“Like an assortment of chocolates. Or a buffet. So what if, you know, we end up a threesome? I’m not sure I can handle two alpha males. One is exhausting enough.”

He snorted. “It’s going to be all right. Like I said, the whole threesome thing is totally rare. Jack is mated with a witch and a jaguar shifter. The witch and the jaguar were together first. They’d imprinted, which is sort of the jaguar version of mating. And then Jack met her and she was his mate. They’re all three together and mated. It’s intense, but it totally works for them.”

“I’m a witch. What if it’s some kooky witch thing?”

“We won’t get you anywhere near a jaguar.” He held back a grin but she felt his amusement anyway.

“Har.”

“It’s new to you. I know. I’m just teasing. It’s going to be fine. Gina is a witch and she’s mated to Damon. No threesome, just the two of them.”

“Are you anyone’s anchor? Gah! Maybe I don’t want to know. I guess I have to know because this is like part of your wolf thing. But I have to be friends with some chick you had sex with and you’re sort of mated to?” She realized, slightly panicked, that she was going to have to sex up a near stranger she’d be bonded to on some level. Did she shave her legs that day?

He kissed her nose. “I’m not, no. And now that I’m mated, it’s not ever going to happen, so that’s that. As for the tri-bond? I think you should look at this as a hot thing.” He slid his thumb over her bottom lip. “Hot sex with someone, sanctioned by your mate.”

“Are you going to be there? In the room, I mean?”

“I think yes. I’d go crazy if I wasn’t. Is that all right?”

“This is all so weird.”

He grinned. “Sit and finish your breakfast. I brought boxes so you can pack up your car and mine, and we can go home. My place is our place now.”

“Avoiding the subject?”

“No. But I think you need some time to digest all this, and then when we get to Portland, you can meet more wolves and we can work it out and it won’t be as weird. Hopefully. I’m sorry you’re uncomfortable. Well, part of me is happy because it means you’re not jumping all over having sex with someone else. But I don’t want you to be unhappy.”

“I’m rolling with it the best I can.”

“I know.”

Chapter Eleven

He met Jack and the rest of his wolves at the airport. Michelle was heading to his apartment once she got back to town to unpack her things. She’d stopped by Allie’s mom’s place on her way out of town so he knew she’d need some time on her own to process.

He smiled. Her things in his place. Their place now. He’d pick her up when they’d gotten everyone settled in, and they’d go to a pack dinner where she’d be introduced as his mate.

“Congratulations are in order, I hear.” Jack grinned his way.

“Thank you. It’s a good day to be me. This being-mated thing is pretty sweet. No wonder all you guys walk around smiling all the time.”

“It is indeed a good thing. Tell me about her.”

“Of all things, she’s my high school sweetheart. My first love. I left Roseburg and everyone in it behind when I was bitten. Anyway, she showed up at the offices downtown needing our help, and it turns out she’s my mate. And a witch, which I never knew. She’s a cop. Beautiful. Brilliant. A badass with some mad skills with a handgun. She’s perfect.”

“Oh the goofy smile and glazed eyes of the newly mated.” Jack laughed. “It’s a great story though. One your kids are going to love. Also being a cop means she’ll understand your job, which is good.”

“And she can defend herself in the face of all this crazy stuff with the mages.” Akio Minami, Jack’s right hand in his Enforcer crew, spoke from the back seat.

“Yes, that too. This is some shit. This murder scene we found her friend at? I’ve seen a lot, but what they’d done to this witch? I want to lock her up in my place with fifty guards all armed to the teeth.”

Jack growled. His mate was a witch too, so he understood, all too well, the nature of this threat and how it hit so very close to home.

“Cade wanted me to relay how much he’d appreciate it if you’d take Akio out to the scene. We should have as much information shared as possible. We’ve had our own trouble with the mages out our way, as you know. I want him to compare the scents to see if there are any connections.”

Josh nodded as he headed to the old Pacific Pack House where Nick’s parents, the retired Alpha pair, still lived. Visiting wolves often stayed there, and big meetings and gatherings were held there.

“We can go out tomorrow if that works. The Joining is tonight.” The Joining was the ceremony where a mate was presented to the pack, and if he or she wasn’t already a member, they’d be made members after swearing fealty to the Alphas.

Jack was an anchor to Tracy’s sister-in-law Grace, the female National Alpha, which made him like family in a very real sense. It was a good thing to have him at the ceremony later that night.

“Yes, that would be fine. Thank you,” Akio said.

“How’s she on the tri-bond?”

“Nervous. I had to talk her down earlier when she was convinced we’d have a threesome like you and Tracy have.”

“Truth be told, it’s a nice thing to have another male around to deal with our beautiful but totally headstrong woman. I expect Gabe and Nick feel the same.”