shorts. How far down did the roots extend?
“No, I’m not dropping my shorts,” Kern said, with an admonishing expression. “We started with a single root and have been slowly building it piece by piece each year. We’re onto the leaves now. Hopefully we’ve both got enough room for at least another four or five hundred of them.”
Michael set down his glass and stood, mesmerised by the intricate black and white design. The added leaves, in varying shades of green made the tattoo appear three-dimensional. The artist in him yearned to trace each root, each branch. “That’s fantastic,” he whispered in a reverent tone. “How did you ever come up with the design?”
Kern pulled his shirt back down and walked to the bedroom, coming back with a very old book. “This is the book of our ancestors. They worshipped the great oak.”
Michael studied the inked drawing of a giant oak tree in the front of the book. He shook his head. “Thank you so much for sharing this with me. Haig has one, too, right?”
“Yes. A fae in Ireland is the artist. He’s magnificent. Haig and I travel north every year to celebrate our anniversary.”
“Am I to guess that’s where you’re from?” Michael asked, resuming his seat on the couch.
“Yes.”
“Do you still have family there?” Michael wondered what it would feel like to have a history like those around him. Of course he had Spiro and now Neo, but he didn’t even know if he had family or ancestors. Spiro had always just told him he’d been a gift of the gods.
“No.” Kern’s entire demeanour changed. “I’d better get dressed in case we run into trouble.”
The abrupt change in Kern surprised Michael. He watched the werewolf stride from the room with purpose. Michael had a strong suspicion that purpose was to get the hell away from him. Why did he have to ask so many questions?
He picked up the frozen steak and put it against his cheek once more. The action hurt like hell. It seemed his face was becoming more sensitive as time ticked by. Now, not only did he have to worry about Rafi coming back to finish the job and Neo’s reaction to their altercation, but the fact he’d made Kern angry with him.
Deciding it would be better to wait outside, Michael stood and carried the wrapped steak back to the freezer. It was still pretty frozen, so he figured it would be okay to eat. He glanced around the warm home once more before opening the door and stepping out onto the porch. Michael considered sitting on the swing, but he no longer felt right about invading Kern and Haig’s home.
For the first time since he’d come to Le Uve del Regno , Michael realised he was the odd man out. He had no people, no history and no business poking into the lives of others, even out of friendship. The wolves already had a pack. They didn’t need him asking stupid questions.
“What the hell are you doing out here by yourself?” Gunnar yelled, running towards him with Haig on his heels.
“Where’s Kern?” Haig asked.
Michael gestured towards the house. “I think I made him mad. I didn’t mean to, I swear.” Michael shook his head and started in the direction of Neo’s house. “I’m sorry, Haig. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’ll go tell Neo myself.”
“Don’t you dare take another step,” Gunnar growled.
Although Gunnar wasn’t his alpha, Michael almost dropped to the ground and bared his throat at the command. Damn. How did the man do that?!
“ Why’re you out here?” Kern asked, coming out onto the porch.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Haig mumbled.
Gunnar stomped over and tilted Michael’s chin up, his eyes narrowing as he took in the damage wrought by Rafi’s blow. “How does it feel?”
Michael opened his mouth to downplay his injury, but before he could get the words out, Gunnar shook his finger. “Remember I can smell a lie.”
No way. Was there anything Gunnar couldn’t do? “It hurts,” Michael confessed.
Gunnar stared at Michael
“No, I’m not dropping my shorts,” Kern said, with an admonishing expression. “We started with a single root and have been slowly building it piece by piece each year. We’re onto the leaves now. Hopefully we’ve both got enough room for at least another four or five hundred of them.”
Michael set down his glass and stood, mesmerised by the intricate black and white design. The added leaves, in varying shades of green made the tattoo appear three-dimensional. The artist in him yearned to trace each root, each branch. “That’s fantastic,” he whispered in a reverent tone. “How did you ever come up with the design?”
Kern pulled his shirt back down and walked to the bedroom, coming back with a very old book. “This is the book of our ancestors. They worshipped the great oak.”
Michael studied the inked drawing of a giant oak tree in the front of the book. He shook his head. “Thank you so much for sharing this with me. Haig has one, too, right?”
“Yes. A fae in Ireland is the artist. He’s magnificent. Haig and I travel north every year to celebrate our anniversary.”
“Am I to guess that’s where you’re from?” Michael asked, resuming his seat on the couch.
“Yes.”
“Do you still have family there?” Michael wondered what it would feel like to have a history like those around him. Of course he had Spiro and now Neo, but he didn’t even know if he had family or ancestors. Spiro had always just told him he’d been a gift of the gods.
“No.” Kern’s entire demeanour changed. “I’d better get dressed in case we run into trouble.”
The abrupt change in Kern surprised Michael. He watched the werewolf stride from the room with purpose. Michael had a strong suspicion that purpose was to get the hell away from him. Why did he have to ask so many questions?
He picked up the frozen steak and put it against his cheek once more. The action hurt like hell. It seemed his face was becoming more sensitive as time ticked by. Now, not only did he have to worry about Rafi coming back to finish the job and Neo’s reaction to their altercation, but the fact he’d made Kern angry with him.
Deciding it would be better to wait outside, Michael stood and carried the wrapped steak back to the freezer. It was still pretty frozen, so he figured it would be okay to eat. He glanced around the warm home once more before opening the door and stepping out onto the porch. Michael considered sitting on the swing, but he no longer felt right about invading Kern and Haig’s home.
For the first time since he’d come to Le Uve del Regno , Michael realised he was the odd man out. He had no people, no history and no business poking into the lives of others, even out of friendship. The wolves already had a pack. They didn’t need him asking stupid questions.
“What the hell are you doing out here by yourself?” Gunnar yelled, running towards him with Haig on his heels.
“Where’s Kern?” Haig asked.
Michael gestured towards the house. “I think I made him mad. I didn’t mean to, I swear.” Michael shook his head and started in the direction of Neo’s house. “I’m sorry, Haig. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’ll go tell Neo myself.”
“Don’t you dare take another step,” Gunnar growled.
Although Gunnar wasn’t his alpha, Michael almost dropped to the ground and bared his throat at the command. Damn. How did the man do that?!
“ Why’re you out here?” Kern asked, coming out onto the porch.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Haig mumbled.
Gunnar stomped over and tilted Michael’s chin up, his eyes narrowing as he took in the damage wrought by Rafi’s blow. “How does it feel?”
Michael opened his mouth to downplay his injury, but before he could get the words out, Gunnar shook his finger. “Remember I can smell a lie.”
No way. Was there anything Gunnar couldn’t do? “It hurts,” Michael confessed.
Gunnar stared at Michael
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