You’ll never build trust if you’re never there when she needs you.” He shrugs. “But whatever, I’ll feel better if I can see with my own two eyes that she’s okay. We can knock this out as a team activity.”

“Um,” I whisper, tilting my head to the side as I try to decipher exactly what I’m looking at.

“Yeah, you know, I have no idea either,” Veryn says. “My best guess is, she found the bags Gemma and I dropped off before I found you at the practice ring…” He squints and shrugs a giantshoulder. “But that’s not my T-shirt, so maybe she dug in your drawers. I don’t know everything.”

Ember’s wolf huffs, nosing my shirt around until she seems to find something she likes.

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