***

It surprised Vince to see that particular look in Pembroke’s eyes. It was a look of longing and something harder to define. He was also suddenly aware of their bodies touching way too much, causing their warmth to mix as if it was meant to be.

He could very well be imagining things. They had just been through a potentially life-threatening adventure, and his body might be feeling the need to claim itself back. It felt good to move. Also, it felt good to feel another’s body close.

“We must return to my pack,” Ryder announced, making them all turn toward him.

The alpha of Luna’s Sentinels barely had time to say those words before wolves of all sizes emerged from the woods and surrounded them.

“Thank you for freeing our pack from the curse, alpha,” they cheered, as they paid their respects to Ryder.

One young wolfshifter hurried toward Jack. “I’m so sorry, Jack. I failed you,” he shouted in dismay.

That had to be the wolf who had helped Jack through the woods earlier before the clairvoyant had been pulled into the course meant for him, Vince, and Theodore.

Jack smiled at the young man and waved, but he didn’t have a chance to do more than that. Pembroke stepped in front of Jack and pushed him behind his back. “This human is my responsibility. Beat it, punk.”

Vince had to say that he felt sorry for the pup, who was quick to make himself small before Theodore.

“I meant no disrespect, alpha,” the youngster said, showing that he knew very well what the power of an alpha meant.

Theodore said nothing; he only watched the pup retreating and stood there, standing tall, with his fists clenched.

“You could be nicer, you know,” Jack said. “I mean, the poor kid must have been so worried after losing me in the woods--”

“He didn’t even do his job right,” Theodore said with a huff. “I’m not surprised.”

“Well, Cassandra’s creepy lullaby did him in. It wasn’t his fault,” Jack insisted.

Vince wanted to signal to Jack to stop talking if he knew what was good for him, but it was impossible to catch the guy’s eye. For all his talking smack, Jack seemed to find it impossible to tear his eyes away from Pembroke.

“Should I leave you guys alone?” Vince joked to break the tension between them.

“No. We must all remain together,” Theodore said, moving his eyes from Jack to Vince.

There had to be something to be said about the eyes of an alpha. Vince had had his fair share of bed partners, but he couldn’t recall one time when a single glance from a man, no matter how attractive, made him think of sex instantly. It was an overpowering sensation, too; in bed, Vince was a top by design since guys normally expected him to assume that role, but under these particular circumstances, with this particular man, he could see himself folding.

No, he shook his head, what was he thinking? Pembroke just happened to be incredibly sexy, and Vince, being the unapologetically gay man that he was, couldn’t not notice it.

His role was to guard and protect. Even if he wasn’t certain what that meant, it surely didn’t include getting freaky with a man with eyes of steel and a body to match. Right?

The same pup from before interrupted their weird tension. “We’ve reserved a house for you. It has all you might need for a short stay, but we’ll resupply it soon. Would you please follow me?”

He kept his head down, surely fearful of Theodore.

“Very well,” Pembroke said in his usual domineering tone. “Lead the way.”

Jack fell in line with Vince, hanging back a bit. He wrapped his arm around Vince, gluing himself to him. “Theo is making my little thing hard. Do you think we’re required to mate or whatever it’s called sooner? Or later?”

“I have no idea,” Vince replied honestly.

TBC