I smile warmly as my friend recognizes me. “Delilah, why are you here? Where’s Bronx?” I ask with a yawn and a big stretch. She yawns too, stretching her long spindly arms, before she pushes her light brown hair out of her eyes. Her French accent is thicker than usual as she wakes up, “He’s downstairs with everyone else completing the Santoro deal. Oh, except Musu. She’s in your living room doing research.” “Oh, okay,” I nod with acceptance while the fog in my brain clears, “Wait, why does that mean you and Musu need to be here? Not that I mind.” “You have been asleep for a day and a half. The Alpha wanted someone keeping an eye on you at all times when he is not here. I volunteered this time. Musu and I have been taking turns.” “Musu is here too?” This gives me an idea. I could really use a good chat with both of them about Leticia, but before that I want to spend time with my best friend. I have missed her so much. Other than Bronx, I spent most of my time with Delilah. She a

Bronx’s POV We finally break for lunch after negotiating costs for various parts of the contract between Santoro Enterprises and MasonCo, which surprisingly, is a legitimate business venture for them, even though I find it extremely coincidental they bought land within wolf running distance from the northern part of our territory. I look at my watch. It’s almost one p.m. I haven’t heard any updates from Delilah or Musu. No news is good news, I guess, I think to myself as I climb the stairs to the fifth floor. There’s one security guard half a flight in front of me and two half a flight behind me as I walk. I can’t believe I have to have security in my own home, but even with the wards Delilah and Lady Camille put up, we do not know if this Leticia woman could create another portal out of thin air and attack me. If I would have refused to allow the extra security, I think my ranked members would have pulled a mutiny and thrown me in the dungeon. When we get to the top floor, I see J

Bronx’s POV Having Kas actually in my arms, smiling and happy, feels like a dream. The last time I saw her awake was right after she healed Ashley. Since then, she has just been sleeping. I’ve had the pack doctors check on her, but they said she was fine, she just needed sleep. “I saw you in here with Delilah and Musu,” I nuzzle her cheek while I speak, “You looked like a mama wolf protecting her cubs. A true Luna protecting her pack. I love seeing you like that.” “Mmmm, well, if we play our cards right, one day I could be a mama wolf protecting her cubs,” she coos at me. Between the look in her eyes and hearing those words, it makes my heart hit a hard beat. “I mean, I don’t know if I’ve done whatever Zeus said I need to do yet to have a pup, but I mean, maybe we shouldn't waste this opportunity to practice making one, you know, just in case,” Kas says in her most innocent voice. She kisses the spot between my jawline and lip that makes me close my eye and sigh while she unbuttons

I try to roll over to get out of bed so I can get a shower, but Bronx tugs me back down and pulls me until my back is close against his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I need to get cleaned up, Sweetheart. I’ll be back after my shower,” I giggle and scrunch up my shoulders as he nibbles at the spot on my neck below my ear. “Nope,” he growls playfully from somewhere in my hair. I feel him take a deep breath, “I like when you smell like me.” “I like when I smell like you too, but I don’t enjoy laying in bed feeling sweaty and sticky. Give me ten minutes,” I turn in his arms to face him. “Five,” he kisses my forehead and drapes his leg over me, trapping me against him. “Eight,” I negotiate for more time. “You drive a hard bargain, Kas Mason,” he grumbles, burying his nose back in my hair. “My husband says I’m a damn good businesswoman,” I smile into his chest and give a gentle nip on his marking spot that isn’t completely healed. I feel him shiver happily at the sensatio

“The bus just came through the security gate, Luna. Can you meet us out front?” Carly mind links me. “Thanks Carly, I’ll be right there,” I let her know. I put a thick cardigan over my shirt to keep the early autumn chill away while I’m outside. Tyree meets me in the hall and escorts me downstairs. I realize I don’t know all that much about him. He tells me he has been working for Reggie since he got out of the military when he was twenty. He has two younger siblings. His sister goes to the human university in the state capital. His little brother is a senior in high school and really looking forward to being a pack guard. By the time we get downstairs, Carly is standing with the rest of Blood River’s ranked members, giving them last-minute instructions. Tyree gives me a nod and steps back, taking a place among the other guards who have been assigned to keep tabs on Bronx. Ashley runs up and gives me a giant hug. She is practically jumping up and down as she speaks excitedly, “Oh