Dammit, they were softening me toward her. “Is that why you wanted to come out here and talk?” I’d hoped they had wanted to get to know me. Maybe it was all about Winter.
“Of course not.” Feng strolled to my other side. “We wanted some alone time with you. We have a lot of catching up to do, but you need to see things from Winter’s perspective. You’re all she ever talks about, and you not wanting to get close to her is killing her.”
“Okay.” They were making me feel bad. I had a feeling that was the point. “I get it. I’ll try to keep more of an open mind.”
“That’s all we’re asking.” Sherry placed a hand on my arm. “I knew you would be a smart, sensitive woman.”
Tyler had gone on and on about how women weren’t good leaders for that reason alone. Of course, when there was a woman he wanted to get close to, he kept those negative thoughts to himself. “Doesn’t that make me weak?”
“No, that makes the strongest women more dangerous.” Feng forced a shiver. “That means you can gain allies and never underestimate the underdog.”
I’d never heard anyone put it quite like that. “Are you saying Grams here wears the pants in the relationship?”
“Damn straight she does.” Feng looked lovingly at his wife. “She keeps my ass in line.”
“Somebody has to.” She lifted her head and looked at me. “This man would walk around naked without me. As soon as he gets in the house, his clothes come off. He’s embarrassed everyone here at least once with his nudist tendencies.”
“We’re shifters. We’re supposed to embrace it.” He gestured at me. “Tell her.”
I tried keeping a straight face while looking at the man who could be very intimidating if he wanted. “I’ve got to say I never want to see you naked.” That was something I would never get out of my head.
“See.” Sherry sounded so proud. “She’s on my side.”
Hey. Donovan linked with me. We’re done unloading, and the food’s almost ready. We’re here waiting on you three.
On it. I’d enjoyed my alone time with those two, but I was ready to get back to the others. “They want us back.”
“Yeah, Winter just linked with us,” Feng said as we all turned around. “Are you ready to head back?”
“I’m starving, so getting closer to steak sounds really great to me.” My stomach rumbled again, driving the point home. “See.”
“Yup, we sure do.” Sherry laughed.
I envied Sherry’s carefree attitude.
We spent the next little bit in silence until I realized there was one more thing I wanted to address before we got back. “Hey, can I ask one more question?”
“You’re free to ask us anything.” Sherry looped her arm through mine. “Just make sure you want the real answer.”
Now that was sound advice. “So Torak … I mean, Titan has a son, and she had me. Why didn’t they…” I didn’t even know how to finish that sentence.
“Titan had a chosen mate, but she died giving birth to Torak.” A frown marred her face. “He raised that sweet boy alone until Winter stumbled here. She fought the bond for a while, but fate always wins. She never wanted to have another child.”
“She said no one could ever replace you.” Feng mashed his lips into a line. “And we all respected that decision.”
I was the reason she didn’t have children with Titan. I didn’t know why, but I felt guilty. It wasn’t like I’d forced her into that decision, but maybe she loved me more than I realized. Now I wasn’t sure what my next steps should be.
“It’s okay to take your time.” Sherry patted my arm. “We just wanted a chance to talk to you and tell you the full story that I don’t even think Winter realizes, but we are here to support you too. You’ve had a lot thrown your way, and it’s not something we will ever take for granted.”
What would my life have been like with these amazing, supportive people in it from the very beginning? It seemed cruel that I hadn’t gotten to know them until now.
We stepped back into the clearing and found the group waiting on us. We all headed to dinner together.
Donovan opened the door to our bedroom, and we stumbled inside.
“That was a fun night.” He snagged my hand and pulled me toward the bed. “Your grandparents are crazy.”
“They are.” They’d had the table laughing all night, and the usual awkwardness around Titan and Winter hadn’t been there. “In the best way possible.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining.” A huge smile filled his face. “They were calling me grandson by the end of the night.”
“You are my fated mate.” I stared into his eyes, loving to see the happiness in them. It’d been a while. “So you’re their grandson too.”
“I should’ve known they’d be amazing.” He lowered his lips to mine. “Only truly great people could have made someone amazing like you.”
I broke into a peal of laughter and moved my head out of the way, dodging his kiss. I wasn’t trying to be an ass, but I couldn’t hold it back.
“What the hell?” he said gruffly. “What was that for?”
“That might have been the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said.” It was a good thing he was damn hot or things could’ve gone south between us with that line.
“Cheesy.” He huffed and grabbed me, pulling me back into his arms. He pressed his lips to mine, cutting off my laughter.
I closed my eyes and returned his kiss.
Is that cheesy? he growled and deepened the kiss.
My brain could barely think coherently. Nope, not at all.
He took my waist and hoisted me up against him.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and rubbed against him, needing friction. The need slammed into me like never before. My wolf was desperate for him.
His breathing grew ragged as he lowered me onto the bed. He snatched my hands and kept them firmly in place by my head. He then tore his lips from mine and kissed down my neck, nibbling and driving me damn near insane.
I needed him, and my wolf surged forward, wanting to claim him.
Within a second, his teeth nipped at my neck, desperate for the same thing.
Can I? he rasped in my mind and pulled back, scanning my face. He fought for control, not wanting his wolf to take over until he got permission.
I raised my head so I could look him in the eye. I wanted him to know I felt the exact same way. Yes, please.
Thank God. He lowered his face to my neck and slipped his hand inside my jeans.
I heard his mouth open and felt his breath on my neck. My heart pounded, waiting for this to finally happen.
Then the room began to spin, and I grew dizzy. My head lobbed to the side.
They were here.
Chapter Seventeen
Donovan removed his hands from my pants and lifted himself onto his elbow. “What’s wrong?”
I hated to ruin our moment, but it wasn’t like I could control this. My stomach roiled, and the room spun faster. The fae. They’re here.
He tensed and scanned the room. What do you mean, here?
It wasn’t an exact science. Hell if I know. From what I’d gathered, I could feel it when they transported nearby. I couldn’t pinpoint their location. Roxy. Axel. We have a problem.
Axel sounded annoyed. Dude, do you need another condom? You need to buy in bulk.
Apparently, Roxy and Axel were in the middle of something themselves. Hopefully, we’d stopped them before they’d gotten too far along.
No, dipshit, Donovan growled. It’s not time for jokes. The fae are here.
Shit. Roxy linked. What do we do?
The only thing we could. Get ready to fight. All the iron was over at Titan’s. This wasn’t ideal. I’ll get Egan and the others while you three get it together. I forced myself to sit up and blinked to focus my eyes. Last time, I’d pushed through it, so there had to be a way this time too.
I stepped toward the door, but Donovan grabbed my arm, stopping me. He said, “Let me get Cassius and the others. You get Egan. Baby steps until you get your bearings again.”
It pissed me off that I had to be slow and steady, but he was right. Adrenaline rushed inside me, clearing whatever fog the fae had caused. “We’ll meet you in the kitchen.” For all I knew, the fae could attack the house at any moment.
He opened the door and took off toward the stairs.