"I can't fucking believe this." I throw myself back onto the bed with Jessica. She's tugging her shoes on while the men hide out somewhere to feed their wolves. So much I don't know, and fuck, I wish I did.

"At least he gave you the tea. And he's been respectful to take care of himself without putting the burden on you. The trials thing, well, I can't help but get a little excited."

I shoot up on the bed, "Excited?"

She shrugs dropped her foot on the ground, "Ares is a fuck ton stronger than most wolves. You should see him train. Even Josh has trouble going against him, and the beta should be up to par. Tyson... ah that poor fucker."

"Oh. Okay."

"Now, how do you feel? About knotting and everything?"

"I feel like you are a mother hen guiding me through a forest of bullshit. When was he going to mention that he has wolf sex traits?" I shiver. It felt amazing in the moment, truly, but after a quick search on Jess's new phone I was more than okay with it never happening again.

"You have to put into perspective that they are half wolves. They aren't going to be totally cut off from their animal side while human, nor their human while animal." She lays her hand over mine, her mark peeks out of the collar of her shirt. She's much different.

"You really have changed. You know that? Not in a bad way, just a way."

"It really happened when I marked him in return and realized I love him. Gross, but true. You got this, I mean, Ares is your personal sex god that can feed your never ending shopping addiction. Might as well get comfortable, because that ass isn't letting you out of his sight."

~

The men returned soon enough, their bodies covered in sweat. The gashes and scars that covered Ares the night before are long gone, his beautifully tattooed body on display. Josh claps his hand against Ares's back before running off into the hotel. I watch him life his nose smelling for me. When he catches my scent, his head turns making full eye contact with me as I load a car Jess pointed me too.

"Why are you doing that? Here, let me help." He runs over in a blur of speed grabbing the suitcase from me. I shake in my shoes at the sight of him running towards me before I could take in a breath.

"Oh um..." He's displaying more.

"Have I made you uncomfortable? I understand James was horrid however I promise to never hurt you as he did. We don't collar our women unless they have done much worse."

"No. Um." I tap my finger against my chin, "Just a lot, going on..." I point at my head. My bun lulls to one side as I turn my chin upwards. He lifts his hand gently rubbing his thumb over my cheek bone.

"I love you, Veronica."

I keep silent, as the usual. The potential to love him is such a roller coaster for me. Josh was so forefront with Jess, telling her everything about the wolves and adapting her to the big picture. Ares has been so delicate, other than our tumbles in the bedroom. Now I feel so behind and confused. I hadn't the slightest idea he could touch his wolf abilities in human form other than the mind link.

He dips into my mind listening to my aneurism of thoughts that fly through my brain, "I didn't intend to make you feel as such. I wanted to slowly adjust you to this world, but Josh has helped me come to my senses."

"I suppose I should say thank you, however, I don't really know what to say."

"Let's focus on getting you home. We can talk during the drive."

I peek back to the car, "And how do we have cars? Jess informed me that you ran as wolves."

"The humans drove them over, then we flew them back. As we haven't completed the markings I assumed driving would be much more comfortable for you."

Josh loads another car for Jess. While she has the endurance of a wolf, I'm sure that riding wolf back across the states is plain awful.

And she did it for me.

"Okay. Let's go then."