Page 46 of Married to the Wolf

“Wasn’t Alex saying earlier it was too much energy for Sebastian to contact everyone?”

“There are ways to increase his strength.”

“What ways?”

“Enough! We need to get to him.”

“Look, I haven’t cracked anybody over the head since we got out here, and I’m itching for it. Don’t tempt me, Ava.”

Her Guard cast her a sour look, but she didn’t say any more.

“How is she your protector, mistress?” The man at Sophia’s side couldn’t scrape the ground anymore and kiss her butt any harder. “If I were a Guard, I wouldn’t let anyone near you.”

Maybe he could scrape lower. She stood corrected. “My name is Sophia. I’d appreciate you not calling me mistress.”

“Of course.” He grinned, and she noted the big horse teeth. Other than his oversized smile he was handsome from what she could see in the dim lighting. He was as big as Sebastian’s Guard, and he had a certain presence. If only he weren’t a brown-nose.

They moved into the trees and strode a short ways. A path soon opened, and Sophia caught her breath. This was where most of the shifters were, in a circle, some in human form and some in animal. When her group approached, those closest turned and seemed to recognize her. The crowd parted, and she walked on. In the center of the group was her husband.

Sophia tossed the bat aside and ran to him. She didn’t care who looked on as she threw herself into his embrace. Sebastian’s arms came up, and he crushed her to him.

“You shouldn’t be out here.” He leaned back and cupped her nape to bring her in for a kiss. She surrendered every inch of her being to him. By the time he raised his head and released her lips, relief and joy flooded her system. That didn’t stop a tear from escaping the corner of her eye. Hurt rippled in Sebastian’s expression, and he stroked her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone said you were in trouble, in danger of dying. I tried my best to hold it together until I saw you. Oh my God, Sebastian, I never knew how much I love you until I thought I wouldn’t see you again.”

“Baby, I love you more than you can imagine. Nothing happened to me, and I’m not going anywhere. Come on. We’re going back to the house.”

She let him lead her the way she came, but she took in what she could of their surroundings. His Guard were close as usual, but Alex and Michael looked spent. She didn’t blame them after almost a full day of fighting. Regardless, their faces stood out against the pale moonlight as though their blood were drained away. Hell, she would have thought they were vampires if she didn’t know better. She knew they were tireder than anyone else when Diana and Darla moved up to them to be a shoulder to lean on. Alex, being the proudest man she’d ever met, resisted at first, but when he stumbled and almost fell flat on his face, he gave in to Diana’s assistance.

“What’s wrong with them?” Sophia asked Sebastian, nodding to his two closest men.

Sebastian didn’t answer, but she had the feeling he felt shame and wondered why. Surely he didn’t think he should have had their back more during the fight. Even as a newcomer, she knew the enemy shifters would have been gunning for the alpha. To think he should have protected his Guard more was preposterous.

They arrived back at the mansion, and Sophia was surprised that the house flooded with people. Every available spot was taken from the formal room to the hall to the living room. They spread out everywhere, even taking to camping on the steps leading to the second floor.

“I don’t think we have enough bedrooms for this many people,” Sophia muttered.

“They’re not staying,” Sebastian said. “I’m just doing some restructuring.”

She listened in fascination as he outlined how things would be going forward. “Normally the alpha whose pack wins the fight absorbs all the wolves from the other packs into his own. I’m not going to do that. You guys will still lead your own people, but you will answer to me.”

There were agreements all around. Sophia couldn’t believe how they changed their tunes so quickly. Just from a fight? They were certainly different.

“I’m going to visit each of you in the coming weeks to check over your lands and learn how you live and work. We can talk in detail then about the future. Thank you for following me.”

Sebastian dismissed them. Every person and wolf bowed their heads with respect and then filed out of the house. Sophia was left in awe and confusion. She turned to Sebastian when the door shut behind the last person. “You want to tell me what just happened? Correct me if I’m wrong but just a few hours ago I had some serious enemies. Why does it look like all their attitudes have changed?”

Sebastian took her into his arms and kissed her then walked her toward the stairs. She followed him up to their bedroom, and they shut the door against the whole rest of the world. She didn’t protest when he invited her to climb into the bed with him after a refreshing shower to wash off the day’s battle. She curled into his side, and Sebastian’s gaze heated up. He seemed to forget her question upon seeing her naked breasts.

“Sebastian? Hello?”

“I need to be inside you.”

“You have to be tired.”

“Energetic actually.” He leaned down and bit her thigh gently. She screeched and laughed before smacking his arm.

“How can you be anything but dog tired after this day?”

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