Free Lorelei by Celia Kyle Page B

did the same with Dylan, his partner whined and Zeke hadn’t.
    She stared at them both, her jaw clenched tightly and lips pressed together until they formed a pale line on her face. A stubborn twinkle invaded her eyes and he realized he was going to lose this argument. Dammit.
    This wasn’t how he wanted things to happen. He hadn’t wanted their mating to come about because of the need to find her sister. It was supposed to be more. Maybe it wouldn’t have been love; it was too soon for that. But he’d hoped for more than biological undeniable need.
    He looked over her head and sought out Levy and Emmett. “What exactly is going to happen?”
    “It’s probably best if we all discuss it when Miles and Holden arr—”
    “No, I’m asking you. I can’t guarantee we won’t take them down as soon as they walk through the door if we’re kept in the dark.” Zeke cracked his neck, rolling his head from side to side as he fought to banish the growing tension. “The wolf needs to know.”
    Zeke didn’t bother telling them that his magic needed the assurance as well. The power pulsing inside them was at their beck and call and yet it wasn’t. It had a vague consciousness of its own and was known to react before the Warden realized the danger he faced.
    “Zeke, you can’t be considering—”
    Zeke faced his friend. “Do you want to be the one to tell our mate that we left her sister to be picked off by your brother? Because I sure as hell don’t.”
    “But they’ll touch…”
    They’ll touch what belonged to them. Sure, Dylan loved Zeke’s parents and family, and they loved his friend in return, but it wasn’t Dylan’s family. Lorelei was the wolf’s chance at having one of his own. His .
    He placed his hand on Dylan’s shoulder and forced the man to face him, sliding his hand up until it wrapped around the back of Dylan’s neck. “I know you, D. I know what this is and you need to let it happen.”
    “You’re telling me you’re okay with this? That they’ll put their teeth to her?” His partner’s voice was filled with shock.
    Yeah, Zeke was pretty shocked himself. “ Okay is a stretch.” In fact, his wolf howled at the mere idea someone else would dare bare a fang in her presence. “But can you honestly tell me you’d let an innocent woman suffer because our wolves and magic are pissy?” He tugged Dylan toward him, pressing their foreheads together. “We’re stronger than this, D. And we’re gonna do it because we care for our mate, huh?”
    Dylan’s eyes closed and Zeke knew he’d won. His friend’s next words proved his assumption. “How does it work?”
    When his partner pulled away, Zeke let him retreat. The moment space existed between him and Dylan, Lorelei was there, tugging them close to her until she was sandwiched between their bodies. His cock twitched and the wolf discarded anger in favor of interest.
    Soon . He told his wolf. Very soon.
    He hated it’d come about this way, but he wouldn’t refuse her if she was prepared to accept them.
    Levy cleared his throat and everyone’s attention was centered on the Ruling Warden. “Ideally, both men would bite her.”
    Zeke echoed Dylan’s rumbling growl. Lorelei stroked them both, her small hands sliding over their arms, but even her touch had difficulties banishing his possessive rage. “No one is putting fang to our mate.”
    “Okay,” Levy huffed. “The other option is to cut into her skin and let them drink there. Regardless, it’ll still be deep and painful. I’ll call in a Warden pair that will heal her as soon as it’s done, but during the actual process,” Levy grimaced, “she can’t be sedated. The… the agony will have her calling out, even subconsciously, for comfort. Her soul will automatically call to people in her family who are closest. Rebecca and… Paisley. It adds that emotion to her blood and that’s what they’ll pull on.”
    The Ruling Warden focused on Lorelei, regret and sadness in his gaze.