His brow rose. “Absolutely. I’m your mate. Your needs before mine. Your desires before mine. You come first. That’s how thisworks.”
“And I do the same for you? Your needs come first, and your desires before mine?” Sally asked, beginning to feel a tiny sliver ofhope.
“Yes,” he answered and then leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. With the bond more open than it had been in days, Sally felt Costin’s emotions flood her as he pressed closer and parted his lips. Warmth filled her blood, chasing out the chill from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. He reached up with one of his hands and wrapped it around her neck, his palm resting on his bitemark.
Sally’s breath rushed from her lungs as she spread her lips and felt the warmth of his mouth and savored his familiar taste. It felt so good to just accept the love Costin was offering. For this brief moment, she was able to see that maybe, just maybe, there was a light at the end of the incredibly long, darktunnel.
“I hate to break up this beautiful, heartwarming moment.” Jen’s voice filled the silence that had enveloped them. Sally pulled back from the kiss, though she didn’t want it to end, and turned her head to look atJen.
“But you two have a plane to catch. So less sexy time and more packytime.”
Jacque stepped around Jen and glanced at the blonde. “That was lame.Again.”
Sally’s lips turned up slightly. “I have to agree with her, Jen. That was lame with a capitalL.” Then she frowned. “You mentioned a plane at our door this morning. What do you meanwehave a plane tocatch?”
Jen smiled, and it reminded Sally of the way Joker smiled at Batman—creepy. “We’re shipping you and dimples back toColdspring.”
Chapter Four
“I can’t take my eyes off of her. I know I’m probably smothering her, but I don’t know how else to be. My precious Sally had considered leaving this world. I feel like a failure as a mate. How can I get her to understand that no matter what she’s been through, I will be by her side? How do I get her to believe she is needed, wanted, and so incredibly loved, not just by me, but by her entire pack? How do I make sure she never feels that way again?” ~Costin
Costin wrappedhis arms around his mate, standing behind her, and pulled her tightly against his chest. They had packed their bags and made it to the airport with time to spare, and now they were standing at their gate waiting to board an international flight. His wolf was restless as his eyes continually scanned the surrounding area. Every male that looked in their direction dropped their eyes immediately, though they didn’t understand why. It was instinctual even for a human to recognize when someone was more dominant thanthemselves.
He wasn’t worried about them hitting on Sally, nor was his behavior because of the natural possessiveness of his species. He was worried because he knew those who ran the Order of the Burning Claw were probably furious they’d lost Sally. They’d gone to great lengths to not only abduct her but also to strip her of her memories and identity in hopes of teaching her about the supernatural world from their perspective. In essence, they had attempted to brainwash her. He knew he and Sally weren’t out of the woods yet. Until they’d ferreted out the members of the Order and brought them down, he would be extra vigilant when not in the protected walls of the packmansion.
Even though Vasile had felt certain they would be safe flying to Coldspring, Costin hadn’t wanted to take the risk with his mate. It was Lilly, however, who’d changed his mind. She’d pulled him and Sally to the library and explained she’d had a vision and that it was very important that Sally go home. She was vague, but she’d said that it was vital to theirfuture.
So, they’d gone. The entire time they were packing, Sally was second-guessing their decision. She hadn’t wanted to leave Titus. Lilly was adamant the boy stay with the pack. Sally was equally as adamant she stay with her son. They were family, after all, she’d argued. Of course, their amazingly astute son had put his mother at ease. Costin rested his chin on Sally’s head as he remembered how the scene had played out only an hour before theyleft.
“If we’re going, then our son should come with us,” Sally said as she unfolded and refolded the same shirt five or sixtimes.
Costin walked over and took the shirt from her. He rolled it into a ball and then tucked it into the corner of her suitcase.T-shirt folding problem solved. Why can’t everything be thatsimple?
“Mommy?” A happy voice came from the doorway of theirroom.
Sally turned, and her face lit up as she knelt and opened her arms. Titus didn’t hesitate as he ran to her and threw his arms around her neck. A couple minutes later, Titus pulled back to look at his adopted mother. There was something so intense about staring into the boy’s eyes, something incrediblycompelling.
“You need to go, and I need to stay,” he said gently. “Just because I’m here and you’re there doesn’t mean we aren’t still afamily.”
Sally’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “How do you know what to alwayssay?”
His answering grin was bright, and his eyes twinkled mischievously. “My angel came to see me lastnight.”
Sally’s eyes widened. “The woman dressed in allwhite?”
He nodded. “She told me sometimes, in order for an injury to heal, it has to be reopened so any infection inside can be cleaned out. You have to go backward so you can go forward. She also told me I was needed here to keep Aunt Jen on hertoes.”
Costin laughed and felt some of the weight of leaving Titus behindease.
“Thank you for telling me this, Titus,” Sally said. “You know we love you so very much. And I’m sorry I haven’t been here much lately. It won’t always be like this,okay?”
“Even this is better than where you found me, mommy mine,” he said and patted her cheek with his small hand. Hearing him call her the same endearment as Costin seemed to be the pebble that broke the dam. Tears streamed down Sally’s face as she once again pulled their son into herarms.
“Passengers who have tickets for flight 432 please make your way to gate twelve. We will be begin boarding in five minutes.” The voice blaring over the intercom jolted Costin back to the present, and his wolf scolded him for taking his attention off of their surroundings.You were keeping an eye on things,Costin told his wolf. His wolf growled.The watching eyes of two are better than one. Don’t take chances with our mate.Costin didn’t bother to respond. His wolf was in a state of constant agitation. The beast didn’t like Sally to be more than a foot away from them. His wolf wanted to be touching her skin at all times. It needed the reassurance that she was real, tangible, and not leavingthem.
“I am not going anywhere,”Sally said gently through their bond and directed the thought to hiswolf.
“You can go anywhere you like, mate,”his wolf rumbled.“But we will be going withyou.”
