Page 62 of Wolf Heart

CHAPTER17

JUNIPER

We fall asleep in each other’s arms. Mine, Aspen, and Dex’s legs are intertwined. I should be completely content, yet I lay in the dark and worry about Raven. It's been hours and he's still not back. I bite my lip, debating to wake Aspen and Dex to set out and look for him. Except I already know they'll say it's too dangerous at night. I stifle a yawn and can't keep my eyes open. I tell myself that I'm worried for nothing and Raven will probably sneak back later tonight.

The morning sun peeks through clouds and I groan as all I want to do is stay here in these two gorgeous men’s embraces. But my wolf is whining for Michael and there’s a heaviness pressing in on my chest as much as I don't want the asshole. Why can't my wolf listen to reason? Then Aspen's words about them being cursed never to love and I tell myself this is just sex, nothing more. How fate has fucked me over so many times, I should be used to the pain.

Dex pulls away first, then stands and offers his hand to me.

I take it with Aspen pulling out leaves from his blond hair. “That was amazing.” He gives me a smile that has my heart racing.

Heat crawls up my chest to my face at being with them again. Of what we did together the three of us. But I want more. Maybe I’m selfish and shouldn’t wish for more than I have already, except I can’t help it.

“Where’s Raven?” I glance around and my stomach clenches that something must have happened to him.

“If he’s not back in a few hours, we’ll go hunt for him.” Dex rubs his shoulder, shaking his arm out like he’s trying to get blood back in the limb. “Probably had to hold up somewhere during the night.”

I brush my hair off my forehead, resisting the urge to leave now to search for him. I can’t stand to think of him hurt because of me. Because he was trying to escort me to the witches and help me find my mom.

My stomach knots and I wrap my arms around myself.

“How about I grab us something for breakfast?”

“Please, not fish.” I make a face. “Not this early.”

Aspen laughs. “We’ll take some fish for another meal then after Raven rejoins us.” He shifts into his wolf form and I gasp at how big and powerful he looks. His white coat gleams in the sunlight.

With a joyful yip, Aspen bounds away from us to the forest. Dex strides to the lake and dives in.

“The water’s amazing,” he winks.

A cool dunk in the water sounds awesome and I tiptoe across the grassy shore. The water laps around my legs as I wade out to him.

“Do you really think Raven is all right?” I ask, biting my lip and treading water when I reach him.

“I’ve seen Raven get out of worse scrapes.” Dex tucks my hair off my shoulder.

"Are you sure?" I look over to the forest outlining the far side of the lake.

He chuckles and strokes my cheek, bringing my attention back to him. "He probably ran into your pack bastards or lost ones and took them on a chase."

"Why would Raven do that?" I tense, pulling back slightly, the water undulating between us. "That sounds reckless.”

"Nah." He sweeps a hand through his auburn hair and frowns at me. "What would be stupid and dangerous would be leading either of those fuckers here. There's too much at stake."

“What do you mean?” I frown, feeling like there’s something more to his words.

He shakes his head. “Ever caught a fish with your hands before?”

“You’re serious?” I balk. “It’s even harder as a human to catch fish.” Slippery suckers that even dodged a net I made once.

“Nah. Just takes lots of patience.” His voice sends goosebumps across my flesh 'cause I suddenly don’t think he’s talking about fish anymore.

“Did your pack teach you how to fish then?” Maybe they knew some tricks and I wanted to get back on track about fishing than how he was making me hot staring at me with hungry eyes that had liquid heat warming low in my belly.

A pained expression flashed in his green eyes and his mouth pressed into a thin, white line, making the few freckles on his cheeks lighten. “My pack didn’t teach me shit.”

“Why?” He was able to shift into his wolf, I’d seen him. And he wasn’t a half-breed like me as far as I knew.

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