Page 32 of Those That Are Lost
Stepping back, he inspects the already closed area.
“Thank you.” I say as my body heats from the rush.
“You’re welcome, neat job.” He gives me a nodding smile as he shows me his wrist. His mate steps up behind him, wrapping him in a hug from behind. I can feel the surge of protectiveness rolling off Raff.
“All okay?” he asks in a quiet voice, but not low enough for me not to pick up on it.
“I’m fine, as you knew I would be,” Kai chuckles. He turns, placing a kiss on his partner's cheek.
Raff gives him a curious few sniffs before he’s satisfied, laying his own lips on Kai’s neck.
I turn away from the intimate moment, something clicking in my brain. Did Ty not want me biting an unmated male? Was he jealous?
I look to him to see him finish drinking from Rawson, who immediately leaps up and starts yipping—not literally as he isn’t in wolf form—to his twin, showing her his wrist. There’s nothing to see but he still stares at it in awe. He’s acting like this is the most exciting thing he’s ever done. A smile finds its way back onto my face as I watch him with fascination.
The twins soon bound off, shouting something about their classmates being outside and wanting to share Rawson’s experience.
“I apologise for my son, he’s exuberant abouteverything. Thankfully, he has his sister to keep him in check.” Theodora stands, shaking her head.
“He’s fine. It's been a long time since I’ve been offered blood with any enthusiasm,” Ty tells her. “That all stopped with the end of the war.” There’s a beat of knowing silence from several people in the room. One I can’t comprehend but feel the emotional impact of anyway. “I may have laced that bite with a very tiniest bit of venom by the way, so Rawson might feel a little high for a while,” Ty deadpans.
Both shifter Alphas give Ty the same look, telling him he shouldn’t have done that but from their postures I don’t think they’re actually angry with him. It’s more exacerbated, which I’m sure they’ve both felt many times whilst raising all these wolves. I can imagine the pranks they pulled on each other.
“Great, he’ll probably demand you bite him every damn day that you’re here now,” Ash whines as Henry’s finishes drinking too.
Ty just laughs.
“Come on, let's go outside and enjoy the evening.” Eetu ushers us out into the night.
CHAPTER 16
TY
Ifind a seat by the giant fire the wolves had started. Everyone has gathered in an empty part of the clearing outside the main lodge we were staying in. There’s about a dozen others from the wider pack who have joined the festivities too. Some introduce themselves, others give a small nod or look but don’t come over to investigate the visitors.
Theodora’s pack wasn’t the original one to settle here. The tundra wolves opened their lands during the war to those in West Scotia, and a few others where the fighting was the most intense. The alphas from each joined forces to form a council of sorts and managed to declare themselves independent, negotiating the treaty with the Fae leaders in Scotia. How they achieved it, I have no idea. It always seemed like a punishment in some ways, that they’re trapped up here and can never leave without risking execution but as I look around, I see it for what it is. A haven.
I wish the vampires had been offered the same kind of deal.
Red and Henry mingle, both seem to have gotten over their initial wariness and are chatting animatedlywith the pack. Red’s even accepted a mule of their hot cider. She gasps in awe as the lights overhead dance across the sky in flashes of bright pinks and greens.
“She loves you, you know.” Eetu takes a seat next to me on a log bench, his gaze following mine to the stunning creature with dancing red waves.
“She used to. I’m not so sure anymore.” I sigh.
“She does. She’s scared, but she’ll be yours soon enough.”
I don’t answer. Every particle of my being wants for that to be true. The ache for her is in every one of my bones, in every breath I take. I keep seeing flecks of the Red I knew back in Froan, but she’s still buried deep and I don’t know if Rory even wants that person back. Sometimes it's like my presence returns her to her pain. Sometimes I feel like I set her free of her cages. It’s confusing as fuck. But just in case the Red I knew is trying to come back to the surface, I’m going to remain here, holding the lifeline.
Eetu nudges me with his elbow to draw my attention back. “I saw the way you wouldn’t let Ash feed her tonight.”
“Yeah, well… I’ve not given up quite yet. I’m certainly not giving other males a free ride to swoop in. Rory can choose who she wants but until she tells me to fuck off entirely, I’m not about to let her feed off others that are unmated.” I grouch.
“You realise that’s not quite how it works right? She couldn’t bond to him just through feeding from him. Or do I need to give you the talk?”
“Yes, I know how it works. I’m not risking it. Vampires can bond to wolves through blood. I don’t know when he last jacked off.” I don’t bother concealing the growl in my voice.
“Thanks for that mental image of my son. I surely hope he wasn’t up to that when preparing our food tonight, or as we were all at the table.” The older male shudders beside me.
