Page 113 of Her Males

“I’ll stand by your side, whatever you decide,” Gray eventually says.

I look down and meet his eyes, wanting to see his truth. He’s already staring at me, having expected this, and he holds eye contact as he shifts back and lowers his mouth to my skin.

It looks like he’s done with his hunger strike. Good.

25

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CHARLOTTE

THE SHIFTERS DON’T bother hiding their annoyance as Aziel struts through their land, their sharp gazes sliding from him to me. I shrink guiltily as he follows me around.

I only needed a few hours of napping to feel better, and I need to catch something if we want meat for dinner. Echo hasn’t come by with food, which isn’t surprising.

I’m sure she’s pissed.

“Where are you taking me?” Aziel asks.

Chev told him to stay inside the cabin, but he’s chosen to ignore that order. Aziel doesn’t do well with people telling him what to do.

“We’re going to check my traps.”

Aziel pauses, his footsteps coming to a halt. “Yourwhat?”

“My traps,” I repeat. “Unless you want vegetables for dinner, we need to catch our meat.”

I’m not the same woman I was when he last saw me, and he’s about to see that firsthand. I hope he’s impressed with my independence, but I don’t want to embarrass myself by asking.

Aziel doesn’t question me further, and I take that as a good sign and lead him deeper into the woods. This is the first time I’ve gone there without Chev, and I hope I’m not going in the wrong direction.

“Charlie!”

Fuck.Wincing, I squeeze my eyes shut and turn toward Kato.

This isn’t going to be fun. I mentally prepare myself for the clusterfuck that’s sure to happen, but I freeze when I open my eyes and am met with Aziel’s back. He stands large in front of me, and in one smooth motion, he reaches behind and grabs my hips so I can’t move. I try to shove him aside in a panic, scared he’ll hurt Kato.

This isn’t Kato’s fault.

Aziel doesn’t move, but he does lift his arm so I can shove my head underneath his armpit to see.

Kato comes to a halt a few feet away, his nostrils flaring as he throws a sideways glance at Aziel. I guess that answers my question about how well the shifters can smell his cum.

“Yes?” I ask, hoping my interaction doesn’t anger the already on-edge Aziel.

It feels wrong to hate and ignore Kato after what happened, but it also feels like I’m betraying my males if I don’t. Aziel presses down on my head, squeezing it between his arm and side, which I take as a warning.

Kato’s eyebrows furrow as he watches Aziel’s actions toward me, his disapproval clear. Shifters don’t treat their females like this, and they’d probably cut off their limbs before squeezing their mate’s head.

I don’t mind it, though. It doesn’t hurt, and the dominance makes me tingly.

“What do you want? Was fucking my female not enough for you?” Aziel’s chest vibrates as he speaks, his voice booming through the trees.

“Look…” Kato sighs, running his hands nervously down his leathers. “I don’t know the human traditions, but the shifters don’t classify what happened between us as fucking. I didn’t have sex with Charlie.”

Aziel stiffens, the action so subtle, I wouldn’t have noticed if it weren’t for my head being squished against him, but he doesn’t otherwise react.

“My mate encouraged our interaction, but the shifters are still angry. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread further mistruths,” Kato continues, meeting Aziel’s eye.

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