Rachel nodded, mollified, before returning her gaze to Sara.
Sara had her head down, hair covering her face, and Alpha Cornell was talking to her, too quietly for Rachel to make out the words. “What happens now?” she whispered, not wanting to interrupt whatever was going on over there.
“When we’re satisfied that there’s no danger of you biting each other, we can go inside.” Cam leant back against the car, not in Rachel’s space anymore but close.
“Can’t I see her alone? Just for a minute?” So many of the things she wanted to do, to say to Sara, weren’t meant to be in front of an audience.
Cam sighed. “As much as I want to say yes, I don’t think it’s a very good idea. Do you?”
“We won’t do—”
Cam’s raised eyebrow stopped her mid-sentence.
Yeah… Rachel rubbed at that spot over her heart. With the way she felt right now, if they were alone, Rachel would bite her in a heartbeat. “Point taken.” She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Sara’s scent lingered on the air around them, and Rachel still couldn’t believe they were actually there. Together. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I should have said that before. And I promise I’ll do my best to behave.”
Cam reached out and put his hand at the base of her throat. “There’s no need to thank me. I wish this wasn’t necessary, that things were different for you two.”
Rachel nodded.
“Look.” He moved to cup her jaw, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. “It’ll be easier when you’re used to being around her again. The urge to bite should settle. Maybe you can have a few minutes alone together after the meeting.”
Rachel looked at him in confusion for a couple of seconds. She’d forgotten they were here for a different purpose altogether.
Come on, Rachel, get a grip. You’re a beta for fuck’s sake.
“Okay.” Focusing on the wolves around her, Rachel drew on all her experience as a beta, and finally her heart rate slowed.
When Cam stepped away from her, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly before looking back over at Sara.
She was looking right at Rachel, her strong jaw jutted out in defiance with a “fuck you all for keeping us apart” expression.
Rachel grinned.
They could totally do this.
Turning to Cam, she nodded. “I’m ready. I won’t do anything rash. You have my word.”
Cam gestured to Alpha Cornell, and both she and Sara started walking towards them.
Mouth dry, Rachel watched them approach.
Their scents grew stronger with each step, and Rachel fought to keep control as Sara’s scent filled her lungs and wrapped around her. It felt like coming home, as though she was finally where she was meant to be, and as her gaze dropped to the smooth expanse of Sara’s neck, her teeth ached.
The consequences of completing the bond now would be far-reaching and potentially devastating for her pack. That thought kept her rooted to the spot, teeth safely tucked away. Her claws were another matter though, and she didn’t even try to keep them in. The pain helped her focus, and she welcomed it.
Sara’s hands mirrored Rachel’s, clenched into tight fists as they both came to a stop a few feet away. The faint smell of blood floated on the air, both hers and Sara’s. At least she wasn’t on her own in this.
“Alpha Cornell,” Cam greeted Sara’s grandmother with a bow of his head, which she returned. He turned to Sara. “Miss Gallen. Thank you both for meeting us.”
“Thank you for driving all this way.” Alpha Cornell cast a small smile at Sara, then deliberately stepped closer to Cam and Daryl, leaving Sara on her own. She gestured to the pub entrance. “Shall we?”
As the others turned to walk to the door, Rachel took the chance she’d been given and darted forward. Not caring who was watching, she pulled Sara close and buried her face in the crook of her neck, hands clutching at the back of her dress. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me neither.” Sara inhaled deeply, then let it out on a sigh. With one hand in Rachel’s hair and the other wrapped around her waist, she held Rachel tightly against her. “You smell so good, I don’t want to move.”
“I know what you mean.”
But they had to follow the others.
