Page 53 of Smoke and Lure

Behind her sister, a lot of movement seemed to be happening, but Morlie ignored it as she attempted to understand his sister's words.Morlie ran a hand through her short curls.“This doesn’t make any sense.Why hasn’t there been another mate pair through the previous generations?”

“Think about it, Morlie.From what Dad told us of his family, his side only has birthed males for as far back as he could recall until us.”

“So, the promise lay dormant until you.The firstborn female in generations.”It was Chanin who finished putting the pieces together.“That’s why it didn’t matter that you were not marked like Morlie.”

It all clicked for Morlie as well.“And how the mark placed on me at the health center brought out my wolf gene, which most likely I received from our mother.”

Everything became more apparent as Morlie realized during the ceremony that the Drahks had not been slighting her when they didn’t acknowledge her as a relative to Drago.For them, just like the Lupine, the shifter link was the level that mattered most.I’m an over-sensitive fool.

Never.Chanin growled.You care deeply for the people that are yours, as I know you will grow to feel the same way about the Lupine, as their Alpha she-wolf.

Morlie’s throat tightened at his words.

Kai exhaled, and her shoulders sagged as if she had been carrying a weight on them.“Exactly.”

Morlie nodded.Once again, she touched the smaller of the two rings, which rested on her chest.“I guess I should give this back to you.I feel like you are the rightful owner of the set.”

When Morlie started lifting it from her neck, Kai softly touched her wrist, stilling her movements.“No.You deserved something to remember them as well.”

“Besides, she will not need it.”Aodh’s broad-shouldered form stepped beside Kai.

Morlie watched her sister’s face light up as Kai turned and looked up at Aodh.Kai’s love for the massive man radiated along her face.

“Because I have you and our offspring.”Kai leaned into him as she rubbed her swollen belly.

“And because you will be wearing my ring by the end of tonight.”

It was as if Morlie was watching her brilliant sister’s brain short circuit as Kai stood there staring at her mate.

Morlie had heard Aodh’s words, too, and was trying to figure out his meaning.However, she could see what Kai could not: Tana stood a few feet behind Kai, holding a strip of lace and flowers similar to a photo she’d seen of an old-style wedding veil, with Eilidh beside Tana holding a bunch of wildflowers.Morlie smiled at her old friend.

“What do you mean?”

“I asked Chanin to bring your sister to our territory to stand with you because I’m marrying you tonight.”

“What?”the word came out of Kai’s mouth with the weight of a piece of paper drifting to the ground.

If Morlie weren’t a shifter, she wouldn’t have heard it.

Aodh held Kai’s waist and pulled her close as he stared down at her.“You have lost so much today, little flame.All your family, besides Morlie, once again.I want to give you what Draig willingly gave Jaseena...a bond between Drahk and human for eternity.”

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