Page 24 of Catnip

Nods all around. Coveney frowned. He’d seen their lingering glances, of course, especially Rye’s. He’d just assumed they were disappointed in some way, notworried.

“I’m not the suicidalkind.”

“No, but you weren’t living either. Then, all of a sudden, you woke up from the funk. One day with a chick,justone day, and you’re like a lovesick puppy. You talk. You smile. You joke. You’re basically as crazy as Ace when someone gets the catnipout.”

“I resemble that,” the Alpha female commented with asigh.

Coveney smiled. Ace really was embarrassing around catniptoys.

“See? Doing the smiling thing again. What I wanted to say, what weallwanted to say, is that we’re not letting you throw that away out ofduty.”

He had to do his best to prevent himself from laughing. So, that’s what they’d wanted to say? He shook hishead.

Everyone glared at him, as if daring him to contradict them, except Daunte, who was too busy stealing some pizza from his mate’splate.

“And you?” he asked the Beta pair. “You’ve also come topreach?”

Daunte shrugged, absolutely shameless. “Nah. I was in when Rye said pizza. Plus, I would have punched that damn wolf if we’d stayedlonger.”

“You found the Scion woman yummy, I think his immortal sexiness is dreamy,” Clari replied, slapping his hand away from her last slice. “Mine.”

Coveney rolled his eyes, before getting up. “If that’s all, you wouldn’t mind if I head back ahead of youguys?”

“Wait, we’re not donediscussing…”

“What? Me letting my fated mate get away?” he lifted a brow as half of the table gaped at him. “I owe you guys, I really do. But that was never going to happen. Now, I need to get back to her. Especially given the fact that she’s with… his immortalsexiness.”

He grimaced, guessing the jerk would probably love theappellation.

“Coveney,” Rye called him back. “She might really need toleave.”

He noddedstiffly.

“If… when you go, know that there’s always a place for you back with us. Both ofyou.”

He smirked and said, “Hadn’t doubted it,” before shifting and running back towards Lakesides at fullspeed.

It was the first time he’d let his tiger out since the previous day, which seemed like a million years ago. The animal had always been focused and powerful, but he didn’t think he’d ever run at that speed; he barely touched the ground, pushing his massive frame forward harder, faster, each time he leaped. At long last, he was in front of the pride house. He didn’t bother shifting back, bumping his head on the front door until someone came to open it. The wolf girl. Vivicia, Coveney thought, but his tiger ignored her and kept on going until he finally foundher.

Mate.

He pushed his head onto her lap and tilted it; she immediately took the hint and ran her fingers through his white fur, making him groan inpleasure.

Coveney hadn’t lied; he didn’t touch people, not even his pride mates, and his tiger was even worse. Right now, he couldn’t comprehend what he’d had against it. His large paws covered her arms, making sure to keep her in place because if she stopped scratching him, he might justdie.

Catnip indeed. Rye had nailedit.

“Hey, Coveney,” she said, smiling down at him like he was the best thing she’d everseen.

A second ago, the tiger had been so fond of her touch he was all but ready to overthrow his human self and become feral if it meant he could just carry on being touched by their mate. But when she said his name he immediately shifted, needing to be able to talk to her, too. Plus, the tiger readily admitted that he needed hands to remove all those bothersome clothes she wore over her soft skin. His claws wouldn’t do thetrick.

Shifting back faster than he ever had in the past, Coveney gathered her in his arms, and started to walk away, ignoring everyone in theroom.

“What are you- where are you takingme…”

“Everywhere. I’ll take youeverywhere.”

He completely ignored Knox, who sighed dramatically, telling Vivicia, “Am I the only one who may justvomit?”

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