Wolf or Love

“Hussy, did you help with making all this?” Lindy asked from her seat at the long table on which the feast was spread out under the huge outdoor roof top. “A lot of the food has got a real funny aftertaste.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“That weird taste is just from the shit you’re always talking,” replied Danica who was sitting on Gio’s lap directly opposite the old dragon.

Lindy gasped. “I hope your language will improve when the baby’s born. I don’t want my grandchild going round cursing like that or being sarcastic.”

Danica sighed dreamily. “I really wish I’d known you when you were alive. I bet you weren’t so sour, prudish and senile back then.”

“Gio, you can’t let her talk to me like that! This rudeness is uncalled for.”

“He’s not going to help you,” sang Danica. “He likes sex too much to interfere.”

“There she goes again with that language. You shouldn’t talk like that in front of your elders, and you especially shouldn’t mention it in the presence of your own father and uncle.”

Carrick did look as though talk of sex was making him a little uncomfortable, but – petty though it might be – Danica was fine with that. She cocked her head at Lindy. “So let me get this right: I can’t mention sex, but Ray can deliver sleazy chat up line after sleazy chat up line, and that’s okay?”

Ray pouted. “Aw, come on, Danica, smile. It’s the second best thing you can do with your lips.”

Danica flapped her arms. “I give up.”

Gio threw the last of his cake at him, growling. Ray, of course, just laughed.

“It was a very nice ceremony,” declared James obviously hoping to change the subject.

“It was,” agreed Danica. “Thanks again Mike for performing it for us.”

“No problem. I was happy to do it.” For like the tenmillionth time, his gaze wandered to Suza who, for like the ten millionth time, met his gaze and

blushed. Rick had also noticed and had been teasing her all night long about it, hence why she’d bitch slapped him at one point. Not many people were capable of making Suza blush – she was just so flirtatious and bubbly – so it would be interesting to see if anything happened between her and Mike.

“I still can’t believe that you had a mating ceremony,” Chris said to Gio.

“There isn’t a romantic bone in your body.”

“Hey, I admit it – the likelihood of me ever having one is slimmer than slim.”

“Same here,” said Andrew. Hudson grunted, agreeing with him.

Gio hissed . “You say that now, but it’ll be different when you meet your mate. They have a way of always getting what they want.” He gave Danica a

mock scowl. She smiled brightly.

Duda snorted. “Look, I’m not saying I wouldn’t have a ceremony. You know me, I love parties and if there’s an excuse to throw one, I’ll do it. But if

you’re insinuating that anyone could have me wrapped around their little finger, you’re damn wrong.”

Donny turned to Ray. “With all your lines, they’ll be wrapped around your little finger,” he said sarcastically. “There’s no way a woman could possibly resist your charm.” Ray smiled. “Or my dick. Don’t worry, I won’t get it out. I don’t want you all to get intimidated. And in the interest of health and safety, I think it’s better that he’s not unleashed.”

Danica gaped when Lindy laughed. Laughed! “Excuse me a sec,” said Danica, standing up, “I need to pee again.” Seeing that Donny and Andrew were trying to hide laughs, she smacked them both over the head as she passed the

table.

“Hey, wait, I’ll come with you,” called Suza. “So how are you feeling?” she asked as they walked, gesturing to Danica’s belly.

“Fine, just irritated by the constant need to pee. How are you?”

“I’m good. Speaking of pee, I swear I almost peed in my pants earlier. Isn’t Ray hilarious! I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.”

“Yes, he is. And very cute. So is Mike.”

“Don’t start trying to play matchmaker.”

“Would I do that?” Danica asked with mock innocence. Suza snorted.

After a quick journey to her en-suite bathroom to answer the call of nature, they both descended the steps of the mountain. To Danica’s complete surprise, Carrick was waiting for her at the bottom.

“I’ll just go back to the party and wait there,” announced Suza, her expression confused. Danica faced her father and raised a brow questioningly. For a few seconds, he just looked at her. Then, having cleared his throat, he finally spoke. “I’m not going to make excuses for any of my behavior toward you, but I will tell you that a big part of it was that you looked so much like your mom that it made recovering from her death that

much harder. I know that’s not an excuse, and like I said, I’m not going to make any. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Her frown deepened. “It’s just that you sound, well, normal. I’m not sure whether that means we need to increase your medication or mine.”

He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, as I was saying, a decent father would have been there for you after your mom’s death. Maybe another father wouldn’t have shoved you aside on discovering that you were latent, or maybe he would’ve done exactly as I did. But I lied when I said that her mom would have turned her back on you. She never would have done that.”

“I know. You’d also be lying if you said that we’d still be having this conversation if I hadn’t managed to overcome my latency.”

“Maybe. It’s not something that anyone has ever done before, as far as we’re aware. Your strength has made me see you in a different light, I suppose.”

“I know you didn’t do it for me, but I’m thankful that you helped with the battle – if we hadn’t had the numbers we needed, many of us could be dead right now, including Gio and our child.”

“You’re right. I didn’t do it for you. But, still…I’m glad none of you are dead. And I’m glad you have found your true mate. I know from what I had with your mom that’s it’s something that can’t be equaled.”

“Everything okay, baby?” asked Gio as he stepped out of the trees. She’d known he was approaching and had sensed his concern for her through their bond. Clearly he’d felt the awkwardness she was feeling as she spoke with Carrick. “Yes, fine.”

He held his hand out to her, looking at Carrick speculatively. “Come on, let’s head back to the party.”

“Ben, Matt, and I are leaving now. They’re waiting for me by the car.”

Danica pouted. “So soon? But I haven’t had a chance to poison your beer yet.”

Rolling his eyes and sighing, Carrick gave both her and Gio a nod before disappearing through the trees, heading for his car. She took Gio’s hand and let him lead her back to the party. Just like

the time they went to a mating ceremony at Mike’s territory, Danica and Gio didn’t bother dancing with the others. They saw little point in embarrassing

themselves in front of their guests by revealing just how little rhythm they had. As Danica wasn’t allowed to drink any alcohol, Gio was sweet enough to refrain from having any himself to be supportive. Who would have thought to the psycho highlander could be so sweet?

Feeling Danica’s head lean on his shoulder, Gio smiled. “Tired?”

Naturally she denied it and sat upright again. Every day she was usually wiped out by the time she’d finished dinner and went for a nap. Today had been especially tiring for her and she obviously needed sleep. He stood and lifted her from her seat, curling her legs around him. “Come on, you need to lie down for a little while.”

“No, I don’t. Stop fussing, I just wanted to lean on you and have some contact with my mate. God forgive me.”

If she hadn’t yawned, he might have believed her. “Shut up,” he said gently when she went to object.

“How many times do you have to be told, hussy? Listen to your body – if it tells you that you need to sleep, then sleep.”

Danica smiled at her. “Thanks for reminding me how important it is that I take care of myself, Lindy. I’m not sure what I’d do if you weren’t around.

Although it’s fun thinking about it.”

Before the argument could become heated, Gio carried her out of the clearing, inside the caves, and then into their bedroom. Having placed her

carefully on the bed, he lay beside her and pulled her flush against his body. She made him whole both inside and out, and he couldn’t understand how he’d functioned without her before she came into his life.

“Gio? You know the baby might be latent, don’t you?”

Hearing how small her voice was, he kissed her reassuringly. “Yes, I know that, but it won’t matter to me if the baby is latent. Obviously I’d like it

if that wasn’t the case, but I’m not going to turn my back on him if it is.”

She snorted. “It could be a ‘her’, you know.” Although she also had the feeling it was a ‘he’.

Gio smiled.