Page 126 of Wolf Blood

"Why not?"

"I'm too much of a risk."

Rhone scoffed. "You think I'd let you attack a kid?"

"I don't trust myself, and I think they'd be scared of me."

"They love Oren and Bloom, and they barely know the difference between turned and born vampires. You don't have to trust yourself yet. Trustme. If you want to meet them, meet them."

I hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"I'd need to shower really quick so I don't smell like sex."

"I'll shower too. Come on." He strode into the bathroom, instead of carrying me.

This time, he was giving me the chance to follow him.

After a quiet breath out, I did.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

rhone

Harper wastense when we first met the kids, but their cheerful greetings and the fact that they really were unfazed by her presence relaxed her quickly.

I stayed close, and when she started feeling bloodlust, she took my hand.

When the kids tried to talk me into shifting and going for a run with them, Maverick pushed me toward them, promising to keep an eye onmy vampire.

Harper rolled her eyes at him, but told me through our mental bond that I shouldgo have fun. I regretted telling her that it had been a long time since I did that.

I only regretted it for a minute. As soon as I was running around with the kids while they pretended to fight, I felt alive in a way I only had with Harper since the war.

She was a little pale when I got back, so we ducked inside for another round of blood and sex before rejoining the pack for the massive barbecue Maverick had asked someone to put together.

It was chaos.

Not my scene at all, but Harper seemed fascinated by the pack, so I dealt with it.

Bloom introduced my mate to dozens of people. Though she gripped my hand tightly the whole time, she was interacting with a lot more energy than I expected.

I tried not to seem like I wanted to leave, for her sake.Probably failed, but tried.

Despite my itch to get the fuck out of there with my mate, I did have a few conversations that weren't terrible. It was nice to see Maverick having fun, too.

For the first time in a long time, I could admit to myselfthatthesewere good times. We'd lost a lot in the war, but we'd also built a lot afterward.

By some miracle of fate, I had a mate that I was fucking obsessed with.

The Wilder Pack was backing us, so things should settle down on the challenge front.

All there was left to deal with was the Vampire Guild murders. Eventually, we'd find Holly and Neve, and take them out too.

It was latewhen we made it back to our apartment, walking with Bloom, Maverick, and a bunch of the enforcers. The women and Mav together were the life of the party. Everyone revolved around them. As much as I hated to share her, my mate was practically glowing.

When I looked at Bloom, she was happier than I had ever seen her. That alone told me thatthiswas the version of Harper she knew. The snarky, upbeat, social side of her.