Page 59 of In Your Eyes
“Come in.”
She opened the door and entered the room.
“How is he?” I asked as I stood up from behind the desk.
“He’s fine. He’ll have that goose egg on his head for a while. It looks bad and I’m sure it hurts, but it’s not serious. And he didn’t sustain any other injuries.”
Sighing in relief, I rubbed my palms over my face. “Thank you for coming right away. I know it’s late and he told me he was fine, but I wanted to be sure.”
“It wasn’t a problem. I’m the pack healer—it’s my job to ensure the health of our members. Please don’t ever hesitate to contact me when there’s a need.”
I stepped around the desk and headed toward the door, eager to return to Korban’s side, where I belonged. When I realized she hadn’t moved, I paused and said, “Is there something else?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Well, yes.” She nodded. “I, uh, want to congratulate you on your mating. Even through his injuries, I could sense your mate’s strength, and you seem more settled and grounded.”
Joy was several years older than me, but I’d been around her often growing up because her father George had been one my father’s closest friends. When Joy had come of age and announced she wanted to become a healer, something no female in our pack had done, George had sought guidance from my father. Always one to move forward rather than cling to archaic traditions, my father had sent her to train for the job, and when the previous healer retired, Joy had stepped in.
“Thank you,” I said. “He makes me….” I tried to think of the right description. “I’m better with him.”
She remained in place, so though I itched to get back to Korban, I waited, understanding she had more to say.
“He’s male and you’re male.” She licked her lips nervously.
My hackles went up at the thought that she might question the veracity of my mating.
“So does that mean other pack members can do it too?”
Her tone wasn’t confrontational or accusatory, which calmed my nerves, but I didn’t understand what she meant. “Do what?”
Clearing her throat, she fixed her gaze on my chest rather than my eyes. “Are other pack members allowed to take mates of the same sex, or is that only because you’re Alpha?”
“Oh.” I blinked rapidly, processing what she’d asked. “The rules don’t limit who a shifter can choose as a mate,” I said. “Mating decisions are left to individual discretion.”
“But the pack lore says females have to tie with males and—”
“The lore isn’t the law, and besides, it’s wrong.” I pointed to myself. “I’m proof it’s wrong.”
“So you won’t enforce it?”
“Enforce what?”
“The pack lore. Will you allow other pack members to choose whoever they want as a mate?”
The question angered me, not because she was asking it, but because she felt she had to. “My job as Alpha is to support the members so we can all work together to better our pack. Mating decisions are between the mates and nobody else, not even the Alpha.”
“So if I want to mate with a female….” She arched her eyebrows in question as her words trailed off.
“Support the members to better the pack,” I repeated. “If two females want to mate, I will support them. Having freedom to control our most personal decisions strengthens us. A pack is only as strong as its weakest member, so strong shifters make a strong pack.”
Smiling gratefully, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you, Alpha.”
Rather than feeling the urge to pull away, I returned the hug, warmed that my pack member trusted me with her question and her person. “You’re welcome.”
“KORBAN?” Icalled out as I stepped into the bedroom.
“I’m here.” He walked out of the bathroom, surrounded by billowy steam. “I needed to clean up before getting into bed.”
He was a vision from a fantasy come to life: moonlight reflecting off alabaster skin, lanky muscles working as he walked, navy eyes full of affection, and that smile.
