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“The suit does look perfect on you,” Caleb said with a heated look that made Kai’s blush spread down his neck. “Though I think I prefer seeing you in my casual clothes.”

Stop flirting with him, Derek growled.That’s not helping anyone’s control.

Says the one who keeps finding excuses to pass him things, Marcus replied smugly, watching as Derek unnecessarily reached across Kai to grab the salt, his arm brushing Kai’s shoulder.

At least I’m not eye-fucking him across the table, Caleb added cheerfully, deliberately dropping his napkin so he could lean into Kai’s space to retrieve it.

Shadow whined softly from his position by Kai’s chair, picking up on the wolves’ growing agitation. Storm and Scout shifted closer, their protective instincts responding to the alpha wolves’ rising tension.

“The dogs seem very attached to you already,” Miguel observed, trying to distract from the increasingly charged atmosphere. “They’re usually not so friendly with strangers.”

“Maybe they can sense I’m a dog person,” Kai joked, reaching down to scratch behind Shadow’s ears. The action made his borrowed shirt pull tight across his shoulders, drawing three pairs of hungry eyes. “Though I’ve never seen dogs quite like these before. What breed are they?”

If he only knew, Caleb quipped, amused.

Soon, Derek promised, his wolf pushing against his control as Kai’s fingers accidentally brushed his while reaching for his water glass.

Marcus watched the innocent touch send sparks of electricity through their pack bond. His own wolf was clawing at the surface, demanding they claim their mate now, protocol be damned. But the way Kai fit so perfectly here, laughing at Jorge’s dramatic retelling of his culinary adventures in Greece, trading shy smiles with Anna, accepting Maria’s mothering with grace—it made the wait worth it.

“So,” Kai said, pushing his empty plate away, “is there a SWAT convention in town I should know about? Because the amount of tactical gear I keep seeing around here is either overkill for wildlife control, or Cedar Grove has a very aggressive squirrel problem.”

Derek straightened immediately, his military bearing showing through. “Stone Industries takes security seriously. I oversee the training program myself.” His eyes lit up with an idea. “I could show you the training tracks after lunch, if you’d like? There’s a nice trail that leads down to the lake.”

Smooth, brother, Caleb snickered.

Very smooth, Marcus agreed dryly, watching their mate’s interested expression.

“I’d like that,” Kai said softly, meeting Derek’s intense gaze before quickly looking away.

We need to tell him soon. Derek’s mental voice was strained.This is torture.

Patience, Marcus reminded them, though his own control was fraying.Let him settle in first.

But watching their mate seamlessly integrate into their pack dynamic, still completely unaware of his true place in it, Marcus wondered how much longer any of them could wait. Especially when Kai looked up and caught his gaze, those gold-flecked eyeswidening slightly before dropping away, a fresh blush staining his cheeks.

Not helping, Marcus, both his brothers growled in unison.

No, Marcus thought as Maria started discussing dinner plans and Jorge loudly protested her taking over his kitchen. This was going to be a very long day indeed—especially for Derek.

Chapter 18

After lunch, I’d changed back into Miguel’s borrowed clothes—the oversized t-shirt that insisted on slipping off one shoulder and those suspiciously tight jeans. No way was I touring a security facility in Caleb’s vintage suit, even if Maria insisted it made me look “proper.” Though judging by Derek’s heated glances every time the shirt slipped, maybe the casual look wasn’t any less distracting.

Derek’s “training facility” turned out to be a sleek two-story building that looked like someone had dropped a high-tech military compound into the middle of the Pacific Northwest forest. Because apparently that was just a normal thing to have in your backyard. Right next to the tactical garden gnomes, probably.

“This is our main security hub,” Derek explained as we approached. His hand hovered near my lower back, not quite touching but close enough that I could feel his body heat. It was distracting in ways that weren’t helping my concentration. “We monitor the entire property from here.”

The building was all reinforced glass and steel, managing to look both imposing and somehow perfectly at home among the towering pines. A keypad by the entrance scanned Derek’s palm,and the heavy glass doors slid open with a soft whoosh that belonged in a sci-fi movie.

Inside was like stepping into a Bond villain’s lair—if said villain was really into protecting forests and had excellent taste in interior design. Screens covered one wall, showing various views of the property. Men in tactical gear moved with military precision between workstations.

“Commander Stone.” A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair nodded to Derek. His eyes flickered to me with obvious interest. “This must be Mr. Chen.”

“Johnson.” Derek’s voice held warmth but also clear authority. “My second-in-command,” he explained to me. “He handles most of our scouting operations.”

I tried not to fidget under Johnson’s intense scrutiny. What was it with everyone in Cedar Grove and their predatory stares? Was it something in the water? A side effect of all the rain?

“Nice to meet you,” I managed, proud that my voice didn’t squeak. Much.

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