Page 102 of Moon Claimed

Sascha moved back, and I was doused with cold water, literally, as I felt the spray of the waterfall on my back.

I stared at him, heart hammering. “What is it?”

“Not tonight. Tonight is about teaching you how to manage your wolf—though you greatly impressed my pack with your show of control last night. That’s no easy task. Some wolves never manage a partial shift.”

That’s what they were gasping and muttering about. I inhaled. “Why does that make you sad?”

He glanced back in surprise. “Well done.”

I waited, trying to shove back disappointment that his lips weren’t on mine.

“The answer to that can wait for another time.”

He was usually so open with me. “If you won’t tell me that, let’s get the kissing meet over with.”

“No,” he said brusquely, striding back down the rocky path.

I marched after him. “Why? It’s a quick kiss. We’ll get it over with and only have two meets left.Youwanted this.”

His river water scent intensified once more, and when he halted, I studied his ass.

Sue me.

“I’ve dreamed of finding my mate for a lifetime,” Sascha spoke, his back to me. “Since I found you, you’ve slipped through my fingers time and again. Nothing has turned out like my dreams at all—in fact, my nights are spent tossing in terror wondering what could befall you without me there. I could kiss you now, little bird. I couldcave to the pressure building around us and claim you in all ways on a whim.” He sighed heavily. “It is, perhaps, just a kiss. And I am, perhaps, just a fool. But I want one part of my dreams to be true. When I kiss you because no one else exists for me any longer, I want you to kiss me back just the same.”

Wordless, I couldn’t reply as the Luther half turned.

His cheeks reddened, and he dropped his gaze. “You’re exhausted. Let’s do this another time. Maybe you could stay behind after the meeting on Sunday?”

His words bounced back and forward between my ears. What did all that mean?

That there was lovin’ talk.

“Sure?” I croaked.

“Okay. Goodnight.” Sascha, still red-faced, shifted into Greyson, who sent me a long look before leaving.

Something tugged under my ribs, and I covered the spot with both hands.

What’s that?

My wolf answered,It’s him.

The tugging pulled taut, like an elastic band drawn tight, and I sucked in a breath.

Oh my god.Sascha was on the other end.

I had a Sascha beacon.

Now we can find him anywhere,she said quietly.

That’s not what worried me.

Apparently, I just accepted the Luther a little bit more.

17

The sister is coming,my wolf said.

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