“If we could, uh, take this inside, maybe?” says Solomon, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “I think there are still some things that need to be discussed.”
Blake gently squeezes my hips, then carefully moves me to the side so he can stand. He cups his hands in front of his groin, then darts a glance at Solomon and tips his head slightly to the side. “Alpha.”
Solomon acknowledges the show of respect with a sharp nod, then strides forward. Blake stiffens, but remains in place as Solomon approaches, stopping less than a foot in front of Blake and holding out a hand.
“It is a pleasure to officially meet you, and I’m relieved things were able to be resolved without further bloodshed,” says Solomon in that low, calm voice. The corner of his mouth twitches. “IfTaylor didn’t kill me for screwing this whole thing up, your brother certainly would.”
Blake’s mouth drops open and his eyes fly up to meet Solomon’s. “My brother? You know Ollie?”
“I do,” he replies. “Without his help, we never could have infiltrated Rockcastle and taken down the trafficking operation. Just like we might never have been able to uncover Doyle’s treachery without you and Neil.” A small smile tugs at his lips. “It seems that being a hero runs in the family.”
“Thank you, Alpha.”
Solomon waves him off. “Come,” he says, clapping Blake on the shoulder. “Let’s get you cleaned up and find you something to wear.”
Blake reaches out to grab my hand, and I smile up at him. There are still plenty of things left to figure out—like where we’re going to live—but for now, this is enough. I have my mate. I have my best friend. And none of us are in imminent danger. Everything else can wait.
Raquel links her arm through mine and we all file back into the house, leaving Doyle’s body in the dirt where it belongs.
Good riddance to a bad rubbish.
Epilogue
Neil
It’samazingwhatadifference a good night’s sleep can make. Especially when that night is almost eighteen hours long thanks to blackout curtains and utter exhaustion. After the shitshow with Doyle, we had a brief strategy session with Solomon last night where we went over important details like, human or not, Raquel is here is stay and nobody’s going to give me—or her—any grief about it. Then, Blake and I stumbled to bed in the master bedroom of the smaller house I was held in sometime around ten. Now the clock reads 2:05 and context clues, like my lack of a headache, tell me that’s definitely p.m. and not a.m.
More than half the day is gone, and I couldn’t care less. I’m in a warm, comfortable bed, alone with my mate, and for the first time since we met, we’re not running for our lives.
I yawn and stretch my arms, then snuggle back into my pillow. Blake’s arm tightens around my waist and he nuzzles at the nape of my neck, letting out a contented noise.
“Morning,” he says, voice heavy with sleep.
“Afternoon actually,” I correct, tilting my head to give him better access to my neck.
He chuckles and pulls me closer, his very obvious erection nestling between my ass cheeks. “Does it really matter what time is it?”
“Nope.” I arch my back, pushing back into him. “Not. At. All.”
A low growl rumbles in his chest as he runs his nose down the side of my neck, then nips at my shoulder. “We’re alone.”
“Uh-huh.” I close my eyes as his fingers brush across the waistband of my boxers.
“Maybe we should take advantage of that?”
I nod eagerly. “Yes. Definitely.”
The fated mate bond has been mostly quiet since our reunion—though, we’ve been sleeping most of that time—but now it flares to life, a blaze of heat in my chest, urging me closer to Blake.There’s still the whole pesky pregnancy thing, but there’s always the pull-out method, right?
I’m just about to say the same to Blake when there’s a knock at the door. I huff. Somebody has shit timing.
“Yeah?” I call out, not bothering to hide the annoyance in my voice.
“I brought you a present,” says Raquel in a sing-song voice from the other side of the door.
“Don’t care,” I grumble. “Go away.”
“You don’t want me to do that.”
