He stands up when he sees me and gives me a sheepish wave.

“Sorry to surprise you,” he says as I approach, the laundry basket on my hip. “I just thought I should try to explain myself in person.”

A little flame of hope sparks inside me when Leon doesn’t sound upset. I open the door to my apartment and step inside, wondering why he’s come here to talk to me directly.

Will he try to threaten me to keep quiet? That doesn’t seem like something he would do, but he also has a family, and a secret, to protect.

Leon hovers in the entryway to my apartment, wringing his hands together.

“Is this one of those vampire things where I have to invite you inside?” I ask in a joking tone, hoping to ease the tension.

He responds with a grateful smile. “No. Just being polite, in case you’re angry.”

I set down the laundry basket on the coffee table. “You can come in.”

I’ve been so busy feeling anxious that I don’t know if I’m angry or not. They hid something rather important from me. I vaguely remember the night I fell asleep in Jace’s arms, and I heard them discussing a secret they wanted to share with me.

They probably thought I’d run for the hills the moment I found out. Still, I wish I’d known before embarking on this journey, whatever it is. Now I’m knee-deep with three werewolves.

Leon steps over the threshold into my apartment and closes the door softly behind him. If he weren’t six feet tall and pure muscle, he would look like a little boy the way he’s shamefully standing by my coat closet.

“Tiff,” he begins, staring down at his feet, “I’m really sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner?—”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I usher him into the living room. “You did it for a good reason.”

“I didn’t want to scare you away too soon.” Leon scratches the back of his head. “You’re taking it a lot better than I thought you would.”

I took it in more ways than one. My whole body shivers just remembering Quinn’s enormous werewolf cock inside me. Leon’s nostrils flare, and his pupils dilate, taking up his whole iris.

“How did it feel?” he asks, taking a step closer to me. “Riding a werewolf?”

My face is so hot that I wonder if my ears are about to light on fire.

“Amazing,” I finally whisper. I can’t deny it. I loved how Quinn was an animal, ferociously licking me and kissing me—if that’s what it can be called—while he filled me fuller than I’ve ever been. His fur was so soft under my hands, and perfect for grabbing onto. And his huge body over mine, claiming me…

Leon smiles a big, toothy smile, as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“You smell so good,” he says with a heavy inhale, like the scent calms him. When I glance down, I find a little tent in his jeans. “Especially when you’re turned on.” He takes a step closer to me, then shakes his head like he’s clearing away fog. “I really am sorry for not coming clean, Tiff. If I’d known you were so, uh, open to it… I wouldn’t have waited until Quinn spilled the beans.”

“Now I understand the whole howling thing, at least,” I joke.

Leon’s eyebrows lower, and his lips purse. “Yeah. I knew the moment I smelled you that you’re our—” He balls his hands into fists.

I quirk my brow. What was it he was going to say?

“I’m your what?” I ask, pressing.

Leon swallows hard. “I just knew you were right for us.”

I blink. “By how I smelled?”

“Yes.” He nods rapidly. “And our bodies responded to it right away.”

A chill seeps into my skin. “What do you mean, ‘responded’?” My eyes travel down again to the clear boner Leon’s sporting. “You knew you wanted to have sex with me? Just by smelling me?”

I can’t help but wonder if that’s all this is between us. That I smell good, and it makes their inner werewolf want me.

“Well, yes,” Leon says hastily, “but it’s not just about sex, Tiff.”