Page 143 of Grim

But his barely visible wink told me he truly was happy. He smirked and pulled Tajah into a hug. “I’m glad you’re doing better. This place wouldn’t run without your help,” Locke snorted.

“Blah, blah, blah,” Tajah mocked.

Tajah swayed her head, patting his back. “Without you Locke, a lot of innocent rogues would have died, including me.” She pulled away from him. “And the Iron Fang will have its own pack soon enough. The broken shall be mended.”

Locke’s playful smirk fell, his eyes filled with understanding.

“Back off, Locke,” Beretta snarled, pulling Tajah away from him. Beretta’s nose traced Tajah’s neck and pulled the skintight dress away from her shoulder. A bright red mark shone beneath and instantly I knew what it was.

“It’s true, you really are marked?” I gasped, watching Beretta smile. “Is that my surprise!?” I jumped up and grabbed Grim. He choked a laugh at my unexpected jump.

I already knew of their pairing, but I wanted to join in on the excitement.

“Part of it, yes,” Grim said, and led me to the middle of the room. We gazed at the party.

Humans mingled with the club, some serving, some just enjoying the company with others. Some danced with each other, some shared flirty glances, and my heart grew.

The members were really trying to get to know the humans that could be mates.

“Do they know yet? The humans?” I asked.

“None of the humans know what we are. It will be up to their mate to tell them. It’s a need-to-know to keep everyone safe, and no secrets spilled amongst the community.”

My chest warmed, watching the lively chatter. As I stared at each one, I could feel the openness in their soul. It was a strange feeling looking from person to person knowing who had invited back the goddess.

My thoughts turned to Hawke and Delilah. Did he go after her? Did he open his soul to her?

“Grim?”

Knowing my thoughts, he shook his head. “Hawke is off grid. We don’t know where he or Delilah are. Hawke is a very efficient wolf; he’s done this before. I believe he will return to us and bring Delilah with him.”

I hoped so. Because that was a couple I had been rooting for from the start.

I nodded, watching the crowd. Locke and Sizzle stood in the room’s corner, drinking and talking to themselves.

“What of them? Are they happy with everything happening?”

Grim pursed his lips and sighed. “Locke’s heart remains guarded. But he is happy for the rest of us. He’s still angry at the goddess for letting him go through the pain he’s been through. I’m sure you can feel it. But I believe once he sees his mate in person, he will change his mind. Sizzle, I am not so sure about. He doesn’t trust women. He barely trusts you.”

I hummed in understanding. “They will see. Once mates are being paired, they will see,” I chanted to myself.

Grim’s lips grazed my mark. I tilted my head so he could nip at my shoulder. My body shuddered and leaned into his body with his arms wrapped around me.

“I believe anything you say, little mate. If you say they will have a second chance, they will.”

“They will. They are bound to get jealous once they see everyone else with someone. Then maybe their stubborn butts will try.”

Grim cupped my cheeks, his stare intense with the same passion he had right after he had come inside my body. “I love you,” he declared in his gravelly voice. He lowered his lips to my forehead, caressing the moon on my forehead. “So much.”

“I love you too.” I nuzzled into his embrace.

The surrounding laughter caught my ear. Men on the floor flung their dates in a swing-style dance. I smiled, watching hope light the faces of those who’d been sad and dejected.

The song faded and a new, slower one replaced it. “Will you come and dance with me?” I pulled on his hand to lead him to the dance floor.

Grim shook his head and watched others on the dance floor. “I don’t dance. How about I just hold you here?” He wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Aw, are you chicken?” I raised an eyebrow.

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