When He's Dark (The Olympus Pride #1)

by Suzanne Wright

In her opinion, “simple” was often underappreciated.

People didn’t go to Bree if they wanted to be fussed over. They went to her if they wanted brutal honesty, someone to simply listen, or help cooking up a plan of vengeance.

They gave everything of themselves to their mate. Which sounded great. Until you considered just what it meant to be a wolverine’s anchor. They didn’t like being apart from their mate at all. They literally became their damn shadow—an unreasonably protective and uber-possessive shadow who’d adore every hair on their mate’s head while driving them insane.

Their styles also differed. Calvin wore fashionable clothes and shiny, expensive shoes. He also had a light mustache and a well-groomed beard. He kept one side of his hair extra short while the rest was longer and casually swept over the other side of his head. His tattoo sleeves gave his business-casual look an edge that suited him.

“I’ve decided I like having you under my skin. You feel good there. You always have.”

“My own grandmother believed imprint bonds are more special than true mate bonds, because it means your partner chose you. There’s no fate at work. The decision isn’t taken from your hands. That person wanted you enough that you mean more to them than anything else—even their true mate.”

For a shifter to leave a claiming bite on someone’s skin, they were declaring that they would forever care for, respect, cherish, and protect that person; promising they would never leave, neglect, or betray them. It was a special and extraordinary moment for both parties. One they’d remember forever.

Everyone needed an escape sometimes. Some used drugs or alcohol. She used books, and anyone who thought that was childish could go fuck themselves with a Tiki torch.

“Feeling you failed to save a person’s life eats at you. Makes you question your worth. Shakes your faith in yourself. Leaves you feeling undeserving and guilty for living. But you don’t lament that you feel that, because you believe you should feel it; you believe it’s what you deserve.

“Compassion? What is compassion? I not know this word. Sounds like weakness.”

“It’s hard to let go of something when you spent years of your life imagining it would be yours.”

“You’re the person I want to spend the rest of my life trapping under the covers while I fart.”