Page 71 of The Wolf's Kidnapped Mate

Oh, hearing Fred call me that sent goosebumps just about everywhere. It made me feel so good to hear that.

But I wasn’t sure if the risk was worth the reward at this point.

“What do you think of him?” I asked. “Like, if I were to date him?”

Liam grinned. “I think he’d make you happy. Hasn’t he already?”

“I guess so.”

“You can’t tell me you don’t like it when he takes you out to town.”

I laughed. “He’s only done it twice—and one of those times was kind of a huge setup.”

“Okay, you got me there.”

“I don’t know, Liam. I guess I’m just scared.”

He nodded. “You told me that this morning.”

I covered my lips with the tips of my fingers. “I thought you were sleeping when I said all that stuff.”

“I hated that you didn’t say anything while I was awake. I mean, you mentioned seeing him maybe, but you really avoided the subject.”

“You kind of yelled at him.”

He scrubbed the back of his head, wincing at what was probably a sore spot back there from his scuffle with those wolves. “Yeah, I’m sorry for that too. I’m just…”

I took his hand again, threading my fingers with his. “I know. You’re my big brother. You want to protect me.”

“Am I doing a good job?”

“I don’t think it’s your job anymore, Liam.”

His throat contracted as he swallowed, and his jaw clenched up. Even though he looked like he might cry, he didn’t. He almost never did in front of anybody. “You might be right about that. But you won’t know until you go talk to him again.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, right this second.” He rolled his eyes. “Go home, soldier. Get some rest. Come see me tomorrow so we can talk to the alphas.”

I smiled brightly. “You want to stay here?”

“Is that a problem?”

I threw my arms around him and hugged him hard.

Nope. That wasn’t a problem at all. I couldn’t think of a better welcome-home present than my brother joining my pack.

Chapter 23 - Fred

I walked the four aisles of plants wearing a rubber apron as I hauled a giant hose behind me. It had taken a few days to get back into the groove of things. Kylie stopped by the greenhouse every day to visit Oscar and talk to the whispering palms. She reapplied for the caretaking position, though it technically didn’t exist anymore.

Any excuse to get her to keep coming back.

This morning wasn’t particularly hot or busy, but the temperature here was usually pretty humid, so I was sweating a bit. I kept patting my right pocket, checking for the ring I’d bought behind Kylie’s back. I had rushed right back to Eassie’s shop after dropping Kylie off and hid it in my back pocket every time she came in.

And every time she came in, I chickened out on giving it to her.

Water dripped down my wrists and slicked my elbows. I switched hands to hold the hose, reaching up high to mist down over the lilies I was growing for the community center. Regular lilies for kind shifters—or shifters who Kylie considered kind.

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