Page 103 of A Luna's Dynasty
Asher’s eyes flicked to her, concern laced with something darker. “Do you believe her?”
She wanted to. She really did. But the memory of Felicia’s eyes, the glimmer of something sharp still hiding under the surface, made her hesitate. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But even if it’s true, what are we supposed to do? Kick her out? She’s still pack.”
He grunted, not satisfied. “I’m going to have Caden keep an eye on her. Just in case.”
Lita shrugged, too tired to argue. “Fine. But don’t make her life hell. She’s already living in it.”
They started walking again, the quiet between them easy now, like a blanket thrown over a pair of sleeping wolves. Asher slipped his hand around her waist, thumb brushing lazy circles on the soft spot just above her hip. Lita leaned into him, letting the warmth of his body sink into her bones.
After a while, he said, “You know what I’ve been thinking?”
“Besides all the dirty stuff?”
“Hey, you have impure thoughts too … but they’re about each other, so are they impure?” He smiled and stopped walking, turning her to face him.
“I want to take you on a date,” he said.
Lita blinked. “Like, a real date?”
He nodded. “You never got to have any of the normal stuff. School dances, late-night dinners, awkward first kisses. I want to give you that. All of it.” His thumb brushed her cheek, slow and gentle. “You deserve it, Lita.”
“My first kiss was with you, but it was never awkward. You can never give me that. But the rest … maybe.” She tucked herself under his arm and let him lead her toward the pack house, their steps in perfect sync. She could feel his emotions and thoughts running rampant in her mind as he tried to decide on their first date. It was so incredibly sweet and caring and made her love him even more … if that was possible.
“You two are cavity sweet.” Grayson chuckled, closing the gap.
Lita twisted around, raising an eyebrow. “You jealous, Grayson?”
He snorted. “Of you? No. Of Asher? Maybe.” He jerked his chin at Asher, who grinned back, all teeth and mock-Alpha smugness. “I just don’t want to get blamed when you set the place on fire, Lita. If I’m within range, I can at least claim plausible deniability.”
Asher squeezed Lita’s waist. “We’ll try not to combust in public. For your sake.”
“I mean it,” Grayson said, falling in step beside them. “I don’t want either of you going anywhere alone. You can never be too careful.”
Lita rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. If she’d learned anything from living with Grayson, it was that arguing only made him dig in deeper. Besides, there was a weird comfort in knowing he cared enough to hover.
They were halfway to the porch when Caden jogged up, sneakers squeaking and hair a mess of sweat and static. He slid to a stop, hands on his knees, and tried to catch his breath before blurting, “Did I hear someone say cavity? Is there food?”
Lita laughed. “Grayson’s just worried we’re going to get too sweet for his taste.”
Caden straightened, wiped his face with the hem of his shirt, and said, “I’d rather be sweet than boring. Also, if you’re giving out cavities, does the tooth fairy come for shifters? Or do we just grow new ones?” He looked at Grayson, dead serious. “Is the tooth fairy real?”
Grayson blinked. “What?”
Caden’s eyes widened, hopeful. “You know, the tooth fairy. Is she a real thing, like, maybe she’s a secret fairy, or a shifter with dental powers, or—” He cut himself off, thinking hard. “Wait, is Santa real, too?”
There was a beat of silence as everyone processed this. Then Asher snickered and Grayson shook his head, glancing at Lita in disbelief. “Is he serious?” Lita barely held in a giggle. “Should we tell him?” Grayson whispered loudly, but Lita held up a hand.
“Let him have one more night of sweet dreams,” she said, solemn as a judge. “The world’s cruel enough without wrecking his fantasies.”
Caden frowned, indignant. “I know Santa’s not real. I mean, obviously. But the tooth fairy—” He leaned in, lowering his voice as if the trees might be listening. “I had a tooth go missing once,and the next day, there was a ten-dollar bill under my pillow. No one would admit to it. So unless you’re telling me there’s a secret cash fairy in the pack, I’m sticking with my theory.”
Lita clapped a hand to her chest. “Bless his pure heart,” she said, eyes shining with affection. Even Grayson had to crack a smile.
Asher shook his head, ruffling Caden’s hair. “Keep dreaming, bud. Maybe if you’re good, the fairies will give you wings, too.”
Caden looked down, thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t mind flying, actually. But only if I can keep my teeth.”
At the door, Grayson held it open, letting the others file in before him. Asher guided Lita inside with a hand on the small of her back, and Caden darted ahead, already on the hunt for snacks.
