Page 61 of The Hunter's Heart

Mal was standing on the grass with Nila and Jack, and Mia and Lucian joined them after thanking the elders and alphas for their support. Nila hugged Mia. “I’m so happy for you both.”

“Thanks,” Mia said. “He was worth waiting for.”

Mal and Lucian hugged in that manly way, with hands clapping on backs loudly and masculine chuckles. “I’ll keep Mia safe while we’re out hunting,” Mal said.

“I trust you,” Lucian said. “And I’ll keep Jack and Nila safe.”

Mal nodded and walked Nila and Jack into the house. Sam, the theto and leader of the protectors, came over with Ren and shook Lucian’s hand.

“Welcome, man.”

Ren was looking into the woods, his brows drawn and his eyes flashing to the amber of his wolf.

“Is everything okay, Ren?” Mia asked.

He shook his head as if he were dislodging a thought, and said, “Yeah. I…feel like we’re being watched.”

Lucian’s eyes turned deep red and he spun with a growl, facing the woods. He straightened and relaxed, turning back. “It’s Kismet.”

“Who?” Ren asked.

Mia said, “Kismet is a fae. She gave the oath ceremony book to Acksel. Her twin is Noah, Doc’s brother-in-law.”

“Why didn’t she come to the ceremony?” Sam asked.

“Acksel invited her, but she said she had some kind of party to go to for her father. Maybe she was able to get away for a bit and watch, and didn’t want to make a scene,” Mia said.

Ren opened his mouth, closed it, and then said, “Welcome to the pack, Lucian.”

Then he walked straight for the woods, a growl rumbling in his chest.

“That was weird,” Sam said. “But then again, we’re shifters and weird things are pretty standard. Who are you hunting with tonight, Mia?”

“Mal and my cousins.”

“Have a good hunt.”

“Thanks, you too.”

“Ready?” Lucian asked.

She nodded. They walked to the side of the house, where the shadows would keep her hidden from anyone who might be watching. For shifters, nudity wasn’t a huge deal. She’d been getting naked in front of the pack since she was a teenager, and it had never bothered her. She liked that Lucian didn’t want her to be naked around other males, though.

“What do you hunt for?” he asked as she toed off her shoes and undid her jeans.

“Usually rabbits. There are deer, if you go deeper into the territory, and Acksel will go with Ren and Sam and some of the other high-ranked males, but Mal likes to stick close, so we just go for a run and see if we can find something tasty to chase.”

“I’ll be right here when you get finished,” he said, watching as she finished stripping and picked up her clothes and shoes. “We just have to stay until Acksel gets back, and then we can go home.”

He bent and captured her lips in a slow kiss that made her toes curl and her wolf whine. Suddenly shifting and hunting didn’t sound like nearly as much fun as seeing what other things Lucian could do with his tongue.

“If we don’t stop, you won’t get to hunt and I’ll screw up the first night of my new job.”

“I know,” she sighed. “You’re irresistible.”

“You are, too. Let me see you shift. I bet you’re beautiful.”

She exhaled and crouched, glancing up at her mate. “Love you.”

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