Page 53 of Wolf Betrayed

Chapter Thirteen

It almost felt weird being inside the Redwood wards after so much had happened at the Talons, but Charlotte knew she needed a while at home before she took the next step. She was mated, and while it was supposed to be a time for celebration, she knew they would have to wait to pop the champagne.

With the recent attack on the Talons, there hadn’t been the opportunity to plan a true mating ceremony for them. And while they were bonded and technically blessed by both Alphas, they wouldn’t have the ceremony to show off their new triad to the Packs until Charlotte and Bram were ready to become Talons.

The mating ceremony would have to wait, but for the first time, she was…happy.

She smiled more, she felt hot, sexy, and a little overly emotional at the thought that she finally had her best friend the way she should have all those months ago, and now they had this new man in their lives that completed their triad. Soon, they’d celebrate. But for now, in this time of war, they would train and protect their people. It was what her family had done during the Central war and now after the Unveiling, it was what they were forced to do, as well.

Charlotte put a hand over her stomach, worry racing through her. She hoped that one day her children would find mates and not have to deal with a war in their midst. Though she wasn’t sure that would ever be an option. Not with how things were looking on either side of the line.

And that thought made her come up short. She needed to talk to one of the Healers about birth control. Now. She’d been an idiot in not using it before, but she hadn’t had a reason to. First, they hadn’t needed condoms when they’d been cementing the bonds as condoms wouldn’t have prevented it in any case. Second, wolves didn’t get sexually transmitted diseases so they were safe that way. However, in the following times, they could have gone to condoms, and she should have asked for the herbs the shifters used to prevent pregnancies.

But she hadn’t been thinking.

But that would have to change now, as she didn’t want to have a child yet. She wanted to learn who she was with Bram and Shane, as well as learn who they were with her. They had centuries to have children, and when they were ready, they would take that step. For now, she would take the herbs and hope they weren’t too late. She wouldn’t resent what had come from their mating—if anything had—but it wasn’t exactly the best time for it.

“What are you worrying about over here?” Bram asked as he walked toward her.

She had been standing near her home, enjoying the breeze on her skin, but now, all she wanted to do was go inside and slam her best friend against the wall. She could blame it on the mating heat that always rode any mated pair—or triad—hard, but she had a feeling it had more to do with the man in front of her and not any magical connection.

The bond between them pulsed.

Okay, perhaps some of it was their magical connection.

She reached out to dance her fingers along his jaw. He raised a brow, standing still for her so she could play. She loved that he did that and so much more. He reminded her of a jungle cat sometimes, all sleek and powerful. Yes, he was a wolf, and comparing him to a cat would get her in trouble, but she didn’t care. He stood still for her to touch his face, his shoulders, his chest. He always made sure she, and now Shane, were taken care of before he did anything for himself.

That’s why she was glad she and Shane were on the same page when it came to taking care of Bram, rather than the other way around.

Someone needed to care for him and make sure his needs were met.

He might be dominant in bed and in life, but when it came to those he cared about, he wasn’t forceful. He was the quiet dominant wolf, and those were the ones you usually had to watch out for.

And now he was hers.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re thinking about? Or should I guess?”

She traced her fingertips along his lips after he’d spoken and shook her head. “I’m only thinking about you. Come to bed with me.” It was a whisper. A need laid bare before the man she loved. One of the men she loved.

How had she gotten here? How had this become her life?

Warmth filled her, and she smiled.

She was…happy.

For the first time since she’d seen Ellie and Maddox in that basement and they’d saved her life, she was past content and into pure joy. Was this what it felt like to be mates? Was this what it meant to have a future not wrapped up in darkness?

And maybe, just maybe, she deserved this.

Bram lowered his head and brushed his lips along hers. “I think that sounds like a perfect plan.” He kissed her fully then, his tongue sliding along hers. She moaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

This man. This was what she needed.

Him and Shane.

Forever.

He gripped her butt and lifted her off her feet. She chuckled and held on tightly, wrapping her legs around his waist. The position left the long line of his cock pressed firmly against her heat, and she sighed happily.

---