Page 29 of Sass Me

“Oh, yeah, that’s not good at all.”

“And then we could do this.” He nibbled his way down from the sensitive spot behind her ear to her collarbone.

“Definitely a horrible idea.”

“After that we should—”

“Ah ahem.” Dax leaned on the other side of the bar with his chin in his hands. “While, I’m all in for watching you two go at it right here on the bar, you might have to wait to put on your show until later. The enforcers are here for their how to kick demon dragon ass training.”

Fleur blinked her eyes bringing herself back from the fog of lust her body had wrapped around her brain. Her friends were gathered in the doorway, and several of them were unsuccessfully stifling snickers.

What in Hades was she doing? She smacked Steele on the shoulder. “I told you it was a bad idea.”

He chuckled, but let her go when she wriggled to get away.

By the time she made it to the group of girls, they were no longer holding in their giggle fits. Emma pretended to sniff her. “Getting one last dose of dragon before the spa?”

“Har har.” So what if she was? It was a good dose too, that would have to last her for a very long time. Because after tonight, she wouldn’t be getting anymore of him.

Now that sounded like a horrible idea.

“You’re going to need a good two-hour soak in a mudbath to get that dragon’s scent off of you.”

She took the girl’s good-natured ribbing in stride. It was either that or break down and tell them all that she was having second thoughts about the scenting ceremony. No way could she reject their offer, so kindly given. Even worse, she’d be rejecting becoming a part of their family. That was more important. Being a part of something bigger than herself would fill the void in her heart, in her soul.

“Well, then. Here’s mud in your eye.”

Her friends all laughed at her self-depricating humor. All except Barbara.

A few hours later she was scrubbed, polished, and buffed within an inch of her sanity. She’d insisted on only all natural beauty products, and had even struck a deal with the spa’s owner to provide them with a line of her own cleansing oils scented only with herbs and spices instead of all those harsh chemicals they’d tried to apply to her.

She might not want to smell like her dragon, but she also didn’t want to repel every shifter this side of the Mississippi.

Wait. Her dragon?

No. That’s not what she meant.

Whatever. This was not the time to think about that. The scenting ceremony was about to begin and she didn’t see Steele anywhere.

Not that she was looking for him. Better if he wasn’t around.

Fleur stood with a group of the women who had been at the pre-scenting party at her apartment. Most seemed carefree and relaxed, excited even.

Not her.

What if none of the wolves scented her? What if none of them wanted to be with her, mate her?

She opened and closed her fists trying to release this bout of negativity and anxiety that had grabbed a hold of her ever since she’d gotten to the forest.

It was nerves. That was all.

Everything would be fine.

People in the crowd started to hush, like the knew it was time to start. Fleur looked one last time around the groups for Steele. No, he wouldn’t be here. He’d be in the woods, watching, protecting.

Barbara and Tristan walked to the center of the ceremony field, and the gathering went silent. Tristan spoke, the alpha in his voice ringing out through the night. “Tonight, we bring five packs together. Through this scenting ceremony our people will bond, alliances will be made, and we will heal from the wounds of the past. We call upon each of the packs, bring forth the first of your clan to join the scenting ceremony.”

Barbara stepped up. “Wolfe, who from our pack joins the scenting ceremony?”

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