Page 37 of The Alpha's Silent Mate

His words, or maybe it’s the heat in his eyes—the promise in them—chase me across the room and to a place I can hide, for at least five minutes. The thoughts follow.

10

“And you’re sure no one will see me?” I ask with my gaze on the steamy bath.

“Oh, you’ll definitely attract attention,” Shay murmurs from beside me.

I turn to him with a frown. “Then no, I don’t think—”

His lips twitch. “Attention of the bird persuasion.”

I stare at him. “Birds?”

He wraps an arm around my waist and hauls me closer. “Birds. We are in a treehouse, after all.”

“You have a hidden sense of humor as well, don’t you?”

“Just a touch, maybe. Ewan would disagree.”

And just like that, my playful mood evaporates and my smile fades. “Do you think they’re all right?”

“I think they’re fine.” Shay buries a kiss in my hair. “Ewan knows the strengths of everyone in the pack, and they will follow his lead while I’m not there. They will be fine, and you will be safer here and not there.”

“You haven’t asked me why they want me,” I whisper against his chest.

Since Daniel left after hunting a rabbit for us, all Shay’s focus has been on keeping me fed and comfortable. He could’ve asked me when we first got to the treehouse, but he didn’t. There’s been no question or even the hint of one.

This morning, after I woke to a breakfast of the leftover stew Shay made the night before, I sat through the meal waiting for him to ask because it’s important.

His pack is fighting a battle they don’t have to. Because of me.

As alpha, he should want to know why.

“I don’t ask because it’s not important.”

I peel my face from his chest and stare up at him in disbelief. “It’s not?”

His expression is serious but firm. “What matters is they threaten the pack and they threaten my mate. The reason doesn’t matter. They will die for it. Ewan and the others know that.”

“But they don’t know me.”

“You’re my mate, and Luna, which makes you pack. That’s all they need to know.” His gaze dips to the bath. “Water’s getting cold.”

I stiffen my spine. “I think you should get in first.”

A frown creases his brow. “Pup, I prepared it for you. A soak in the bath will make you feel good, and you know that’s the biggest part of my job.”

“What are the other parts?” I ask, knowing full well it’s another attempt to distract me from everything that could be happening back in the courtyard.

“Making you laugh ranks pretty highly,” he murmurs, “and creating opportunities for you to kiss me is always a priority.”

My gaze dips to his mouth. “I like that last one.”

“You do?” he asks, his voice husky. “Funny you should say that because that one is a favorite.”

He leans toward me, but before his lips touch mine, he stops and pulls back with a reluctant sigh. “But bath first. I think Ewan left some clothes here,” he turns to walk away, “I’ll hunt them out while you—”

I close my hand around his wrist. “Wait. It’s a big bath. We can share.”

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