Finally, when the two wolves had had enough of their greeting ceremony, Rider seemed to rein in his animal and stood up tall, his wolf towering over Sean’s much like the man did when they were in their other forms. Still, every move the bigger wolf made was slightly submissive even when majestic.
Sean understood now. Rider was an alpha, and his wolf had chosen Rider for its new alpha pair and Rider’s wolf was accepting the position with clear happiness. It exuded from the wolves, happiness and balance, and clear feeling of togetherness that had been lacking from Sean’s life since Zoya’s death.
He knew Rider was now waiting for him to shift, so he took shaky control over his wolf, still overjoyed by the fact that it was there, and faced Rider. They shifted almost exactly at the same time.
“I’m sorry. I had to take a detour on my way here.” Rider stood there buck naked just like Sean.
“I love you,” Sean replied calmly.
“I was going to call y—” Rider stopped and blinked. “W-what?”