Page 120 of Conner's Luna

Sarj sends a meme of Duck Dynasty stars holding an arsenal of weapons. Sean follows with a meme of the Road Runner racing away from bullets.

Smiling, I settle in as the boys get raunchier and raunchier, finally settling on a dick-pic where the penis has been replaced by a giant eggplant. It's the last thing I see before my eyes close.

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30 – Pilfering

Conner

"Please, Conner. I just need some more time," my female pleads. I can hear the tears in her voice through the damn phone.

I bite back my whimper and man the fuck up. Blowing out my breath, I rasp "Ok, baby. I'm giving you space already, right?" I pace restlessly, my eyes darting around my bedroom in our house off-campus. I fall into old habits, cataloging my things in a shallow attempt at thinking of anything other than my breaking heart.

Fuck's sake, Conner. Man. The. Fuck. Up. "How long, baby?" I ask her softly.

She pauses, then takes a deep breath. "Christmas is soon. Can we... can we maybe have a date then? A real date?"

I've never taken my girlfriend out on a date. I'm an ass. "Of course, honeygirl. I can take you anywhere you want. There's a vegan restaurant in Nan's Hill. You want to go?"

"Conner... maybe something more private?" she asks softly. I hear her sniffle and my eyes slide closed. My wolf is circling, circling, restless and confused. It'll be fine, I reassure him and myself. She's not breaking up with us. She just needs time to process everything.

"Yeah, baby. Anything," I repeat my earlier promise. "How about we go tomorrow?" I ask her.

Another pause makes me gnash my teeth together. "No. The day after Christmas," she says quietly.

"Two days," I bargain.

There's the slightest hint of humor in her voice when she says, "Two days is Christmas Eve, Conner."

"Let me take you out," I murmur. "It'll be a good time, just a few hours, honeygirl."

She's a little breathless when she responds, "OK, Christmas Eve." Then her voice drops, too. "I have to tell you things about my family, Conner."

Fuck. Damn it, what has my girl sounding so scared? Forget space. I'll head over there now and just cuddle her to me until she spills about anything and everything that is bothering her. Communication is important in every relationship, right?

The sharp tang of mating venom hits my tongue. My wolf barks madly, vibrating with the need to see our female.

I pause with my hand on the doorknob. I can't see Bailey right now. I need to get my shit together. If I see her right now I'll Mark her and be between her thighs before she can say 'hello.'

"All right, baby. Two days," I tell her. My heart sinks. I can't last for two days without her.

"I need that time, Conner. Please," she sounds sorrowful but determined. I don't stand a chance.

"Alright, love. I'll give you your space, but you can't leave the house without one of us with you. And I'll call you, text you," I start to ramble, but she gently cuts me off.

"I'm not ignoring you, Conner. I just need to think without any distractions."

"Alright, baby. Alright." I have to do this. We're hunting a group of killers. As much as I hate it, I can't do my job of protecting my pack and keep Bailey from doing something reckless again. Better that she cooperates and stay safe and if that means that I back off then fine. For now.

"I love you. Sarj will take you to work tonight, alright? Text me if you need anything, baby."

"I will. I... I love you too, Conner," she says.

I expect it to feel warm and so, so good, but there's a hesitation in her voice, a hint of uncertainty. She's afraid and it's driving me nuts.

My wolf flashes fang, venom dripping from his open maw. He's ready to pounce on our female. It's instinct to stake his Claim as quickly as possible. He can have a den made for her in one afternoon if I let him.

I knock him back down to earth. She's human. We move slowly for Bailey's sake.

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