“Yours to protect, love, provide for, and respect—not command,” her wolf snarled back. “We do not take orders from you. We do not walk a pace behind you. We do not turn belly up to you. We do not take the lead. We stand beside you as your equal.” Jacque felt her wolf give her back control. When she spoke it was her own voice. “Please let me take a shower and then we will talk.” He didn’t move. Jacque knew part of it was that he didn’t want her out of his sight.Stupid, possessive wolf.
He looked in pain when he spoke. “My wolf doesn’t want to leave.”
Jacque sighed. “Whatever,” she huffed as she slipped the towel off and climbed into the shower. She was tired. She was shaken. She missed her son and her mate and she didn’t need him projecting his drama onto her.
Jacque didn’t realize she was crying until a choked sob broke through. Half a minute later, she was in Fane’s arms as the hot water beat down on them.
“Shh,” he purred in her ear as he held her face to his chest. “I’m sorry. I let my fear and worry for you overwhelm me. I should have considered what you were going through. I’m sorry, Luna. Shh, please don’t cry, love.”
But that just made her cry harder. “Am I a bad mother?” she asked through a sob.
“No,” Fane said quickly. “You’re the best mother ever. I was an ass to say that. I shouldn’t have. I couldn’t ask for a better mother of my child.”
After a while, she calmed down and Fane was able to coax her out of his arms. “Turn around and let me wash your hair,” he told her.
She was too tired to tease him about being bossy. And besides, she really didn’t want to raise her arms to wash it herself; she was just too tired. So she let her mate tend to her. In fact, Jacque let Fane handle everything because he was willing to and she was worn out.
By the time he had her in one of his t-shirts and in their bed, she felt as if she’d had a day at a spa. Fane was staring at her with adoration and hurt in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said for the millionth time. “Please forgive me,” he whispered as he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
“I’ll forgive you this time,” she murmured against his neck where she’d tucked her head.
“And what about the next time?”
“It might take more than pampering me to get back in my good graces.”
He chuckled and it was dark and rich. “I’ll give you anything you want.”
“I just want you to refrain from flipping your lid, and I don’t want to be the cause of our son’s future counseling.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he teased her as he let his hands wander.
“Hey, whoa, mister. What do you think you’re doing?” Jacque growled.
“Having a little fun,” he said against her ear. “It’s what I should have done instead of wasting time fighting.”
An hour and a half later, Jacque lay glowing and sated in his arms. “You are so forgiven.”
Fane laughed. “Good to hear, love.”
Alina snuggled into Vasile’s arms as they sat on their couch.When I Fall In Love,by Nat King Cole, played quietly in the background and candlelight danced softly around the room.It was peaceful, Alina thought, though they were far from peace.
“Everyone is safe tonight,” Vasile told her gently. He thought it was cute that she felt protective of everyone that they’d grown close to, even Cyn and Thalion.
“But for how long?” Alina whispered.
Vasile pressed a kiss to her neck. “We can talk about the future tomorrow. Tonight we will give thanks that we are all alive. And though some aren’t whole, they have already begun healing.”
“I love you, Vasile.” Alina turned to look up at him. “I love you so very much.”
Vasile leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead, her cheeks, and then her lips. “Mina,” he whispered against her lips. “Without you there is no life in me. There is no joy or light or peace. You bring those things to me. Please, love, stop worrying just for tonight and focus on us.” He pressed another kiss to her lips, this one lasting longer. “I love you just as much, Mina, if not more.”
Cypher wrapped his arms around his mate as she snuggled close to him. She was his world and he’d missed her while she’d been taking care of their grandson. Yes, he claimed Slate, just as he claimed Jacque, because they were a part of Lilly. And he would do anything he had to in order to keep Lilly and those she loved safe and happy.
“It’s good to have you back,” he said into the darkness of their room.
He could feel her smile against his chest. “It’s good to be back. Although I did enjoy the time with Slate, Thia, and Alina.”
