Hidden Destiny (Redwood Pack) by Carrie Ann Ryan Page A

might be his aunt.”
    He warmed. “Because you’re mine.”
    She smiled. “I meant because of her and my brother, but yes, because I’m yours.” She swallowed hard. “At least as much of me as I’m able to give.”
    He kissed her hard. “I’ll take it all and give you more.”
    Her smile went wobbly, and then she shook her head quickly as if to clear it. “Go play doctor, North, and leave your sister alone. I will see you for dinner. Okay? I’m going to talk to Parker before he goes with Cailin and Noah first though. I want to make sure he’s good to go for the day and talk about what happened this morning.”
    “And make sure he’s not scarred for life? Because walking in on me about to fill you is an image no kid should see.”
    Lexi raised a brow. “We were covered, so he didn’t actually see anything. And, yes, I will talk to him and see what he’s thinking.” She reached around and smacked his ass. “Now go.”
    He took her lips again then left the house. He could hear Logan and Parker in the kitchen talking but didn’t stop to say goodbye. No, he wasn’t sneaking out of the house—as wolves, the other two could hear him—but he had a feeling everyone needed a moment to breathe.
    He and Lexi had taken a huge step the night before, and it would take time for everyone to get used to it. One thing North would not be doing though would be to move back and let others rule his life. He was going to take all he could and find a way to make their non-mating mating work.
    However the hell that could work.
    “Looks like you’ve found your mate,” Patrick said as North made his way toward his house.
    North stopped and looked around, confused as to why Patrick was around the Jamenson area, considering his place was on the other side of the den.
    “What are you doing here?” He didn’t like the fact that Patrick seemed to be everywhere recently, and he sure as fuck wasn’t happy that the wolf knew where he’d been the night before.
    It wasn’t as if North was ashamed of being with Lexi, far from it, but some things were meant to be private. Sleeping with one’s mate for the first time was right at the top of that list.
    “Out for a jog with Jeffery,” Patrick raised his chin at the other wolf as he came out of the trees.
    North frowned between the two men. They both wore running clothes and seemed to be doing what Patrick had said, but it still didn’t sit right with him.
    “Is there something you need?” North asked.
    “Just wanted to say congratulations.” Patrick frowned at North’s shoulder, and North glared. “I don’t see a mark though. Taking it slow?”
    “Mating is a private thing, Patrick. Keep your thoughts to yourself. If we’re done here, I need to head home to shower.”
    Patrick just smiled. “Sure thing, Jamenson. Have a good day.” He and Jeffery loped away, leaving North with an uneasy feeling washing over him.
    Something was going on with that wolf, but North didn’t know what—at least not yet.
    Annoyed at this thought, he slammed into his house then cursed. Maddox and Jasper sat on his couch, their brows raised.
    “What the hell are you two doing here? Does this look like a community center? No. This is my home. The clinic is attached to the side, but that doesn’t mean you can just walk in whenever you please.”
    He left them before they could answer and stripped off his clothes. He jumped in the shower, anger at Corbin, whatever the fuck Patrick was up to, and frustration radiating off him.
    He had too much going on in his mind to think straight. Patrick was acting odd, Corbin was being way too fucking quiet, and fate had kicked him in the balls. He and his wolf wanted to act, to fight, but other than running headfirst into a situation they didn’t understand and getting themselves killed, North wasn’t sure what to do.
    He cleaned himself off quickly then turned off the water. He pulled back the curtain, only to curse again.
    Maddox stood with a towel in