Page 127 of Wolf Blood

She could never be that full time. Not with the bloodlust she dealt with and everything elsethathad changed for her.

I didn't care which version of her I got. I fucking adored all of them.

The majority of our group kept walking when we reached our apartment, but Harper didn't hesitate to say her goodbyes and go inside with me. As soon as the door locked behind us, she threw her arms around me.

I pulled her closer, not sure why she was hugging me, but glad she was.

"Thank you," she whispered fiercely, squeezing me tightly. "I haven't felt this normal since I turned."

"This is why I've been trying to get you to integrate with the pack."

"It's not just the pack, Rhone. It'syou. You're the one who stabilized me and held my hand the whole time. Thank you."

I grunted.

It wasn't me. It was her. She didn't seem to want me to say that, though.

"Just sayyou're welcomeso we can move on," she added.

The feeling that slowly came to life in my chest was unfamiliar.

Some mixture of satisfaction and pride that I didn't have a name for.

"You're welcome, Trouble."

She kissed the side of my throat, then slipped out of my arms. "We need to shower again before we get in bed. I don't want the sheets smelling like the pack."

"That makes two of us." I followed her to the bathroom, and she turned the water on.

I grabbed the hem of her shirt, but she swatted my hands away, pulling it off without my help. "Take your own clothes off. I want you naked."

I wasn't about to disagree.

She dragged her hand down the length of my erection after I stepped out of my shorts, and I palmed one of her tits before she led me into the shower.

The hot water stung our skin as I pulled her to my chest. She pressed her cheek against me as she leaned in.

"You're a good Beta," she said, catching me off guard. Compliments weren't really something I ever dealt with.

"I do the bare minimum."

She rolled her eyes. "That's bullshit, and you know it. You like it more than you think, too. You loved running around with those kids. You enjoy being the hardass behind Maverick's charm. You have fun with it, even if you don't want to admit it to anyone. Including yourself."

I didn't know if that was accurate.

I'd never stopped to consider whether or not Ienjoyedbeing the Beta. I didn't want to answer to anyone other than Maverick, and no one could take me down, so the role was naturally mine.

"Anyway... have I ever told you that I like you?" she asked.

Something had gotten into her. Fucked with her mind somehow. She was neverniceto me.

I would've avoided her from the beginning if she was nice to me, but strangely, I didn't hate it.

"The look in your eyes says I haven't." Her lips curved slightly as she looked up at me. "I like you, Rhone. You make me feel safe. You're easy to talk to. You have a good sense of humor. You're obviously amazing in bed, to top it off. I get why fate paired us."

I stared down at her.

She was pressed against my chest. Holding me, as much as I was holding her.