Page 111 of In the Mouth of the Wolf

We looked up to where she stood by the railing upstairs, both her and Cam wrapped up in towels. “I agreed to meet with any potential new pack mates, and I meant it. I didn’t get the best impression of Julian today, but then again, I didn’t like half of you when I first met you all, either. Cam invited him for dinner tomorrow night, and I expect you all to give him a fair chance, myself included. Got it?”

Her orders weren’t dominating like an alpha’s would be, but I bristled all the same. Elias mumbled his agreement to her terms as I shored myself up and smiled through my fury. “But you likedmeat first, right, sugar?”

She held her hand horizontally above her head. “First impression ratings – Archer.” Her hand lowered slightly. “Nolan.” Her hand dipped about twice as far down. “Elias.” And then she brought her hand down to her knees. “And all the way down here is…”

Cam snapped at her playfully and grabbed her around the waist, dragging her to her nest while she cackled and screamed in delight.

First Elias had her today, and now Cam. I hated to admit it, but Archer was right. I didn’t know how I could handle sharing her with another pack mate. These three assholes were already more than enough, and dividing up Marlowe’s attentions even further seemed unbearable.

Elias went to the fridge and grabbed a few beers, handing them to Archer and me. “How much do you want to bet this Julian guy is just like Cam?”

Archer rubbed his hand down his face and sighed. “Exactly. I’m kinda hoping they’ll have so much in common with each other they’ll just hang out by themselves and leave the rest of us alone.”

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, now considering that possibility. If the new alpha was actually dividing Cam’s attention rather than Marlowe’s, maybe he wouldn’t be so bad.

“Okay, I’ll give him a chance. But I have my Town Council meeting tomorrow night, so I’ll be a little late, and someone else will have to cook.”

55

ELIAS

“Mmm, that smells amazing. I thought Nolan was at his meeting?”

Marlowe came into the kitchen just as I was putting the pork chops into the oven. She looked so cute in her baggy jeans and sweater, I wanted to rip them off and lock us up in her nest, pleasuring her with my tongue until she forgot all about the possible new pack mate.

I knew where Cam and Archer were coming from, but I was probably the least “alpha shifter” out of the pack. I’d moved the farthest away. I hardly visited. And while I could live with sharing Marlowe, if given the option to have her just to myself, I would take it in a heartbeat.

But I couldn’t do that to her. Now that we were all fully bonded, I felt the depth of her love for everyone. I just needed to learn how to adjust my expectations for her time.

“He is.I’mcooking.” She gave me a blank look, and I rolled my eyes. “Just because he likes to cook doesn’t mean he’s the only one who can.”

Marlowe continued to look at me.

“I lived alone for years, you know. I can follow a recipe,” I huffed.

She blinked slowly, and I scrunched my face while reaching over and pinching her cheeks.

“Brat.”

She laughed, wrenching out of my light grip and tying up her hair. “Okay, Chef, do you need any help?”

Something stirred in my gut, and I suppressed the purr building in my chest.

Just because I had chosen to live the farthest away didn’t mean I hadn’t been lonely.

Betas could easily slip in and out of human society, but with male alphas’ “unique” anatomy, we couldn’t really date anyone who wasn’t a shifter. And I’d never met another alpha or beta female who really excited me the way Marlowe did.

For years, the prospect of returning to a cold, empty home every night had driven me to work harder and later than everyone else in my firm. Sure, it had made me successful, but all I had really wanted was this – someone to come home to, someone to cook meals with, someone I didn’t have to lie to or hide from.

I’d started making plans to move back to Maiingan Hollow and to work more permanently from my Eau Claire office, but I’d still need to go to Chicago every couple of months or so. Taking Marlowe with me on one of my trips would help me quell some of these lingering instincts to hoard her time, even for just a few days.

And I had a feeling she would enjoy it as well. Like me, Marlowe preferred big cities, and would likely relish the chance to get out of this small town for a breather every once in a while.

Clearing my throat, I handed her the vegetable peeler. “Sure, if you can take care of the potatoes that would be great.”

She connected her phone to Nolan’s speaker and turned on some reggaeton, then washed her hands as she got started, slightly swaying and twirling her hips while she worked.

I ignored the broccoli and came up behind her, putting my hands around her waist and kissing her neck.

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