Tristan was sitting on the bed, one of my books in his hands. I arched my brow at the sight as I walked to my bag and grabbed my brush, “I didn’t take you as the reading type.”

He looked up at me and smiled, setting the book aside, “I’m full of surprises. Secretly, I was a nerd as a teenager.”

“Hmmm, I think I’m going to need proof of this before I believe it.” I sat down on the wooden chest at the foot of the bed and started to work on brushing my hair out.

“I’m afraid I destroyed the evidence long ago, so you will just have to take me at my word.” He scooched down the bed, coming to sit behind me as he took my brush from me, “Let me help.”

“You don’t have to do that. I have a lot of hair, you might not have the muscles for it.” I teased him.

“Hmm, you think so? I had just wanted to, but now I feel like I’ve been issued a challenge.” He kissed the tip of my ear and I blushed at the action.

“Alright, just don’t come crying to me when you’re sore later.”

He laughed and it was such a rich, deep laugh that it sent shivers down my spine. He worked my brush through my hair with enough skill that I knew he had done this before. “Deal. So tell me, how did you end up a half-pint wolf, hmm? Don’t get me wrong, I love it, I’m just curious.”

“Half-pint, that’s a new one.” I lowered my voice, even though these rooms were supposedly sound proof, “I inherited the runt gene from my mother, she was only 5’0”. I used to make her measure herself on the wall with me and my brother when I was little, sure that I was going to be taller than her every time.”

“Runt gene, that’s funny. I think I like Half-Pint better though.”

“Aramyth calls me “Little One” but I kind of like the way you say Half-Pint myself.”

“Mmm, Half-Pint it is then.” He set my brush aside and started to braid my hair into two braids.

“And you can do hair? You really are full of surprises!”

“You can thank Kami for this one, she went through a stage where she refused to let anyone but me near her hair, so our mother taught me some of the basics.”

“You’re going to spoil me if you keep this up.”

“I plan on it. You deserve a little spoiling.”

When he had finished I pulled a braid forward to inspect it. I was truly impressed, his mother had taught him well, “I’m going to feel a little guilty if you spoil me. I’m not used to having anyone do anything for me. Other than Mat, he can’t braid to save his life. He is however responsible for 90% of my wardrobe so he does have his uses.”

“Mmm, maybe we should take him shopping with us.”

“You’d be hard pressed to stop him from going.”

“I don’t doubt it. He’s as protective of you as I am. I’ll be honest, it made me jealous at first, and then he told me he’s gay and you’re basically his sister and I felt better.”

“He is probably the only male I’ve ever let near me voluntarily, other than you now. He and Faith have stitched me up more times than I care to count. Faith is a nurse and Mat has learned a lot from her over the last few years. I feel guilty about how much they’ve had to take care of me.”

“I’m grateful that they did. If they hadn’t been there for you, I may never have found you. I’ve been waiting a long time for you.” He nuzzled my shoulder and then pulled me back onto the bed with him, settling us under the blankets and curling himself around me in a protective manner.

“How old are you anyway? In all the chaos I never asked.”

“I’m 21, does that bother you?”

“No, not at all. It’s only a 3 year difference. I was just curious.” I yawned and snuggled into him.

“Good, let’s get some sleep, we’ll be setting out early tomorrow. It takes 2 days to get to our territory in human form. Normally we would run, but I know we have to be careful with you shifting, at least until we’re back home.”

“I could get Mat to give me a ride. He wouldn’t mind. He used to take me on runs that way when I couldn’t shift.”

He growled a little, “Hmph, no way. If you’re going to ride on a wolf, it will be Ryder.”

I laughed a little, “Only if Mr. Growly doesn’t mind. Why don’t you let him to the surface and I’ll ask him myself.”

“You're never going to let that die are you?”

“No way, if I’m Half-Pint you and Ryder are forever Mr. Growly.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll let Ryder surface, but only for a few minutes, wolves are much more primal and he has less self control than I do.”

“That’s fair.”

Tristan closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again, his smokey blue-gray eyes had been replaced with Ryder’s green ones, “Hello my little Half-Pint.”

“Hello Mr. Growly.”

He leaned forward, sticking his nose into the curve of my neck to draw in my scent, “You smell like us. I like it.”

“Well I did use Tristan’s shower stuff.”

“Mmm, now I understand you have something you want from me?”

“Yes, I want to make sure you don’t mind giving me a lift when we leave? I know a lot of Alpha’s find it indignant to have someone ride on their back. If that’s the case, I can get a ride on Xavier, Mat’s wolf. That way I’m not slowing us down.”

Ryder growled a little and nipped my shoulder, “No ma’am. I will give you a ride. Having anyone else on my back would be insulting, but you are my mate and your safety is most important. Which means both speed and you not shifting until we have you safely on our territory. I would be honored to give you a lift.”

“Thank you Ryder.” I leaned forward to give him a soft, brief kiss, unsure of myself in doing so.

He followed me when I pulled away and captured my lips in his in a much more passionate one, but he did keep it relatively brief as well, “You’re welcome Half-Pint. I will let Tristan back now. You’re too tempting for me to stay longer.”

~Tristan~

“O-Okay.” she blushed and nodded, averting her gaze to hide her flushed cheeks from me. I laughed softly at her as Ryder slipped into the back of my mind and I came back to the front, she was adorable.

“He’s right, you really have no idea how appealing you are, to both of us.” I confirmed Ryder’s opinion.

“That’s just the bond, I’m really nothing special. I look nothing like a typical she-wolf.”

“No it’s not, you listen to me and you listen well, Faelyn.” she gasped a little when I used her actual name. I know I wasn’t supposed to, not yet anyway, but I wanted her to realize that I meant everything I was saying to her, “You’re right, you look nothing like typical she-wolves, but that is not a bad thing. That makes you more unique, more beautiful, more appealing. You are strong, brave, kind, resourceful and tough. You will be amazing by my side as Luna. I love everything about you, from your tiny size to the freckles across your nose to the almost imperceivable point of your ears. I love it all.” I loved her, but I didn’t want to scare her off by telling her that yet.

“I don’t have freckles, do I?”

A whole mini-speech and that’s what she focuses on? “You do, right across your cheeks and nose. They’re adorable, just like you.”

“Thanks.” Her voice was soft when she spoke. I knew she was new to all this, so was I, but I hadn’t been beaten down and degraded for years. She didn’t need kid gloves, not by any means, but she needed to be in control and leading the relationship, and that I would happily let her have and do.

I kissed her forehead and pulled her into me further, “Now it’s really time for sleep. You’re safe here, nothing and no one will get to you while I’m here.”

She nodded against my chest and I stayed awake until I felt her breathing even out and heard her quiet, cute little snore. Only when I knew she was sleeping did I let myself sleep as well.