Page 63 of Ember's Claim

“Aww, baby. If you needed to huff our scents, you could have called us.” Veryn tugs his shirt off at the back of his neck and tosses it toward the bed.

Ember’s wolf stands, lunging for it and catching it with her impressive teeth. She drops it on the mattress and traps it in place with her paws as she noses and sniffs it.

She glances between us and growls.

“Are you not in the mood for company?” Veryn asks, tilting his head.

“No, that’s… My lion is convinced that’s more of aget your ass in here and close the door.” My lion is an alpha shifter, but he still urges me to scramble to comply with her wolf’s command.

Veryn’s low chuckle has my proverbial hackles rising, but I leave him in the open doorway to approach the bed.

Ember’s wolf stands, baring her teeth.

Keep her gaze or she’ll never respect you.My lion projects the thought in my mind.Show no fear.

A warning chuff leaves her lips, followed by some type of low growl.

I reach out my hand, grateful to see it’s not shaking. Fucking hell, her teeth are impressive. She doesn’t let up, and her growl deepens, vibrating out of her chest.

“You’re upset about something,” I murmur, edging closer. “Or maybe you’re testing me. Is that it? You want to be sure I don’t fear you…” My shin hits the edge of the bed. “I owe you my life.” I bow my head in a show of respect as my fingers brush her soft fur. “If you chose to take it, I would offer you my throat.”

Ember’s wolf grunts, licking at my wrist and bumping her face against my shirt.

“I told Ember, but I should probably thank you too.” I kneel on the bed and dig my fingers into her muzzle, giving her a solid scratch. “Thank you for saving me. I’m sorry that you had to kill Aimes, but I’m grateful you did.”

Ember’s wolf brings her paws up, purposely using her weight on my chest and side to shove me down. I land on my back on the mattress, blinking repeatedly. My entire body jolts as she crawls over me.

The door closes loudly, and Veryn chuckles. “My,my,my, you are in a mood.”

Ember growls, staring straight into my eyes as she stands over me. My lion lights in my eyes, and he chuffs back at her. My hands come to rest on her skull, transforming into my paws.

She nips at my wrist, and I’m still baffled why she’s so upset.

Veryn crawls on the end of the bed. He’s shirtless, since he tossed his tee to her wolf upon entering.

He runs his hand down her spine. “How about you keep the tail and the ears and lose the rest of the fur?”

Ember’s wolf grunts at him as she glances over her shoulder, but her eyes quickly return to mine.

Offer her your throat,my lion commands, willing away his claws until my hands return.She wants to see if you meant what you said. She’s our mate. She’ll never be able to truly cause us harm.

My head snaps to the side, and Ember’s wolf lowers her nose to the crook of my neck. Her hot breath fans over my skin, and it goes against every instinct I have to stay in such a vulnerable position, but I meant what I said. She saved my life. If she no longer deems me worthy, then that’s her choice to make.

She uses her nose to bump my hair away and moves back to the same spot as she lowers her chest to mine.

She is an extremely solid wolf, and it becomes difficult to breathe with her weight pressing on my lungs.

Ember takes up much of my view, but I spot Veryn’s hand as he rubs just behind her ears. Ember’s scratchy tongue slides over my throat, and she moves quickly, her mouth opening wide.

My eyes slide shut as I come to terms with the fact I’m going to die. It goes against everything I’ve ever heard about mates, but?—

All thoughts bleed away as her wolf bites into my neck. It’s significantly more painful than a bite in human form, but her wolf laps at my skin. There’s a split second where my soul understands I could deny the bond, but I dismiss that.

The link soaks into my consciousness as my lion roars. My wolf, who is normally quiet and only comes forward when I seek him out, howls. Their joint pleasure is unmistakable.

My eyes are still closed as it becomes easier to breathe. Veryn is the first thing I see, but he’s staring at Ember with his mouth hanging open. My hand flies to the back of her head, brushing over human hair. Her much softer tongue teases my skin as she laps at the bite like she’s preparing to retract her teeth.

I keep one hand cradling her skull and bring the other to soothe up and down her back. She’s nude, which makes sense because of the shift.