Page 80 of Reclaiming Home

For a split second, his emotions were crystal clear to me. Some part of him was still surprised to hear the words and maybe to realize I’d heard them through my haze.

“Good.” He pecked my lips again. “What do you think about riding me?”

I let out a small laugh that was half a giggle. I felt high, still. “That’ll hurt.”

The wickedness in his eyes made my heart skip a beat. “Oh baby, I’m counting on it.”

The next night, we had a pack dinner. Rian was a bit annoyed, because his donor he’d seen twice already had a family emergency, and he needed a bite soon.

“It’ll be fine. I’ll be good until tomorrow, at least.”

“If you’re sure,” I told him, squeezing his wrist that was even bonier than mine.

“If all else fails, I’ll use theotherapp.” He gave me a grin.

The guys were in the family room, lounging on the couch while waiting for Holden to get there. He’d had an urgent work thing, having to go in as backup for something or other despite it being his day off because of the full moon.

We joined them, and Carys plopped on top of us, making herself comfortable with her head on Rian’s lap, her upper body on me, and her legs on Brodie.

“Do you think Lina would like to stay next month?” Brodie asked her casually.

By now, she knew full moon nights were for pack, for family, and on occasion, close friends or romantic partners.

“I... uh, I’ll ask?” she said in a squeaky voice she tried to hide by a little cough as she partially covered her face with her arm.

“She’s also always welcome to stay the night if she wants. Doesn’t have to be a full moon.” He squeezed her ankle.

Everyone but Carys and I turned their heads toward the window, which clearly signaled Holden’s arrival. I heard his truck before Carys did, but I wasn’t sure if that was more about her hiding a bit or for any sort of sharpened senses I might’ve gotten courtesy of the scar that now decorated my wrist.

I rubbed my fingertips over it and Brodie kissed the side of my head when he noticed.

The front door opened and Holden walked in. He looked exhausted.

“Hey guys.”

“Long day?” Brodie asked, knowing the answer already. “We’ll go easy on you once we shift, I promise.” He had his fingers crossed where we could all see it, and Holden snorted.

“Great, thanks.”

“Holden, this is my best friend Rian Flynn, Rian, this is Sheriff Holden Drumm.”

For a second, Rian tensed, hard, then seemed to recover as he reached a hand over my sister for a shake.

“Nice to meet you, Holden.”

“You as well. Brodie’s talked about you a lot.” Holden smiled in his usual way, but I could tell Rian was having a moment with how he couldn’t seem to relax.

So could Carys. She widened her eyes minutely at me while Rian wasn’t paying attention.

I shrugged a little and hid it by glancing at Holden. “Did you have dinner yet?”

“I didn’t really have much time—”

“I’ll go fix you a plate,” Carys interrupted and scrambled off us.

“Ow, thanks for the elbow, sis,” I grunted at her.

“You’re welcome!” She flounced into the kitchen. “Come on Holden, you get to pick what you want!”

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