“Yes. It’s been a lovely evening. I just needed the air and some quiet.” It had gotten louder and louder inside until she’d had to escape it out there in the dark.

He laughed quietly. “Wolves can be a raucous bunch. I can’t tell you how many people have stopped to tell me how much they enjoyed meeting you tonight. You’re making friends right and left.”

“Even Esme.”

He cringed, and she laughed, poking his side. “She was nice. Apologized for the situation the other day at Tracy’s house. It’s fine. She knows you’re mine, and as long as it stays that way, things are great. I’d hate to have to kill her.”

He squeezed her to his side. “It only makes me hot when you talk that way.”

“You’re weird.”

“I am. Listen, so about the anchor thing…I don’t want to rush you, but time is getting short. The longer you go without one, the harder it will be for you to manage everything. All the stuff between us, all the emotion traveling through the link is incredibly intense and it can swamp you, make it hard to think and get through. Your anchor will settle down the background noise.”

She sighed. It wasn’t Josh’s fault. He was up front with her. She did this knowing she had to deal with everything that came with the bond, the good and the bad and the plain old weird. “So my choices were the people I met tonight?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think?”

“It’s more what you think. I know each of them would be honored to serve as your anchor, but this is someone you’re going to be connected to for the rest of your life. It’s your choice to make.”

“Well yes, but you’ll be connected to them too.”

“True. Keeping in mind that the decision is ultimately yours, I think Akio is an excellent choice. He’s a good man. A good wolf. Strong and vicious when he has to be. Connected to his pack, he takes his responsibilities seriously. You two clearly like each other.”

“I liked all the truffles you introduced me to.”

“Truffles?”

“Box of chocolates. Remember?”

He laughed, pulling her close for a kiss and then another for good measure.

“I liked them all, but Akio is the one I clicked with the most. He does what you do. What I do in my own way.”

As if they’d called his name, Akio came outside and started a little when he saw them. He eased against a post a few feet away, Josh between them.

“It’s funny how normal life can be, even when everything all around is dire and full of sadness.” He indicated the kids on the lawn beyond. “I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.”

“Thank you.”

To have lost so much in the same week she gained everything seemed a cruel joke. Or maybe it was balance. She didn’t know. But that didn’t matter. Because it was what it was, and she had choices to make and things to do.

She supposed it was what happened to you when you grew up pretty much on your own. You could give up and let things happen to you, weep and moan about the unfairness of it all. Or you could deal with what you’ve got and make the most of every moment.

Allie had been a bright light in Michelle’s life. And it was snuffed out and that hurt beyond bearing. At the same time, Allie would have been the first to high five Michelle over Josh. She’d been a remarkable person, and she would have whapped Michelle in the back of her head and told her to get on with stuff that needed doing.

And for absolute sure that meant finding the monsters who’d killed Allie and making them pay for it. That would happen if it took the rest of her days.

But for the immediate future, she needed to do this tri-bond deal. And she had a life here in Portland now. So much to learn about herself and her gifts too. So much it was dizzying, and yet, it was a gift to have this man, this community. Allie would have liked this. After she forgave Josh of course. But she’d have been thrilled, and that made it just a little bit better.

She leaned into Josh and blew out a breath, nearly purring when he stroked his knuckles down the back of her neck.

For a while they all stood in the evening cool. The air around them clean and crisp. The sound of the kids was soothing, as was the company. Neither male spoke simply to fill up space. She liked that a great deal.

Finally Akio shifted and took a deep breath. “I wanted to say, away from everyone else, but with both of you present, that I’d be very honored to serve as your anchor.” Akio turned his body to them, gaze solemn.

Josh looked to her, letting her choose.

“We were just discussing this. I don’t know, is there some sort of official way to do this?” She lifted her hands, hopelessly out of her element.

Akio stepped closer and held his hand out. Josh took one and then held his free hand out to her. She took it.

“It’s all what we make of it. Would you like to come over to our apartment?”

Akio nodded.

Chapter Twelve

“Are you nervous?” Josh asked as they waited for Akio to approach after he’d parked his car.

She opened her mouth to agree, but…

Instead, he smiled, slow and sexy. “No. You’re hot for it. And that’s all right. Can I tell you it’s making me hot too?”

“I should be ashamed.”

He laughed, spinning to press her into the wall. He rolled his hips, his c**k hard, a brand at her belly.

“Yeah? Why? Why be ashamed? Hm? I’m here. I’m yours. You’re mine. There’s no dispute of that is there?”