Page 108 of Smoke and Lure

Everyone else, backed away and gave them some space.

“It’s fine, Morlie.”He chuckled, low and textured with a light growl at the end as he held his palm out to her across the bar.“Do not fret, mate of my son.It’s alright.Chanin already communicated with his mother and me about us getting together for a meal and a run soon.”

The man had a calming presence and warm eyes—nothing like the fierce intensity of his mate and son.She lay her hands in his and accepted the comforting squeeze he gave when his strong fingers closed around hers, firm but not compressing.

Chanin looked nothing like his father in coloring or manners, but in build, they were the same now that she knew who she was seeing.The Alpha was uncannily tall and broad-shouldered, even by most Lupines' standard sleek frame and muscles.

“Your scent is familiar, and now I remember it from your wife, Rieka.”

“Oh, yes.I’m aware of your interaction.”He gave a slight shake of his head but the smile in his eyes didn’t fade.“She can be rather intense regarding her love and care of her family.”

Rather intenseweren’t the words Morlie would have used,physically brutalwere more like it.

“I understood her intent.For that I was grateful for her assistance, she helped build my level of confidencequickly.”

Conan chuckled.“She has that effect on those she cares about.”

“Well, she just met me.And how Chanin is perceived is important to Rieka.She’s his mother.”Morlie shrugged.She figured Rieka cared that her son, the Alpha, wasn’t embarrassed by his mate before the pack.Morlie wasn’t sure that the woman’s training and action had anything to do with her emotions toward Morlie specifically.

“Trust me when I say it, Morlie.My wife would never have taken time to begin your training if she didn’t sense something in you.She would have made the introduction and left.But she stayed.”He placed another hand on Morlie’s, blanketing her in warmth.

His supportive touch made her eyes burn a little, and when she blinked, there was dampness.This man, so tall and imposing, reminded her of her father.She’d thought about her parents off and on, but since she’d been so sick after their deaths, she never took time to process the pain associated with their absence.However, in that moment with Conan, she missed the small, intimate moments with her father as a child.Hearing the sincerity in his voice and seeing it etched across his face and the approval in his gaze, it squeezed around her heart.

In her silence, he continued, “When Rieka returned home, she was impressed and filled with many wonderful things she thought about you.If we could have chosen for our son, we would have chosen you.”

Her throat was swelled tight with emotions, and she struggled with the words as a single tear ran from her eyes.

There was a slight gasp a few feet away, but Morlie didn’t turn to see which of the women it had come from.

She placed her hand on the stack he had made with her other hand.It took her a few times to get the lump down and breathe.“Thank you, Conan.Your words mean a lot.”

“Believe in yourself and know you’ve got this.”After a firm nod and one final squeeze, he let her go.“I’ve rabbits to tend to while Wolcott is out.”

After a final glance at her and a brief wave to the others, he opened the door and returned to his work.

Morlie took a shuddering breath and rapidly blinked away the tear before turning to the group, now larger by one man and a caged rabbit.

Amira was wiping away the wetness streaming down her cheek.

“You ready?”asked Rudie, who had rounded the bar with Wolcott while Morlie had spoken to Chanin’s father.

“Yes.I’m ready.”She glanced at the rabbit and sniffed, her wolf’s stomach growled as the beast whined wanting the succulent snack.Morlie preferred her rabbit cooked on a plate and hoped her small group would return to her house to start the fixings.She hadn’t eaten since breakfast and she was starving.

They all left the bar.

“This is where I leave you all.A nap is calling my name.But I’ll make sure to get all the items you chose from the clothing storage to your house, Morlie.I’m sure you want to wear something nice for tonight,” Amira teased, rubbed her protruding belly.

“Maybe.“ Morlie shrugged but smiled as she continued in a different direction with the others.

Lovel hung back to kiss and speak with her mate before she jogged and caught up with them.Wolcott and Rudie led the group while Faolan held up the rear.

Morlie couldn’t help but observe the pair.They walked so close that the backs of Wolcott and Rudie’s hands brushed together.There was even a brief moment where she could have sworn their pinkies interlocked, but the tiny hold released the next instant.

Thirty minutes later, they were away from the noisy sounds of town and deep in the woods on the opposite side of the territory from her place.

So, no rabbit stew, got it.Morlie groaned.

“What are we doing here?”She glanced around and saw nothing but dense woods in every direction.

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