Page 10 of Adored By the Wolf

“Great. I’ll talk to you soon.”

He smiled and headed to the front of the gallery, leaving me standing there feeling bewildered as to why my heart was pounding so fast.

Jacob

It was her.She smelled intoxicating. As soon as I saw her, my wolf was howling and running in circles, he was so excited. It was all I could do to not grab her and make a run for it, to take us both somewhere private where we could get to know each other. The way she was staring at me, I knew she wouldn’t have resisted. We were mates.

And she was human. Just like Jill and Becca.

How did my brothers do it? How did they manage to secure their mates?I asked myself as I plopped down on the couch. If Luc or Brandon knew the turmoil I was in right now, they’d be either laughing or congratulating me, and I didn’t know which one was worse. And the last thing I needed was my family constantly reminding me that I was next in line to find my mate. It wasn’t like it was a thing, but the pattern had been set, and my brothers were beyond excited that I was up next.

I shook my head. I knew my older brothers would meet their mates someday, but not back-to-back and so soon! Would we ever hang out again like we used to?

Dredge was getting older. Why hadn’t he met anyone yet? And Sandy? My heart broke for Sandy. She’d put herself in hiding all these years after what Pac did. Bruno and I weren’t even born when it all happened, but we’d heard all the stories over the years and witnessed little moments where she was happy, only to see it disappear just as quickly when something triggered her memory. We all tried to uplift her spirits, but nothing and no one had made a difference so far. But Sandy’s problem could wait, because it appeared I was next in the mating line.

What I needed was a plan. A good one. The art gallery was open through the winter holidays, which meant Millie was there for the rest of the week.

“Talking to yourself again?” Bruno asked as he plopped himself down next to me.

Annoyed at his interruption, I growled, “I thought I could be alone today.”

“You’ve been acting weird, and as the only brother who’s left to actually hang out with, where else am I supposed to go?”

“Live your own life?” I suggested.

“Nah, that’s boring.”

“Why don’t you go out and find a cure for the pack then, if you’re so bored,” I snapped. I didn’t need him here right now. I had enough problems to contend with.

“No need to be so harsh.”

“Ugh!” I stood up and started pacing.Ignore Bruno. Focus on coming up with your plan. You need to see Millie again, and going back to not buy a painting would seem odd.

“Hey, you think Dad is going to die?” Bruno suddenly asked.

I turned to look at him and realized, being the youngest, he was usually left on the sideline. I was not privy to a lot of things going on in the family as I was the third youngest brother, but as the youngest, Bruno was protected from everything. However, this matter had been discussed as a pack, so he knew no one knew the answer to that, but I could see the worry that was eating away at him.

I went to sit back down next to him. “Dad is the strongest wolf shifter we have ever known, right?”

He nodded, hands clasped in his lap, head down as if in prayer.

“Miti has already taken blood samples and is running tests,” I assured him. “I heard Dredge finally told Dad and Miti what Pac had given him. His blood should help us figure out what is going on. There’s not much any of us can do until we find out what exactly the tonic water was that Pac was feeding us.”

Bruno swallowed. “Do you think we’re all going to die?”

“No. I don’t think anyone is going to die. Miti will find a solution,” I said, this time with more force. I didn’t like this downtrodden Bruno. He was usually the joking-around-and-always-having-fun brother.

“Okay, if you say so.”

“I know what you can do to take your mind off of things, Bruno. How about you come up with a list of songs for the dance at Brandon and Becca’s wedding?”

He raised a brow. “Don’t they need to pick their own songs?”

“They’re going to pick their first dance and walk-out music, but you’re going to be the DJ.”

“I get full control of the dance songs?” he asked with an excited catch to his voice.

“Yes.” I could see Bruno’s face light up at the thought of being in charge of the music at Brandon’s wedding. “Now, given you have a task to sink into, go somewhere else. I have a lot on my mind.”