“I think you two need the time alone so I’m going to head out.” Akio reached out to take one of Michelle’s hands, kissing it. “I’ll see you tomorrow, little witch.”

She dragged her eyelids up, a smile on her lips. “Okay. Thank you, Akio.” She blushed and both men chuckled. “I mean, yeah, thanks.”

“I told Josh already, but I promise you it was my pleasure.”

“Come over early and I’ll make a big breakfast.”

Akio nodded and was gone. Josh turned his attention to her once more. “Hey, beautiful, you all right?”

“It’s sort of a mini-version of the bond with you. I’m feeling better now.”

“Yeah? How much better?” He needed her. Not if it would hurt her or bring her discomfort. But his wolf was anxious to stamp over Akio’s presence.

Her gaze sharpened, and she managed to sit up and straddle him. “Why is that, Josh? Hm?”

He slowly got her to her back, looming over her. “I…”

“Need to be in me because another male just was?”

“Sounds petty.”

She shook her head. “No it doesn’t. Come on in.”

And as he slid into her body, he came home.

Chapter Thirteen

She got up and took a shower, saving her tears for when she had time behind a closed door. She’d woken up after a dream where she’d been back at the house they’d found Allie.

The memory of her friend’s broken body echoed through her like she’d been punched in the gut.

Of course Josh sensed her upset through the link and barged in.

“What’s wrong?” He pulled the enclosure door open.

“I’m living with a man who doesn’t knock on a closed bathroom door?”

He simply got in the enclosure with her, crowding her, pulling her close. “Living with a wolf. Comes with the territory.”

“I just had a dream about Allie.”

He took over, washing her hair as she stood there, sort of stunned by this big, powerful male tending to her so gently. He was so…tender with her. It made her tears come again.

“I’m sorry. I don’t normally cry this much,” she muttered.

“If anyone got to cry, you get to this week. There’s no shame in mourning someone you lost. I’m sorry. I wish I could make it better. I wish the end of the story was different.”

“You are making it better. Without you I probably wouldn’t even have found her, and even if I had, I’d be alone. This thing between us, this bond? It makes everything better.”

He tipped her chin up as he soaped her body. “Thank you for that. You’re okay about…everything this morning?”

She couldn’t help it, she laughed. “After my three-way you mean?” He tried to appear stern but failed. “Yes, I’m fine. I mean, it might be awkward when he comes over for pancakes, but it felt…right, when we were doing it.”

“It was beautiful. You’re beautiful, and I ache that you’re having to go through this pain.”

“I’m alive. I’m in love and have so much ahead of me. Allie doesn’t have any of that. If it’s the last thing I do, I will find the people who did this to her. Who destroyed her future.”

“I’ll be with you the whole way.”

They got out and she made a big breakfast, as promised. Though cooking for werewolves was a challenge because she had to make so much more than she normally would.

Right on time, there was a tap on the door and Josh let Akio in.

He moved to her and she realized there was a link to him too. Not as all-encompassing as the one she shared with Josh, but she could feel his pleasure at seeing her. Affection. It was nice to have someone see her and feel so happy.

He kissed her cheek and handed her a huge bouquet of flowers.

She put them in water as he and Josh got coffee and put out plates before they all sat at the table to eat before they headed out. Their connection was easy, and she began to understand what Gina had meant when she’d talked about their connection with her anchor.

Akio was dear to her. He was part of her now and she part of him. She didn’t need to be a wolf to understand it. It just was and it pleased her to hear him speak. The rumble of his accent as it accented Josh’s.

And where Josh was snarly when other males had been affectionate to her, he seemed fine with the way Akio would touch her from time to time. How he’d stolen food from her plate and she’d laughed.

Even when he’d hugged her when she’d nearly cried as she’d described the situation at the crime scene. Josh had handed her a box of tissues, and both males had watched her carefully, features full of concern.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Akio asked from the back seat as they pulled away from the apartment and headed to the scene. “You can stay back here. Josh can take me. I need the scents, I can get it without you. Neither of us wants you unnecessarily upset.”

“He’s right.” Josh worried about her too. “I don’t want you hurting any more than you have to.”

“Look, yes, this is my friend, but I’m a cop. It’s what I do. And frankly at least this way I can feel like I’m doing something to find whoever is responsible. It’s not my ideal way to spend a Sunday morning, but it needs to be done.”

Akio squeezed her shoulder, and Josh let his concern and comfort flow through the link. He knew it was hard sometimes for newly bonded pairs to share through the link, but maybe it was due to having known her so long, things seemed to be all right on that front.