"I didn't know wolves could sense magic."
He shrugged. "I've never felt it this way before. Perhaps it's our close quarters."
Thinking back, Chloe tried to remember anything about species that could track a witch's power use. Usually it was only other magic users that could sense such changes. Not weres.
"Has anyone been able to do that to you before?" Kieran asked.
She shrugged. "No, but I live alone. You might be right about the cohabitation thing."
"Surely other witches would have mentioned it?"
Chloe looked back down at her book. "I don't speak to them often."
Other witches had covens, families. Even when they tried to include her, Chloe was always aware she was the outsider. Much like packs, it was rare for a witch to switch covens. Usually, the coven a witch was born into was the only option unless a witch married into another. Even then, there was a family connection to open a door.
She'd had no one.
While a baby might have been adopted into a coven, a grown woman wouldn't. After being rejected by a few groups in the sixties, she'd stopped hoping she'd find some magical family to fill the void inside her. Instead, she'd focused on creating her own bonds with other species more accepting of a lone witch. Jessica didn't care what sort of background she came from as long as Chloe could keep up with her at the bar.
But eschewing her people had some drawbacks. She'd had to learn about her magic on her own, with only books as a guide. Even after nearly a century of study, questions like Kieran's still stumped her from time to time.
"I'll research it," she said. "Let you know if I find an answer."
She glanced up at the wolf and found him watching her with sympathetic eyes.
Her fingers curled tightly on the spine of the book. She'd been doing her best to keep her distance from the tempting wolf but when he looked at her like that, her job just got harder.
"I'm fine as I am," she snapped, knowing he'd inferred more from her words than she wanted to reveal.
"Of course you are," he said evenly. "You don't need anyone else, right?"
"Right." She didn't long for the camaraderie he had with his pack. She didn't wish for a mate to wrap her in his arms. And if she did, the hero in her fantasies certainly didn't wear his face.
Kieran glanced at his watch and a smile tugged at his lips. "True as that might be, little witch, for the next few weeks you're not alone."
The air left her lungs. He couldn't have known how the words would affect her but they did. No one, in all her decades, had ever said them to her. But Kieran meant them in a very temporary sense and she had to be careful to remember that.
He looked up at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How sporty are you?"
"What?"
"Saturday mornings a few of the younger wolves in my pack organize a soccer game in the park. Time with them will guarantee a smile on your face."
Warmth spread through her before she forced herself to rein it in. Was he asking her to cheer her up or to set up another viewing op of their relationship?
His eyes displayed only eagerness.
"Do you usually join them?"
Kieran inclined his head. "When I can, since I'm so close to the park. I haven't been out in a few weeks due to work."
"I'm not the most coordinated sports player."
He nodded, looking back at his laptop. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't planning on being there today anyway. They won't be disappointed."
"No," she said. "I meant, you'll have to promise to overlook any instances of me running into trees and things as I attempt to play."
The smile he gave her was well worth any bruises she would acquire in this outing.
"I'll go change and be back down in a minute," she said.
"I'll let them know to expect us," Kieran replied as he reached for his phone.
As Chloe headed for her room, she wondered how exactly a werewolf match in the midst of mortals would turn out. Her nervousness was about the potential for supernatural exposure, she assured herself, and not because, once again, she was about to be judged by packmates that were important to the man living with her.
He'd planned to spend the day going over every minute detail of a new investment. Hours of work lay ahead of him-the reason he'd turned down the soccer game invitation in the first place. Though he loved to meet with members of his pack, business came before pleasure. Especially business that helped line the pack coffers as well as his own. He'd had a plan for his weekend the same way he had a plan for every other minute of his days.
But now he was walking through Central Park with a bouncing witch at his side.
Everyone needs a break now and then. He tried to rationalize the situation, ignoring the fact that he'd never been one to shirk a responsibility.
This is a chance to show off Chloe to more of the pack. It's a strategic outing. Good for our ruse.
Giving his younger packmates a chance to meet Chloe would help pave the way at the retreat and provide her with a few familiar faces to search out when they were in the woods. This work was more important than his investments if he wanted to protect his freedom.
That's all well and good, an inner voice whispered. But that's not why you asked her out.
No. He'd see the sadness in her eyes and wanted to do something, anything, to erase it.
Damned witch was wrapping him around her finger-a dangerous possibility he refused to dwell on too long.
"What are your packmates like?" Chloe asked.
"They're good kids," he replied. "Just relax. This is supposed to be fun."
"I am relaxed."
He arched a brow. The woman nearly vibrated with excitement and nervous energy.
"I just don't know what to expect," she defended. "I think we've covered that I don't regularly interact with werewolves."
"Be prepared for anything. Wolves are competitive and don't mind playing dirty in order to get what they want."
That brought a smile to her lips. "Good to know." She shot a pointed glance in his direction.
Unable to stop himself, he threaded an arm around her waist to pull her closer to his side. His sensitive hearing picked up her swift inhale, and the sound brought a smile to his lips.
"Just be yourself," he advised. "They'll love you."
She snorted at the words. "I think wolves are a little harder to win over."
He glanced down at her bouncing curls. She certainly wasn't having much trouble making him enjoy her company. Though cohabitation was necessary for his plan to look convincing, the past week with her had been far easier to adapt to than he'd anticipated. Too easy, in fact. He didn't want to get used to having her in his home when she was only a temporary addition to his life.
"Is that them?" Chloe pointed at a group up ahead of them.
"Yes. Are you ready?"
She took a breath and rolled her shoulders back. "Bring it on."
He leaned down, allowing his lips to brush against her cheek as he whispered in her ear. "Remember the point is to have fun."
She turned toward him, her mouth a breath away. "And to pretend to be madly into you," she whispered, low enough that no supernatural hearing would be able to pick up on their words.
"That too." His gaze dropped to her lips. So close. All he had to do was lean down a little and-
His arms were empty. Chloe grabbed his hand and pulled him off the path, into the bright, sun drenched field.
Though he had to smile at her eagerness, the lust riding his body wished she'd held still just a few moments longer.
The group ahead of them turned to watch their approach. Eight young adults gathered around, obviously enjoying being in each other's company. A soccer ball lay at their feet, waiting for a game to start up.
Glancing at the humans wandering by, he had to admit the group of weres didn't appear to be anything more than a pack of kids looking for a little exercise on a sunny day. But as soon as they spotted him, every one of them froze to attention. Eyes dropped to the ground and heads lowered in an automatic instinct as a more dominant wolf approached.
"Hello everyone," he greeted the group as they reached them. "Good to see you all."
Heads came back up and smiles lit the young faces.
"We're glad you could make time for us today," Kate replied.
"The pleasure is mine." And it was true. Looking at part of his pack, he couldn't regret taking a break from his computer today.
The group comprised some of the youngest of his family. Though they all looked like college kids, each had at least four or five decades under their belt. Still, they were young enough to depend on the pack for comfort and stability. He liked to make himself available to them whenever he got the chance.