I’d hoped. And even though part of me was relieved at the idea of having him there, the other part of me wanted a little independence as well. “Alpha Hughes won’t need you here?” I asked innocently.
He grinned. “Oh, I’m sure she can do without me for a couple of days. Can’t you, Michelle?”
“Yes,” she said. “I suppose I can.”
“And it’s not like we’ll be gone long,” Ezra continued. “It’s a day’s drive to Fredericksburg, if we keep at it. We’ll be back before there’s any time to miss us at all.”
I groaned. I loved him, but the idea of being cooped up in a car with him for hours on end was going to drive me up the wall. He had terrible taste in music.
He laughed like he knew what I was thinking. “It won’t be so bad. Give us a chance to take a break. Meet some other wolves.” His eyes were sparkling. “Maybe even find yourself someone special.”
Fuck this. And him. “You are not going to pimp me out to another wolf. Not again.”
“Please. There was no pimping. It’s not my fault the last one was… well. Exuberant.”
“Exuberant?” I exclaimed incredulously. “She killed a goddamn bear and left it in front of the house!”
“It was a small bear,” Ezra told Michelle. “Probably only a couple of years old. Still, impressive, if you think about it. She certainly proved her worth. Anyone would be happy to have Sonari as a mate.”
“She snuck into the house and licked me while I was sleeping!”
“She wanted you to smell like her. Nothing wrong with that.”
I crossed my arms and sunk low in my chair. “You’ve got a seriously skewed view of right and wrong. You don’t lick people when they haven’t asked for it. And she’s a teacher. Who knows what she’s telling all those kids about courting?”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time. Let an old man have his fun, Robbie. Is it so much to ask to want to see you happy?”
I sighed, knowing I’d lost. I couldn’t deal whenever he got sentimental, and he knew it. “Just… if it happens, it happens, okay? I’ll know when it’s right. I don’t want to force it.”
“I know you don’t. Now, if that’s all, I’ll take my leave. I have things to attend to before we depart.”
Michelle nodded. “That’s fine. I want you to keep in touch for as long as you’re there, if you should find the need to stay longer than a couple of days. Keep me informed.”
“Of course, Alpha. Robbie, would you please—”
“Robbie stays.”
That caught him off guard. He looked between us. “Come again?”
Michelle looked stern. “I need to have a discussion with my second.”
I blinked in surprise. She’d never called me that before. I hadn’t even known that was on the table. Granted, she didn’t seem to have any other wolf who could have been her second—none that I knew of, anyway—but hearing it spoken aloud made me want to howl with joy.
“Of course,” Ezra said, bowing low. He stood upright again and squeezed my shoulder. “I have much to prepare for. There is a young witch named Gregory I need to speak with. He’s bright and eager, though a little foolhardy, even as he asks question after question. Reminds me of someone I know. I’ll see you at home, all right? We’ll leave bright and early, so don’t stay out too late.”
I nodded, barely hearing his words. I was still stuck on second.
He closed the door behind him, leaving us alone.
I tried to find the words to show my appreciation, practically vibrating in my chair, but Michelle spoke first. “Are you happy here, Robbie?”
“Yes,” I said immediately, and it was mostly the truth.
She watched me for a moment before nodding. “These dreams you’re having.”
I shifted in my chair. “Everyone dreams.”
“I know that. But is this different?”