“I would have liked that.” I glance around the formal dining room, filled to the brim with monsters.
Amber eyes move back to me, her lips still close to mine. “I prefer the vibe in Shifter Hollow. It’s so much more…peaceful out there.”
I brush the tip of my nose along hers. “Shall we move you into a guest cottage, Louanna? Perhaps Connall’s house?”
She slaps my shoulder half-heartedly. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Little does she know, I’m not being ridiculous at all.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CONNALL
The following afternoon, I run both hands through my unruly waves as I consider what Dirk told me. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since he dropped the bomb on me. And then seeing him and Lou touch?
Goddess Alaya, I’m still processing the whole thing.
“Everything okay with you?” Richard’s eyes swirl green and amber with the color of his and his mate’s wolves. He sips a beer as he stares. Thank fuck Lola isn’t here to read my aura and tell me it’s red-hot again.
I stare deeply into his eyes, still fascinated by how Lola’s wolf can enter Richard’s mind and just…be there. So weird.
“Hey, Big Daddy,” I croon to his wolf. “How’s it going in there?” I’m pointedly ignoring his actual question.
“Fucking fine, Second,” the wolf’s tone laces through Richard’s as Richard grins. My pack alpha takes another sip of his beer, his expression going thoughtful. “You’re an amazing Second, and I’m goddess-blessed to have you by my side through all of this. But don’t forget that, where your duty is to me, I also have a duty to be a good partner to you. You seem distracted, and you might not want to talk about why that is. But I’ve got a better than good guess, and I’m here if you want to discuss it.”
I roll my shoulders, letting my head fall back. I told him once how I felt about Lou, how badly I wanted her and how determined I was not to shove my way between a happy couple. But?—
A knock echoes through my treehouse, and somehow, I know it’s Dirk before Richard even trots to the entryway and lets him in.
A bracing wind brushes past my cheeks, ruffling my hair as Dirk enters the room with a grin. Is he evernotgrinning?
“Hello, boys,” he says in that same charming tone he uses on practically everyone. “I jest came to have a word with Connall, but I can come another time if yer busy.” I swear his blue eyes drop to my dick before he focuses on Richard.
Richard gives me a quizzical look. He knows how I feel about Lou, but I didn’t share Dirk’s bombshell. Dark eyes flick to Dirk and back to me. “I’m gonna head home. Lola’s cooking a late dinner.”
“Tell yer princess hi fer me,” Dirk says with a grin.
“Queen,” Richard corrects with a wicked grin. “I’ll tell myqueenyou said hello.”
They share a smile that looks secretive, and for the millionth time since they returned from rescuing Lola from being kidnapped by her father, it rankles. Dirk was the one to use his security clearance to get Richard through the series of security portals between here and Santa Alaya.
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t even stop the king when he alpha-barked at me and dragged his daughter through Ever’s portal and away from her alpha.
“Stop,” Richard commands. “I can see your thought train headed off the tracks. There is no finer Second than you, and I’ve had a fair few in my life. I’ve said it once, and I’ll keep saying it. I need you, Connall. Lola needs you. We couldn’t run this pack without your contributions.”
I nod, but I can’t force myself to look at my pack alpha, truthful as his words may be.
As a therapist, I start picking apart my own behavior and reactions to what’s happening around me. I can tell myself all the logic in the world, but emotion can be hard to overcome. Drawing in a steadying breath, I finally look at my alpha. “Let me walk you out.”
He gives Dirk a quick nod as he rises and turns for the door. I walk him to it and hold it open.
“Good night, Second,” Richard murmurs.
“Night.”
When I swing the door closed behind him, I half expect to see Dirk right behind me, ready with a quippy comment. But he’s not there. When I return to the main living area, he’s seated on the sofa with a full glass of whiskey in one hand, sipping the amber liquid.
“Made yourself right at home, I see.” I cross the room and pour a whiskey for myself, sitting on a chair across from him. Nerves clang in my belly, knowing what he probably came here to discuss.
