“Then we should attack each other to blow off some steam,” Abel returned.

Callum held his eyes and nodded slowly. “All right, Abel.”

The men pushed back, including Lucien, his eyes to Xun, which meant they were training too.

Considering I didn’t think I was destined to karate chop my way to saving the world, I stayed where I was and reached for the silver coffeepot.

I had it by the handle held up in the air when I felt Abel’s hand curl around my neck.

I tipped my head back, he bent in to give me a short, soft kiss, then he was gone.

With similar gestures for their mates, Callum and Lucien were gone with him. Without bitches to kiss, the rest just filed out.

Leaving Leah, Sonia, and me with Poncho.

“Don’t you smoke?” Sonia asked him, and he grinned wickedly at her.

“I do, beautiful, but I do not when I got a shot at sittin’ at a fancy-ass table with three gorgeous women, drinkin’ coffee, and shootin’ the shit.”

That was Poncho. He was a flirt.

I gave him a smile.

He returned it.

Then I poured my coffee, sat back with mug in hand, and while the world continued to hang in the balance, I shot the shit with my friends.

* * * * *

I moved through the grass toward the wolves doing what they’d been doing for days and days.

And I did it enjoying what I saw.

Callum was an incredibly handsome wolf, Ryon, Calder, and Caleb weren’t slouches either, but Abel was glorious. Big. Beautiful. And his fur was amazing. I’d touched it and it was thick and soft. Seeing him as wolf, I hoped one day I’d have a chance (or many of them) to go out with my mate while he roamed.

Abel sensed me, separated from the pack, and leaped to man.

Okay, more glorious.

I turned, walking backward, giving them all time to do the same and get decent before I made it to them.

“We’re good, Lilah,” Abel called, and I turned back.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I said loudly since I still wasn’t that close, “but Gregor’s chat with Gastineau is done. He reported to us girls and I’m here to report to you.”

“Leah go to Lucien?” Callum asked.

“Yes. And Sonia’s with the witches,” I told him, now close enough to stop so I did. “We decided to ask them if they could give Gastineau and the immortals that Gregor is sending to him a protection spell.”

“So Gregor is giving him reinforcements,” Ryon said, and I nodded.

“Etienne wasn’t where they’re holding Serena,” I shared. “It’s in a bunker, three stories down under a vampire-owned skyscraper, apparently where an old Feast used to be held. Hard to breach. They’re gonna try again anyway.”

The men had no response to this.