~ JESSE ~I wasn’t going to fight that, and laughed a little as he growled and shoved the door closed behind me, then lifted me up and started carrying me towards the bed.For a moment I was just going to go with it—I wanted him too. And it was still thrilling and reassuring every time we reunited and he wanted me. But I also knew we had to leave for dinner soon, and he was probably going to be talking to the Council tonight. So I needed to convince him now.He dropped me on the bed, then straightened, his eyes raking down my body as he began to strip off his shirt. “I don’t have much time,” he muttered. “Get your clothes off.”I laughed and pushed up onto my knees, reaching for his shirt and smiling. “I want you to

~ JESSE ~I got my shit together and made myself go to dinner. The wolves were already perceiving and scenting everything that happened between us, I didn’t want to have to face questions about why the Queen was absent—and pouting. So a few minutes after Cazz left I put my big girl pants on and made myself follow him to the dining room. But I wasn’t happy about it.Cazz was already seated, and many of the others were already there scattered at seats around the long dining table that could sit twenty, but would only have about a dozen tonight. The food hadn’t come yet, so some of them hadn’t taken seats and were standing near the table, talking.When I walked in, Cazz was sitting at the head of the table, one elbow on the arm of his chair, his temple resting on his fist. The moment I stepped

~ CASIMIR ~When I realized I had been pacing my rooms for twenty minutes, I shook my head and made myself stop.She was my mate. She loved me. And I loved her. She was preparing for her first true duty as Queen, and I was nervous like a puppy at his first Rite. It was stupid.She still welcomed me every night, and falling into her arms was the highlight of my day. She was going to be beautiful—in the dress I arranged for her.It was time to put this tension aside and just be together.So, taking both a metaphorical, and briefly, a literal grip on my balls, I strode out of the room and towards her chambers, nodding to acknowledge a

~ JESSE ~ “More!” I gasped.Then he gave a moan so primal, the wave of my orgasm threatened to crest. I shuddered, shivered, goosebumps washing down my legs and up my spine.I was crying out, over and over, frantic, shaking, but I could do nothing but move my body to meet him because he had me pinned between his hips and his arm that was still planted on the bed over my shoulder.“Jesse… I need… you…”“Yes, Cazz… yes.”With a tormented cry he unleashed, hammering into me,

~ JESSE ~After our lovemaking, while Cazz had helped me straighten my clothes as best I could, he’d hurriedly explained the events of the night.He would address the wolves, welcoming them and reminding them of the historic nature of the occasion, and warn the males on how to address their conflicts when more than one shared an interest in a female. He would give them the date for their return and declaration of mates—another formality, since the pairings would be approved by Cazz and the Alphas of the packs in the week between this rite, and the banquet that closed the Selection for this season. Then there would be the Calling. At least, that’s what I remembered. Cazz hadn’t been entirely clear on the times.“The events will happen as they happen, Jesse. There is no time set, except fo