Page 24 of Homecoming

“Don’t be nervous,” Darius looks up with a grin, “I’m not going to bite you.”

“I know. Sorry, I don’t mean to, but—” Riley can suddenly feel the pulse in his neck throb as a quiver of anticipation ripples through his veins. Being one to one with this man, he feels small, helpless, and almost vulnerable.

“I make you nervous. Is that what you want to say?”

“I don’t know, not exactly. You do make me feel something. I guess it’s nerves. We don’t talk very often like this and it feels strange. Me coming to you feels strange, but I need to do this—to say this.”

“So what can I do for you, Riley?” Darius unseats himself and meanders slowly around to the front of the desk, where he perches the firm curve of his butt on the edge.

For a moment, the tall man hesitates and takes a sip from his drink. His motions are slow and deliberate—as if he has all the time in the world and as Darius takes a breath he cocks a brow and asks, “What’s going on? What do you need to tell me that you have to come here at this hour? Is it something I should be worried about? Something about Kat?”

“Not exactly.” Riley feels his jaw clench as Darius’ purple gaze focuses on him and drawn to his eyes, hecan’t look away. “I… I wanted to ask your permission before I do something. You’re the pack leader and since I’ve been studying wolf culture, I know the correct thing to do in these circumstances is to ask for consent. I want to… Amy, she’s one of the maternity nurses at the medical facility and we’ve been seeing each other. I like her… I like her a lot. Actually… I love her and I want to marry her. Oh don’t worry, we haven’t done anything as yet. I mean, she hasn’t done anything to compromise her reputation. I don’t want to get her in any trouble.”

Darius snorts a laugh. “You haven’t had sex with her? And why the hell not?”

“Uh… her parents, mostly,” Riley smiles. “She still lives with them and with me not being a wolf… well, you know it’s been awkward. Turns out they like me, and though her father gave the relationship his blessing, her mother was keen that I get the pack leader’s permission because she said that was the correct thing to do. I don’t want to offend anyone, and so that’s why I’m here. I’ve come to ask you: can I marry Amy?”

“Riley, you don’t need to seek my permission. It’s quaint that you asked and years ago it would have been the custom, but now you can marry whoever the hell you like. I’m not going to stop you. But for future reference, I’m not the pack leader—that falls to Digby.” Darius smiles, easy and relaxed. His perfect white teeth look sharp against his lip. His eyes are a cooler, a paler shade of violet, almost a gray-blue as all traces of the red pigment are gone.

Riley tips his head as he studies the man in front of him. His eyes, the doctor considers, look soulless, with no real emotion behind them. “But I thought… Kat said you’re the team leader, is that not right?”

“Team leader is correct. Pack leader no. Just like you, I’m not a full wolf and therefore can’t lead a pack. That’s one thing that hasn’t changed, so if you really want the head of the pack’s permission, you need to ask Digby. But my advice, if you love thiswoman,tell her and then marry her as soon as you can. You'll have my full blessing, and I can’t see Digby objecting. You are going to stay here in the village and continue your work at the maternity hospital, though?”

“Oh yeah, that won’t change. I love my job. But that’s the other thing I wanted to ask. How do we go about getting a house?”

“Well, usually wolves that want to stay human after they marry just take a piece of land and build one, but you know there’s a small cottage on the edge of the forest just behind the main house here. It’s a little run-down, but if you want to fix it up, you can have it. Make a home for you and Amy. I was going to take it for myself, but I have something else in mind now. It would be only fitting for someone important, like the commune doctor, to have a houseinthe grounds of the leader’s house. Besides, you’re like family, and I think Kat would approve. She’ll be pleased to have you closer.”

“Are you’re serious? You’d give us a house?”

“Riley, you’ve done a lot for this pack. Kept secrets and, most importantly, you’ve helped Kat. You were there for her and almost gave your lifeforher. She thinks the world of you and despite some of my early reservations… you’re connected to this pack in ways others won’t always understand. Kat will be happy to have you closer to us.”

“You know things between me and Kat, we’ve never… I mean, we never slept together. I thought I wanted to—when I first met her, I did for sure. But after we kissed… I don’t know, it never felt right and with me being her doctor, it was a line I couldn’t cross. But please know, I love Kat with all my heart and I would readily lay down my life for her again if I had to.”

“Well, hopefully, you won’t have to. She has enough people protecting her now. Go lay down your life for your wife. Riley, she’s a lucky wolf to have found you. You’re a very special man.” Darius’ lip curls at the corner and he smiles before he sips more of the whiskey.

Riley hovers almost like he can’t leave and as he fidgets nervously, Darius frowns. “Was there something else I can help you with?”

“Actually there was... it's about Kat. I still have to tell her about Amy and I’m not exactly sure how I should do that.”

“Just tell her. She’ll understand.”

“I can’t. And I know that’s weird considering how much we talk, but I feel like... well, I feel like I’m cheating on her.”

Darius steps forwardandstaring deep into his eyes, he places a hand on Riley’s arm and with a firm grip of his bicep, he holds him locked in a meaningful gaze. Darius's own image is now reflected back in the glossy glint of the young doctor’s eyes. “Just tell Kat you’re in love, and I promise she’ll understand. Now… you'll have to excuse me but I need to go check on those damn hyenas.”

“You don’t like them? The hyenas. Is it because they’re shifters? That’s what they are, right? They’re like wolves and can only shift into that one form, unlike my brother, who can be anything he wants.”

“There are various types of shifters. Wolves, hyenas—ones that can only shift at night. Kat might have a book here for you to read up. But you’re right, there are a lot and some have unique abilities. It’ll surprise you what a true shifter can be. Some, like Quinn, can indeed shiftintomost physical forms—the caveat to that, ithas to be an actual thing, not just something someone made up. They also have to have had physical contact with it. So he can’t just be a unicorn,” Darius laughs.

“Yeah, I know my mom told me—years ago when she tried to explain about Quinn. Since I’ve been here, I've read quite a few books from the library in the other room. QT let me borrow some while Kat was away. Oh, don’t worry, I did bring them back. I see you’re getting quite a collection too.”

“Me? God no. No, these are not mine. This is Kat’s doing. She’s going to fill these entire shelves with books, or so she says. I think it will take her an eternity.”

“Don’t say that,” Riley laughs. “You should know by now about Kat and books… she will fill these in no time. Books are her passion—especially old ones.”

“You forgot to add old andexpensive,” Darius grins. “That’s why I put them in here. Looking at them makes me feel like I’m always surrounded by her.”

“You really love her, don’t you?”

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