Unshift

298 Ava: His Wolf

Sister Miriam doesn’t accompany Selenc–thank God, because while I convinced Lucas to get dressed, the room smells like sex and pheromones.

The heat beneath my skin has dissipated, though. I’m not sure if that’s normal, or if there’s worse to come. Either way, with my neck marked by Lucas, at least I’m no longer a danger to the other shifters. My pheromones should only affect my mate now.

The relief from that knowledge has my shoulders so much lighter; I hadn’t realized how stressed

the thought of heat made me all this time.

Seeing Selene’s silver husky form slip through the door, my heart is full near to bursting. Her presence in my mind is great, but her physical presence eases something inside of me.

Selene’s lost a little weight. The pristine white of her fur is dulled with what seems to be flecks of dried mud. But her bright blue eyes are sparkling with joy as she bounds forward, vaulting into the bed to roll and wiggle her body against the both of us.

It’s my first time seeing her give Lucas affection, but he doesn’t seem surprised at all, even lifting his hand to rub her ears and give her a sweet little hug.

What happened between them when I was gone?

He’s not so bad when you get to know him.

Selene’s nonchalant words has my eyes narrowing. Not so bad? Get to know him?

“Who are you, and what did you do with my wolf?”

Don’t be impertinent. Selene snorts in my direction, wiggling further into Lucas‘ lap and headbutting him until he scratches behind her ears. He gives good ear scratches. You should ask

for some.

Yeah, I’ll get right on that.

Well, I suppose you have other things you’d prefer he scratch.

“Selene!”

She sneezes in my direction, tail thumping as Lucas rubs across her fur with vigorous affection, looking for all the world like the queen of huskies accepting the attention that’s her due.

“When did you guys start getting along so well?” Not sure if I’m jealous or not, I watch Lucas with a distinctly sulky feeling. I want them to get along–1 do–but Selene’s my wolf, isn’t she? “Did we not get along well before? Lucas seems surprised as Selene licks his hand, flicking her

ear at me.

“She hated you.

“Well, she likes me now.”

The distinctly smug feeling emanating from Selene feels almost like a challenge.

I worked hard nun keerine him alive for you wou know

298 Ava: His Woll

Scooting closer into Lucas‘ side, I shove at Selene until she’s half off his lap. “Thanks, Selene. I appreciate it:

Way to get between a wolf and her mate, Selene mutters.

“Your mate? He’s my mate.”

Our mate.

“Still mine, though.”

Selene bares her teeth at me.

“What’s going on?” Lucas wraps his arm around my back, stroking my hip in a familiar manner that has my heart filling with joy.

“We’re arguing over whose mate you are.”

He seems startled by that one. “Aren’t I your mate?”

“Exactly.”

Selene jerks her head around to stare at him with cold blue eyes, her tail no longer thumping and muzzle wrinkling with displeasure.

And mine.

“You’ve done a complete one–eighty on your reaction to him.” Reaching out to pet Selene, I’m not offended when she gives my hand a pretend snap before nuzzling into it.

I changed my mind.

High praise, indeed.

His wolf, she says suddenly, changing the subject. He’s weak. He can’t break through the barrier

himself.

“Wait–hold on. What barrier?” Selene’s words have me straightening in Lucas‘ arms, putting aside our childish banter for a moment. “Is that why Lucas can’t hear him?”

Correct. Lucas has some sort of barrier in his mind. It’s blocked out his memories, but also his wolf.

“Why? How? How do you know about it?”

His wolf told me. I couldn’t hear him before, but the bond between us- and she sounds oddly disgusted at that, considering how affectionate she now is with Lucas–makes it so he can reach

Questions swirl in my head. I need to tackle them one at a time.

“Selene… I asked you a long time ago what your problem with Lucas is. I think it’s about time you explain.

Ugh.

She sounds like a teenager being told to do their chores.

“You do, kind of

Selene groans, resting her head on Laucas‘ knee. I don’t know how to explain it.

But I can sense the lie in her words.

Incas, to his credit, stays quiet, watching us both.

His wolf is a presence familiar to me, Selene finally admits, sounding as if I’m dragging the words out of her. I knew him in my past life.

Honestly, I’ve forgotten–more than once–that Selene once lived long ago and retains some of

the massacre, when

those memories. How long has it been since she’s talked about it? 50 and retains some of

Vanessa woke me up to my own personality flaws, I think.

Selene had been quiet for days, saying she didn’t have all the memories she thought she did. And she hadn’t spoken much of them ever since.

It didn’t seem very important at the time. There was always something else to think about or focus on. My magic, for example.

I stay quiet, sensing that she’s thinking things through.

It is not my first time being mated to that wolf, Selene admits, sounding rather sour. He rejected the bond in our last life. Mated to another she–wolf.

My heart constricts at the thought of Lucas mating someone else.

It was another time. Another life.

Still–I can’t help but stare at Lucas, who seems uncomfortable at the intensity of my gaze.

“Did I do something?” His brows draw together in confusion. “Are you upset with me?”

“No, I lie. Well, it isn’t exactly a lie. I’m angry at this Lucas–wolf Selene’s telling me about. My Lucas, the one here in front of us today, would never.

He rejected us, but he came back. He didn’t choose another wolf.

Yes. He has proven himself. But Selene still sounds a little bitter. He is separate from his wolf. His human side was never a part of our bond before.

“Right. Because Lycans came before shifters. “So you’re still angry about it?”

Wouldn’t you be? Selene’s tail thumps hard as she snarls. He mated her in front of me, as I reeled from the pain of his rejection. If it wasn’t for the pain, I would have tore his throat out. And hers,

too.

Lucas winces, grabbing his head in a sudden gesture, and Selene nuzzles against his leg. Her concern flows through our bond.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine. Just had a stabbing pain for a second. His eyes are tight, his teeth clenched, but he gives me a smile anyway. “It’ll go away”

Probably his wolf. He’s very upset. He’s insisting he would never reject me, but he doesn’t have the

208 Avar His Wol!

Reaching out, I rub Selene’s ears, trying to soothe her past hurt. It takes a little more concentration to speak in my head, but I don’t know how much of this to share with Lucas. It isn’t my story; it’s Selene’s. Don’t judge him based on the past. He’s in a whole new life now, isn’t he? He isn’t the same wolf who made those decisions. Though, I’m not sure how that works. For one to remember their past life, and the other to be blissfully ignorant of the pain he inflicted…

What a strange dynamic.

No wonder she had such strong feelings toward Lucas‘ rejection, even when he came back groveling.

I know. My wolf sounds exhausted. I’ve been trying all this time. For your sake.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize.”

No need to apologize. Selene leans her head into Lucas‘ hand as he strokes her fur. I no longer recall many details. Only the pain and anger. Some of the many memories that have disappeared.

She still sounds confused when she mentions her memories.

“Are you still losing memories?”

I don’t know. Things can be murky when it comes to the past, but I still remember some things. It no longer feels as real as it used to. Almost like I’ve only ever lived this life. She sounds frustrated now. But never mind that. His wolf is struggling, and he won’t leave me alone.

“What do you think we can do about that?” Feeling terrible for forcing Selene to relive frustrating memories, I follow along with the change in topic as smoothly as I can.

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