Chapter 55

Phoenix

It's 8pm by the time we finally roll up to Luke's house. Before we even approach the doorstep, the scent of something both sweet and savory hits us, making my stomach growl. I haven't had the chance to eat today, too busy dealing with bullshit.

Luke flashes me a grin. "See? This is what a man should come home to."

I roll my eyes, shaking my head. "You know, you can learn to cook too."

He always finds a way to rope me into the kitchen, but tonight, I'm just glad to be home. It looks like the girls busied themselves while we were out.

When we open the door, Loki is parked on the couch, eyes glued to the news on the flatscreen. What the hell? We have enough shit going on in our lives—why he'd want to watch more is beyond me.

He gives us a curt nod before turning back to the tv. If he's that relaxed, I'm guessing the day went without a hitch.

I scan the downstairs part of the house for what—or rather, who—I've been craving all day. And there she is, my little wolf. Selene's standing by the oven, bending over to pull out a tray of cookies. Like a moth to a frame, I'm immediately drawn to her, and I find my feet moving before I even realize it.

I've missed her so goddamn much today. It was a fight not to come home early just to check on her. I thought about mind-linking her, but after our intense night, I figured she might need some space. I don't want her feeling smothered, especially when she's already on lockdown for her own safety.

Before she can fully turn around, I'm already behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "I don't know what smells better," I murmur into her ear, my lips brushing against my skin, "you or those cookies."

I place a kiss to her neck, deliberately avoiding her mark so she doesn't squirm and drop the tray. I'm sure that it will take a while until she isn't affected by my touch so much.

Selene carefully places the tray on the stovetop, closing the over, and twists around in my arms. A small, shy smile plays on her lips. "Actually, Makayla made them," she admits, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. "I'm not much of a baker."

"That's perfectly okay," I say with a chuckle.

We have that in common. I prefer my chaotic way of cooking than perfectly measuring and baking shit. I probably couldn't bake a cake to save my life.

I glance at big pot of stove. "What about that? What're you cooking?"

Her smile morphs into a grin. "Soup."

Soup, huh? Does my little wolf want to show me her skills in the kitchen? Does she want me to taste her soup like she tasted mine? Does she desire my approval?

"Makayla agreed to make dessert if I made dinner, so I went with a safe choice. It might not be as good as your soup, but I hope you like it," she explains, biting her lip in a way that drives me crazy.

Satisfaction swells within me, and I can't help but smirk. "I'm sure I'll love it."

I'll love anything she ever gives me, no matter how small it is.

Suddenly, Selene glances over my shoulder, and I see her expression shifts to one of mortification. Placing both hands on my chest, she gently pushes me back to put some space between us.

I don't mind it; I figured she'd be a little shy at first about me touching her in front of other people, but I'll let her get used to it at her own pace.

After all, we've got forever together.

I glance back to see Makayla setting the table like we're expecting the Moon Goddess or some shit. Her gaze is distant, like she's lost in her thoughts or something. Something's obviously bothering her, but I'm not about to ask what—it's not like we're close. She just talks to me when I'm fucking up with Selene, and that's about it.

Luke's in the living room with Loki, mind-linking with him about what we found out today. We've got some news to break to the girls, but we'll wait until after dinner. My goal is to freak Selene out as less as possible.

Because it's exactly what he all suspected, and she's not going to take the news well.

Checking to make sure no one is paying attention to us, I steal a quick kiss on my little wolf's forehead, closing my eyes to inhale her scent that I've missed all day.

I let the walls around my emotions drop, letting her feel everything I've been holding back all day—the longing, the love. All of it.

I put my mental block up before we left because I figured we both needed breaks from the constant flood of emotions. It's overwhelming, to say the least, but I hope she didn't think I did it for another reason. Like me regretting what happened last night.

I'll never regret it—and I've realized it more and more today. I love this new connection with her, even if it makes me feel like a drug addict experiencing withdrawals when we're not together. Somehow, it feels unhealthy, but at the same time, like the most natural, amazing sensation I've ever experienced.

I wonder if she feels it as strongly as I do. That was on my mind all day—if my obsession was one-sided. If it was just my wolf being insanely possessive. I had to endure hearing growls in my head from the moment I left her, but now that we can see and smell her, there's a peaceful silence in my head.

Suddenly, I feel her surge of emotions, which are so closely to mine, and I can't help but smirk down at her. She stares back at me, emotion swirling in her eyes before she gives me a soft, knowing smile that makes my heart swell.