Page 85 of Wanted By the Wolves

Nova’s eyes water, and she gives me this sappy grin that makes my eyes sting. “I love you guys. No matter what happens, no matter where we are… you’re my home.” She leans over, kissing Gage, then me, in a slow brush of lips. She pulls awayfrom me with a sigh. “But what I really need is a nap.” She burrows between us, shoving her face in my armpit.

“So many naps,” Gage adds.

She’s out a moment later, Gage following close behind.

My brother wraps a clean blanket around us, his eyes soft as he takes her in. “I’m never gonna get over the fact that someone as beautiful as her is here with me.”

She is extra fucking cute with her hair a wild nest sticking out, her body flush with heat and her lips plump and red.

“I mean, you are a god now… so?—”

“Fuck off.” Dex shoves my shoulder. “I’m going to check on the property and get her something to eat.”

He makes his way out of the nest while I stare at my two mates, awestruck that we made it. I was mostly full of bullshit, but it seems my overconfidence might have worked.

“We deserve a home, brother,” I call after him.

He turns, giving me a nod and a rare grin. “And we’ll fight to keep it.”

“Damn straight.”

Chapter 50

Nova

“Oh my gods, quit it.” I squirm away from Gage, yanking my legs together and pulling my towel tighter around me.

Dex crosses his arms over his thick chest. “Baby girl.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling my eyes. “I swear I’m good. I feel great.” It’s mostly true, but it’s also kind of annoying that my mates can feel the part left out of "mostly."

Dex growls. “Bend over, little wolf, and let him tend to you.”

A thrill races through me at his command, even though they’re being ridiculous. My body is sore, but it doesn’t stop me from reacting to the deep sound of his voice.

In the mirror, Dex lifts a brow in challenge.

Briggs steps out of the shower, grabs a nearby towel, and rubs himself down. “Better listen, baby, unless your goal is a spanking.”

I lick my lips and place my hands on the bathroom counter, arching my back.

“That might be the goal.” Gage smirks, shaking his head in the mirror as he lifts the edge of my towel. He sets a jar on the counter and dips his fingers into the healing salve. As he rubs the cooling gel between my legs, he crowds against my back, hisbreath on my neck. “Look at how pretty your neck is wrapped in our claims.”

Following his command, I take my eyes off my mates and study my reflection. I like the puffy red marks. They don’t cover my scars, but they’ve changed them, making my body feel more like mine. I recognize myself—how I feel seen and strong yet protected—even if this reflection is new to me.

My mates send back pride and love in the bonds as I let Gage finish rubbing in his healing gel. He plants a kiss on Briggs’s bond mark and pulls back to wash his hands. I turn to face Dex, bracing myself against the counter.

Despite the peacefulness of my pack bonds and the low, thrumming arousal in my core, my mood plummets as I take in Gage’s old bathroom. After waking from my heat, I’ve been a yo-yo of emotions.

I don’t know if it’s a hormone drop or what, but it’s dizzying the way I keep swinging from gloriously happy to anxious. My mates have all been sweethearts, hovering over me, but reality has come crashing down like a pounding wave. Combined with how tired and hungry I am—even after Dex insisted on feeding me in the nest before we showered— I sort of want to cry. Which is ridiculous because I just had the best three nights of my life.

If I don’t count the fact that it started with a kidnapping and a dark magic ritual…

“What do we do now?” I whisper, voicing my fear. I don’t know if I can stay here, not after what happened.

“I say we find a new place.” Gage shuts off the sink and tugs me against his chest, wrapping a hand around my hip. “See if we can get some peace and quiet. Don’t we deserve that?”

“Do you think it’s safe to leave? It’s really over?” I ask.

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