Page 41 of The Wolf's Prince
“You want to stay here?” he asked.
“I want to stay with you,” Nikolai agreed, “wherever that might be.”
CHAPTER9
SOREN
Soren left the waterfall with Nikolai's hand in his own, clean dry, sated, and happy. He’d packed away their dirty clothes and given Nikolai wolf’s clothing. In leather and fur, with his hair damp, Nikolai looked like he belonged at Soren’s side now and was even more handsome without the glittery threads and bright colors. Somehow, to Soren, Nikolai looked likehimself. Bright-eyed, natural,breathtaking.
As they returned to the pack, life felt like a dream.
Only one thing could make it better.
“There's someone I want you to meet,” Soren said.
Nikolai raised a quizzical brow.
“The pack alpha, my grandfather.”
Perhaps Nikolai could hear the warmth that seeped into his voice because he smiled.
“I would love to meet him.”
They hadn't eaten yet, so Soren decided to grab some food and take it up to Alpha Jin's den to eat with him. Andrey too, of course. Nikolai's brother had been more than accommodating to their needs and Soren had yet to speak to him properly. The thought of their families merging that way for a meal excited him, but his plans were derailed in the best way possible when they reached the pack square and he saw Alpha Jin was already there.
Soren's eyes widened as he approached the scene.
Jin was deep in conversation with Andrey while a meal was being cooked on the fire.
Moved, Soren went to them, tugging Nikolai after him until he was close enough to kneel in front of his grandfather.
“Alpha Jin, you're feeling better.”
Jin met his gaze with a warm, tired smile. In the light of the day, it was apparent how pale he now was, how thin and frail his form had become. There seemed to be more wrinkles on his tired face, but he smiled just as jovially as he always had at Soren.
He reached out and took his hand, patting it before looking up at Nikolai.
“I could not remain in bed any longer waiting for you to bring your mate to meet me,” he chastised, still smiling. “I had to come to find you myself.”
Soren looked around, catching Jin's private guards nearby, watching closely. He was relieved to see that he hadn't been left to make the trek down here on his own. That only slightly eased the guilt.
“I was going to bring him—”
“He was just telling me that he was taking me to meet you,” Nikolai interrupted, jumping to Soren's defense.
Jin's smile widened.
“I'm glad to see you are someone who will take his side,” he said, winking at Nikolai. “I'm only teasing. I knew you two would be wrapped up with one another. All new mates are.”
Nikolai blushed and knelt next to Soren, offering his hand.
“I am Prince Nikolai, of Casetro,” he said. “It is an honor to meet you.”
“Prince,” Alpha Jin repeated, giving Soren a look. “What a fortuitous union this has turned out to be. Come, sit with me, the food is almost ready.”
Soren took the seat next to Alpha Jin. Nikolai went next to his brother, who nudged him with his shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, seeming genuinely worried, despite the smile on Nikolai’s face.
