“No.”
Konrad nodded and got into the car. Dahy fiddled with the blanket around him before fastening the seatbelt. Heat soared as Konrad watched him. He was most likely naked underneath. He was also dirty, and he realized it must be from having been running from him and Farris during the night. “Where did you sleep?” It had been a cold night.
“In Myka’s car.”
Konrad nodded and got them rolling, then he frowned. “How did you get to Myka’s car?” It was a good distance between Farris’ cabin and where Myka and Roan lived.
“I went to the coffee house and waited for her to arrive.”
So he hadn’t slept during the night. Konrad winced. “I’ll fix us some food and you can have a shower or a bath in the meantime, then you can go to bed. I have some stuff I have to deal with, but…” But what? He’d join him after? He wanted to, but he wasn’t sure Dahy was ready to spend the night with a wolf. Damn.
“I’d love a bath. Thank you.”
Konrad nodded and fought the urge to tap his thumb against the steering wheel in a nervous gesture. It didn’t suit him to be nervous. “You know you’re mine, right? Squirrels feel the mate pull too.” He chanced a quick glance at Dahy. It must’ve been hell on Roan when he first met Myka. Humans couldn’t sense their mates.
“It doesn’t give you the right to decide over me.”
Konrad stiffened. Had he decided anything? He’d done everything he could to give Dahy space. Hadn’t grabbed him, hadn’t demanded his attention, had allowed people to hug him right in front of his eyes. He swallowed hard and followed it up with a wince. Allowed most likely wasn’t a word he should use. “Of course not.”
“If I want to have coffee with my cousin, I can.”
Oh…He tried to replay the conversation in the bar but drew a blank. They’d said they could go, hadn’t they? Then he winced again. He and Gideon had said they could. “Of course, we’re just worried.”
“Squirrels are born worried. We can take care of ourselves.”
Konrad nodded and refrained from informing him about squirrels almost being extinct. “I’m the alpha of the Doson—”
“I know.”
“It’s my job to worry and make decisions.”
“I’m not part of your pack.”
He was now. “You’re my mate.”
“Doesn’t make me a wolf. And I might be your mate, but we aren’t mated.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
Dahy snorted. “Yeah, I’ll throw myself on a strange wolf in a car. Seems smart.”
Konrad grinned at him as desire licked at his core. “Doesn’t have to be here, darling.”
“No endearments or pet names.”
Konrad laughed. He believed it would be hard for him not to use any. “A bath, some food, and then if you want to jump my bones, I’m all for it.”
Dahy shook his head and disappointment welled up in Konrad’s chest.
“There’s no hurry, Dahy. We have till the end of our days. You’re mine, it’s all that matters to me.”
“There will be an uproar in the pack if you take a squirrel mate.”
The sad expression on Dahy’s face made his heart ache. “I don’t care.”
“You should. Perhaps it’s best if we don’t.”
“Hell no! You’re mine, if they can’t handle it, they can leave. We have Jyran, and we have Myka.”
