chapter 3

Theron shot Connor a grin as they watched the petite, curvaceous woman stumble slightly in her heels, hurrying down the hall toward the other end of the floor where his aunt Geraldine lived. Her scent, a heady mix of arousal and nervous energy, trailed after her, teasing his senses.

She was flustered, no doubt, but damn if she wasn’t adorable. Those big brown eyes, wide behind her black-framed glasses, that cascade of wild curls, and those full, pouty lips were pure temptation. She was more than beautiful; she was captivating.

And then there were her curves. That modest black dress couldn’t hide the body underneath: generous hips, a narrow waist, and a figure that demanded attention.

Her full breasts and rounded ass had his body reacting instantly, his wolf stirring with interest. He licked his lips, still catching the faint trace of her desire in the air.

“I want her,” Connor murmured, his voice a low growl.

Theron nodded, his own hunger mirroring his friend’s. “Same. Too bad it’s just a fantasy.”

He didn’t bother knocking on his aunt’s door. He could hear her light footsteps approaching. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Geraldine “Gerri” Wilder four feet eleven of pure dynamite.

Gerri had a knack for making any man, no matter how tall or old, feel like a scolded schoolboy with just a look.

“Get down here and kiss me,” she demanded, swatting his arm. The gesture didn’t hurt, but it was her way of reminding him she was in charge, no matter what. “You know I can’t reach your face without my stepstool.”

“Sorry, Aunt Gerri,” Theron said with a chuckle, bending to plant a kiss on her cheek.

Gerri flicked a streak of white hair striking against the rest of her dark locks away from her face, giving her an almost otherworldly air. “Move it, you two, or I’ll dig out that stepstool,” she huffed.

Theron and Connor stepped into her apartment, instantly hit with the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked bread, cakes, and cookies. Gerri’s baking was legendary, and they loved her for it among other reasons.

“You know I adore you, Gerri,” Theron started, his tone teasing.

“Oh, no you don’t,” she cut him off, steering them away from the kitchen and toward the dining area. “Dinner first, then sweets. You know the rules.”

Gerri didn’t care that they were both in their thirties or poised to lead the Wildwoods Pack as Alpha and Omega. To her, they were still her boys, and she expected them to follow her lead. They indulged her, not just because she was family, but because they genuinely cherished her.

“How’s the mate search going?” Gerri asked as they settled at the table, which was laden with heaping platters of food to satisfy their shifter appetites. She always went all out for them.

The mate hunt was, in a word, dismal. As Alpha and Omega of the Wildwoods Pack, Theron and Connor needed a mate to complete their triad, but finding the right woman was proving impossible.

Theron often found the women they met lacking the spark or strength to lead alongside them, while Connor sensed their emotions were too shallow or misaligned for a true bond.

“Nowhere,” Connor admitted, his tone heavy.

Theron glanced at his best friend, the one person he shared everything with, pack responsibilities, dreams, even women. Their Alpha-Omega bond made them closer than brothers, but it also complicated their search.

The women in their pack were often petty or jealous, far from the ideal third piece of their triad. Their mate needed to be exceptional, someone strong enough to match Theron’s dominance and empathetic enough to connect with Connor’s emotional depth. She’d need to embrace not just their relationship but the profound bond that would form between the three of them.

“If you two stubborn mules would stop being so picky,” Gerri said, passing a towering bowl of mashed potatoes to Connor, “this would be a lot easier.”

Connor shook his head, his blond hair falling into his eyes. “She has to be right, Gerri. Independent, with a personality to match. Someone who isn’t fazed by who we are.”

Theron grinned. “And she’d better be gorgeous.”

Gerri’s eyes narrowed, her lips twitching with mock disapproval. “Oh, of course, we can’t forget that crucial detail.”

“Hey,” Theron said, laughing. “She’s got to appeal to both our human and animal sides. That’s four votes of approval.”

Gerri arched a dark brow. “Because you’re such a refined Alpha.” She turned to Connor. “I get that you need an emotional connection, but him?” She jabbed a finger at Theron. “He’s just a flirt.”

Theron smirked. He wasn’t a flirt he simply appreciated women. All kinds, though he had a soft spot for petite, curvy ones with plenty to hold onto. Like Gerri’s neighbor. Those glasses, that wild hair, those lips… He could already picture them wrapped around Focus, man. She was the kind of woman who’d haunt his fantasies, all sexy librarian vibes.

“We’re done trying on our own,” Connor said, breaking through Theron’s thoughts. “We want your help.”

Gerri sat up straighter, her eyes darting between them. “You’re both sure about this?”

Theron hesitated. He wasn’t thrilled about resorting to a dating service, even a paranormal one run by his aunt. But if Gerri could find someone as enticing as her neighbor, he’d be all in. “Yeah, we’re sure,” he said, though his heart wasn’t fully in it.

Gerri’s gaze pinned him. “You’ll follow my lead to find the mate that’s right for you?”

He sighed. “Yes, Aunt Gerri. I know your dating service is a hit. I just… I’d rather it happened naturally.”

Gerri shrugged, slicing into her steak with a sly grin. “Sometimes you need a little push.” She giggled. “Or, in your case, a third hand.”

Theron rolled his eyes, but Connor’s grin spread, and soon they were all laughing.

“Do you need, like, a list of preferences from us?” Theron asked. He already had someone in mind Gerri’s neighbor. Even if she wasn’t mate material, he wouldn’t mind getting to know her. Her scent alone had roused his wolf, eager to come out and play.