Page 36 of A Wolf's Heart

“Whatever makes you comfortable.”

Learning I was going to a facility that was primarily run by shifters made me nervous. It had been Rainor that suggested Max come along, telling me that Max was technically my pack, and having him with me in a different territory would help. They normally traveled in numbers as well.

I looked back at Rainor, who scrolled on his phone as he sat next to Max, completely ignoring my furry companion. Max seemed to like him, even though Rainor paid him no attention.

“You sure he will be safe? No one will attack him? I know how some dogs get territorial.”

Weylin choked. “Did you just refer to us as dogs?”

I shrugged. “Pretty sure it was you that said you're a wolf first,” I mumbled as I went back to studying.

“I can’t believe you just called us dogs.” Rainor spoke calmly, staring at his phone. It looked like he was texting or emailing someone. “I guess you have been spending a bit of time with Weylin.”

“Dick,” Weylin shot back.

I smiled and shook my head. “Seriously, though, they won’t eat my dog, right?”

“No, they won’t. They do have restraint. If you had a police bunny, that might be a problem.”

I laughed at Weylin’s joke until I looked up and caught him staring at me. I blushed and went back to my computer. “So, the triple homicide side of this meeting I can breeze through. I’m good with debriefings. But is there anything on the wolf side that I should know? What if I offend someone? Any sort of customary way of talking to a group?”

“Just treat them like any other team you’ve debriefed in the past. You have nothing to worry about. It’s them that needs to watch themselves,” Weylin said.

“What? Why?”

Rainor cleared his throat, setting his phone down on his leg to give me his attention. I turned in my seat, so I could see him better. “The best way to put this is that you are free to do as you wish. You are our mate, claimed or not. There is some etiquette our team will follow because they are good wolves, they know their place. There may be times when Weylin or I may touch you, and I ask that you allow it. Rejecting us in this situation leaves our bond open to a challenge. Another male will be given the opportunity—”

“Ignore him,” Weylin cut in. “Reject us anytime you want. I want to see them try to challenge the mate bond.” He grinned, his eyes excited.

“This is a real thing, then, the mate bond,” I said. “I feel the heat whenever we touch and everything.”Everythingbeing my wolf wanting me to throw myself at them whenever I got a taste of their scent. “But am I stuck being your mate?”

“Stuck?” Weylin gave me puppy dog eyes.

“In short, no. You aren’t forced into a pairing you do not wish to be a part of, although the bond will make it difficult to do so. And your heat, when is your next cycle?”

My eyes fell to my hands. If my cheeks weren’t red before, they must be neon now. “Like, a period?”

“No.” I glanced up at Rainor’s frown. “Your heat cycle. It occurs twice a year.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’ve never gone through a heat?” Weylin asked. “Have you ever been so horny that someone had to knock you out because you would die if you didn’t get dick?”

“No! What?” I looked back and forth between the two very attractive men. Weylin was grinning from ear to ear, and Rainor had that curious look in his eyes. “Please, let’s not bring this up again.” I turned back in my seat.

“Lila, I wonder, after the debriefing, would you accompany me to the medical wing?” Rainor asked. “It may be beneficial to get a blood sample. Your DNA and blood type can tell us a lot about you and perhaps even how a wolf of your maturity has not hit a cycle as of yet.”

I sank in my seat, pulling open the laptop again. My maturity?Thanks for fucking aging me fifty years. I knew I was going to be different from other shifters, having grown up away from any wolf interaction, but I didn’t think the difference would be on a biological level. I was a lemon.

“Fine, just, let’s not bring this up again.”

I expected a large building,but nothing prepared me for what I was about to walk into. Weylin drove in and out of traffic, taking us right into the heart of the city and down into the underground parking of one of the tallest buildings I had ever seen.

There was no sign indicating what the building was, nothing about any police force or training facility. There was, however, security so tight, you’d think we were walking into the city version of Area 51. We were waved through as the security officer peered into the car.

Weylin pulled into the underground lot and into a private parking spot right next to the elevators. I said nothing as I gathered my things and got out of the car, Max jumping the seat to exit my door.

Rainor took a badge out and touched it to the elevator keypad before pressing the button to go down. “Here is your badge,” he said, producing another one. “Some floors, it won’t work for. If you get lost, find an elevator and go to the top floor. Kage’s assistant will help you.”

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