Page 75 of Enemy Wolf

Tryn just shook his head. “Impossible,” he muttered.

They both stared at the horizon as if scrutinizing the stars for answers.

“Well, how about a drink?” I suggested. “Shiloh made the place all nice for the pack.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” Fallon clapped Tryn on the shoulder. “Come on. Maybe moon magic is just extra potent right now. If you still see your thread after tonight, worry about it then.”

Tryn grudgingly accepted, and the three of us headed inside through the back door. The bar was packed full of Howling Death wolves, raucous laughter and howling echoing throughout the building. Shiloh was thankfully not serving anyone but letting them help themselves. My mate was talking to Riley, who was perched on one of the barstools while Sawyer poured.

“Hey there, Mr. Freeze,” the enforcer greeted.

Ruse coughed up his beer laughing, but I just groaned and rolled my eyes as I walked past. It was a new nickname every day ever since I told them how I’d killed Mokir. Mr. Freeze was the most common, but there was also Ice Breath, Ice Ice Orson, and Elsa.

“Now that we’re all here.” Sawyer slid a beer over to me and lifted his own. I had just found my spot at Shiloh’s side when the enforcer raised his voice. “Riley and I have an announcement to make.”

Alright then, I thought as the pack fell into silence. The box in my back pocket could wait a little longer.

From the face-splitting grins on Riley and Sawyers’ faces and the intense love shining in their eyes, I had an idea of what the news would be.

“We’re having pups!” Sawyer cried at the top of his lungs.

“Well, one for now,” Riley corrected him gently.

“At least one!” he bellowed.

The room exploded into cheers, howls, applause, and toasting drinks. Shiloh wrapped Riley in a hug while Sawyer was hauled out from behind the bar for rough embraces and back slaps.

The beer kept flowing, and the party continued in celebration of the couple’s happy news. Eventually, I was able to pull my tipsy mate into a somewhat quiet corner. “I have a gift for you,” I said into her ear before kissing her mark again because I just couldn’t help myself.

“Gift? For me?” She stared up at me with dilated eyes.

“Who else?” I chuckled as I held out the box to her.

Shiloh hesitated before accepting it. I took a long pull of my beer to chase away the nerves, and her head immediately snapped up. “Why are you nervous?”

“I just…I dunno. Open it. If you don’t like it or it’s not appropriate, maybe spare my feelings and don’t tell me.”

She made a dismissive sound. “How could I not like a gift from you?”

“Because I’m still me.”

“And I love you no matter what, remember?”

“I love you too. Now open it before I have a stroke.”

With a laugh, she lifted the lid of the shallow box and gasped at what lay on the tissue paper inside. “Orson, is this…?”

“Yes,” I confirmed.

She lifted the delicate chain and stared at the polished dragon tooth strung on via a hole drilled through the top. I’d had to sneak away to visit the witch metalsmith in town to make my trophy a proper necklace for my mate.

“My wolf wanted to bring you his entire head,” I explained. “But even I know that’s a little overkill.”

“Just a little,” she laughed. “Orson, this is brutal and…perfect. I love it.”

The bubbling happiness and pride shining through the bond told me she wasn’t lying. She was proud of me for what I’d done. I had proven myself a protective, worthy mate after all.

“I’m glad you like it,” I said through a tight throat. “I wasn’t sure if you would.”

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