Page 32 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
“Don’t be so negative now, Gordon.Be positive, be downright optimistic for the good of your pack.”
“Fine, whatever.Be a grandfather to the pack.Mil’s going to be fine if we don’t abandon her, that’s what you’re saying, right?”
“Sweet Gordon.Yes, that’s how caring for another works.And you are going to be fine too.You know that, right?”
“Iamfine,” Gordon said, but stupidly, annoyingly, he was tearing up again.
“Yes, yes.What should we chat about now, hmm?How’s the morgue?”
There were noises from the hallway again.“New interns, barely broke them in.Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to go.And thank you.”
“Anytime, Gordon.Take care.”
Gordon hung up the phone and wiped his eyes.He felt so silly, not that he was crying again, but he could just feel Adler approaching, knew his mate was on his way to him.
When Adler opened the door to the living room, there was just nothing Gordon could do to keep the tears inside.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m right here.”
Gordon found himself in his mate’s arms, held tightly.Loved.Protected.Home.
Chapter 17
Adlerwasupsetinthe way only a werewolf could be.His wolf side hated to see his mate suffer and cry, hated that there seemed nothing he was able to do about it, no comfort he could give that would make it better.
It was the connection that flowed through their mate bite that let Adler make sense of it and calm his wolf.He’s confused.Not sad or hurt.It’s like a healing pain, and he can’t make sense of it himself.
Casually, as Gordon easily came to sit on his lap when he pulled him to the armchair with him, Adler noticed the stronger connection through the mate bite.Before, he’d been able to feel Gordon’s emotions only when shifted, and even then he’d worried what Gordon would think about that.Now, he sensed at least some of Gordon’s emotions in his human form.
He wouldn’t mind if he were a wolf.He’d welcome it.But he’s not.He will learn though.I’ll show him that he won’t have to be afraid when he gifts me his trust.
“Sweetheart, it’s fine.You are no longer packless.I’m right here, Gordon.Shh.”
Gordon was half curled up on Adler’s lap and pressed so close against him that roses were all Adler could smell.Roses and a subtle shift as Gordon calmed down.
When his mate smelled of desire, his scent of roses blended with caramel and cream.Adler loved it, loved exploring the parts of Gordon’s body where it was strongest, but before anything else, the wolf needed confirmation that his mate was all right.
When Gordon’s tears had subsided to the merest of sobs, Adler stroked his mate’s blue and white-tipped hair.“Do you want to talk?”
In Adler’s arms, Gordon shook his head.“Nah,” he said, voice still a little rough from crying.“I swear I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.”
The wolf didn’t like that at all.Adler could feel the much simpler reasoning, the outrage at the idea that his mate was anything other than perfect.But Adler was not an alpha’s beta for nothing.
“You just had a cry.That doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you.It means you are compassionate and beautiful and don’t hide from your own feelings.”
Gordon made an undignified sound.“You’re a lovestruck werewolf.No one should trust your assessment.”
Adler cupped Gordon’s neck, hating that his mate was hiding his face, loving that he was burying it against Adler’s chest.“Are you saying I don’t know what I’m talking about, sweetheart?You don’t want to do that, especially not when you know I’m right.”
Gordon said nothing, letting only a weak huff of laughter escape.He rested against Adler.The wolf loved it, his mate seeking to be close and comforted, and those silent minutes they shared with each other went a long way toward calming that side of Adler.
After Gordon’s tears had fully dried, and he was so much calmer, that caramel and cream scent was still there.I’ll make him feel so good.I’ll make him feel loved, if he wants it.
“Gordon,” Adler said.He ran his fingers through Gordon’s hair.“We should go to bed.You smell as if you want to do more than sleep.Do you?”
Gordon wiggled on Adler’s lap in the most seductive fashion, but then, he lifted his head, met Adler’s eyes.
It was through sheer force of will that Adler didn’t pounce then and there, the sight of his mate’s red and slightly swollen eyes, of that vulnerable expression on his face, almost more than the wolf could easily bear.
