average human’s Reviews > Ember's Claim > Status Update

My stress is officially higher than it’s ever been. My boots stomp across the floor as Nadia checks Ember out. At least she’s back in human form after the trip to the cave nest. It boggles my mind that she can still shift when she’s so full of babies, but I also know her wolf would never put them in danger.

Ember takes her sweet time going into heat. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but she’s already learned we weren’t joking about not letting her out of the house…
Which leads to a very awkward—or if you’re me, amusing—question-and-answer session where she interrogates her possible future enforcers by standing in the front door. They form a line, passing the porch one by one.

My lion guides us through the trees at a rapid pace with utter conviction that he won’t face-plant into an unexpected tree trunk. He comes to the edge of the woods right as Ember tackles the smaller of two wolves. She viciously tears into his side as her paws rake over the wolf’s face and flank.
The larger wolf stalks closer to Ember from behind.

Scooting up just a little, I let my wet core drag over his knot and shaft as I move to kiss him. He has to bend to reach me, due to the height difference, but we make it happen.
He slides his hand over my neck and up into the hair at the base of my skull. I’d give anything to feel him give it a little tug, but he holds me in place with a firm and commanding grip.

Lorcan takes a seat next to me on the couch, grabbing my wrist and placing it in his lap. He runs his fingers over the spot where he placed that mark. “I’m going to use a little magic to see if we can spruce this place up a bit.”
I check to see how Anders feels about that. This is his home, after all.
He shrugs. “I only took this place because it was empty.

I nod, and my cheeks feel hot. My sister has always been weirdly in tune with picking up on my moods. I’m sure she can tell I’ve got proverbial heart eyes for the new alpha.
“Okay, good talk.” Ember smiles tightly. “If you don’t feel comfortable coming to me directly, maybe you could mention any problems or ideas to Sofia or Anders?”

If I was more coherent, I would feel really strange about sticking my nose in Anders’s armpit. As it stands, I’m just grateful his scent is settling my tender stomach.
I pass out again and wake before the sun has even fully risen. It’s that dusky time when everything is hazy, and no one wants to be awake just yet. My job requires a lot of late nights and going to bed in the early morning hours.

The low growling that comes from the bedroom has me flipping off the water and tugging the door open.
My eyes widen as I hiss, “Oh, shit.”
The lion, who has to be Anders, stands on the bed, staring at the open doorway.
My eyes follow his line of sight, and…
Oh yeah, Veryn looks super pissed.
Glancing down at the T-shirt and basketball shorts I’m wearing that aren’t mine…

Kent knew he was supposed to stay away. He just lost one of his dads. I couldn’t imagine him having to watch me die too.
It’s mind-boggling how he ended up with Ember in the first place. I’m pretty sure my seven-year-old nephew begged her to intercede on my behalf…
Goddamn.
That’s embarrassing.
My animal forms rarely agree on anything, but they don’t like it, either.

Bet the wolf she saved is her mate and she’s gonna turn him into an alpha and help raise his little brother.

A smile crosses my face, despite the agony. He’s a cute kid with just the right kind of spunk.
“You stood there for twenty minutes, snarling at anyone who tried to get close enough to check on you. Good job!