Page 68 of A True Mate Bond

Seth nudged his head toward Blake. ‘This is Blake, my brother.’

Blake could feel their confusion and their wolfs’ conflict. Wolves didn’t do well with a confusing hierarchy and Blake being Seth’s brother was abnormal to them. Their wolves disliked it. They didn’t know to whom they should pay their respects.

Blake stepped in before Seth could explain further. ‘Seth is the eldest so he will be your future alpha. He is to be respected as such and not to be questioned.’Blake wasn’t as good at hiding his emotions as Seth was and he was sure everyone could feel the pain that his words caused him.

The new wolves slightly bowed their heads toward Seth, though their wolves were still confused. Seth stepped forward and sniffed each wolf, walking around them and inspecting them. While Seth was doing so, Blake inhaled the air around him and recognized the scent from the morning before. The wolf that had passed so closely by his home was there.

A weight was lifted off his shoulders and Blake’s heart felt lighter. Niev was right. One of the wolves must have passed by on a run or on his way to Selene’s tree. He watched and listened to Kai as he instructed the wolves to come see him in two days so he could take them around the territory and show them the borders.

After everything was settled, they closed their minds and left, leaving Seth, Bear, and Kai with him on the clearing. Kai looked at Blake, his head slightly tilted. ‘Were you able to recognize the scent you smelled yesterday?’

‘I did. It was Julius.’

Kai seemed relieved, as did Seth. Bear was, as usual, calm and content. Blake stretched his muscles, gave them a nod, and headed back home. He wanted to see Niev before heading to work, partially to update her. Even though she hadn’t seemed worried about his discovery, he wanted her to know for sure that she didn’t have anything to worry about.

It only took him a few minutes to arrive home. As he approached, he smelled bacon and eggs and peeking through the window he saw Niev smile at him. He watched as she quickly came out of the house and ran toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his fur and started scratching his ears. He couldn’t help but hum and laid down in front of her.

“I didn’t think I would see you until later tonight. Tristan already left so I’m just waiting for Olivia to come over for breakfast. Would you like me to pack you something for work?”

He nodded and she quickly walked inside only to return a few moments later with a packed lunch for him. He sniffed the bag and his tail started wagging at the smell of bacon.

“Such a sweet wolf you are.” She giggled and kissed his nose.

He grinned, stretched to his full size, and stepped away from her. He quickly shifted and pulled her straight into a hug as soon as his bare feet touched the ground.

“You look beautiful this morning.”

She bit her lip as her gaze fell on his naked chest. “And you’re breathtaking.”

He chuckled. “I just came to tell you that the wolf I scented yesterday was Julius. I met him and the other wolves this morning together with Seth, Bear, and Kai.”

“See? I told you there is nothing to worry about.”

He took a loose strand of her hair into his fingers and began to twist it. “You were right. I’ve just been so protective over you that I got worried.”

“Didn’t Seth say that’s normal?”

He nodded and she continued as her cheeks blushed.

“I like your protectiveness over us.”

He bent down and kissed her. “And I like that you like it. I’ll be back later tonight. If Father approves, Tristan and I will start work on their home right away.”

“Olivia will like that. And I like even more that they have found each other. They are cute together.”

“I do too. She seems very comfortable around him and I’m sure he can help her process what she had to live through with Chayed.”

She got on her tiptoes and pulled him down by his neck, her lips lovingly pressing to his. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and intensified the kiss, needing her lips, unable to get enough of her vanilla taste. To his regret, she was the one who ended the kiss far too early.

“Now go before you’re late for work.” She watched with hungry eyes as he stepped back, and he couldn’t help but grin.

She never failed to make him feel wanted, and that made her so unique and lovable. He let his wolf take control.

Niev handed him the lunch bag and he carefully took it out of her hands with his canines.

She leaned forward and kissed his nose again. “I love you.”

He lovingly nudged her and ran into the woods.

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