Read Lone Wolf Ripples 03 - The Fire of a Lone Wolf's Heart for Free Online

this stranger had obviously had more to do with it than his own efforts. He knew he should say something, thank her for her help or perhaps ask what was going on, but he couldn't make himself do it. The journey hadn't assuaged his fears over Perry's well-being, and instead of shifting to human form, he rushed past the woman, following the instincts that unerringly guided him to his mate's side.
    There were a lot of Sidhe around, but not one of them tried to stop him. He felt their eyes on him, felt their tension, but they must have known about his impending visit, because they just let him pass. Clay was relieved, because he didn't know what he'd have done if someone had stood in his way.
    The building was pretty labyrinthine, and the number of people within it hindered Clay's progress. After what seemed like forever, though, he finally reached his destination. He stopped in front of a large wooden door, noting the guards at each end of the corridor. They didn't pay him any heed, but he suspected that he was the exception to the rule, and if anyone else had approached, they'd have made use of the very sharp spears they held.
    Shifting into his human form, Clay pushed the door open. In a strange reenactment of the way they'd first met, Perry was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. When Clay entered the room, Perry's eyes immediately zeroed in on him.  "Clay?" he breathed out. "Are you really here? I thought I was imagining it."
    In seconds, Clay was by his mate's side. "I'm here," he said, pulling Perry in a tight embrace. "I'm with you."
    Moon be blessed, it felt so good to hold Perry again. Clay could have sobbed in relief had he not remained aware of the reasons why he'd ended up here to begin with.
    Perry buried his face in Clay's chest, holding him just as tightly. "We really have to stop meeting like this," he murmured.
    Clay agreed. He'd have much preferred his reunion with his mate to be at a time when Perry wasn't hurt. "What happened? Did they attack you?"
    He couldn't keep a growl from his voice, and that seemed to give Perry the incentive to break their embrace. "Ah, no, nothing like that. I was just startled. Turns out... Well, how should I put this? Congratulations. You're going to be a father."
    Clay's mind went blank. Out of everything Perry could have said, he hadn't expected that. In hindsight, it had been stupid of him not to consider the possibility. By now, the fact that male werewolves could get mates of the same sex pregnant was common knowledge, courtesy of all that mess with the Lone Wolf Pack. But he and Perry had had so little time together and so many other things to worry about that it had completely slipped his mind.
    "Clay?" Perry prodded him, voice small and uncertain. "Say something."
    Clay would have loved to do exactly that, but the words simply refused to come. His mind was stuck on a single concept, one image and one idea flashing over and over in his consciousness. A pup. A family. Everything he'd ever wanted, right here, right now, in this beautiful man who'd burned Clay's past to a crisp and built his future out of the ashes.
    Crushed by emotion, Clay could only open his heart to Perry and show everything he felt to his mate. At the same time, he pressed his hand to Perry's stomach and his mouth against Perry's own.
    Given that he was still naked, it would have been very easy for things to progress to some reunion sex, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. A knock announced the arrival of a very unwanted visitor. Clay had the time to cover himself with Perry's sheets before his mate called out, "Yes?"
    The woman who'd helped them stepped into the room, watching them with a fond smile. "I see your mate's given you the news," she said. "Congratulations."
    "Thank you," Clay somehow managed to reply. "I... I don't even know what to say."
    "You don't have to say anything. There's been enough loss because of differences between our species. I lost my daughter to prejudice. I won't allow