Ryder bit down where his neck and shoulder met, and Jax followed suit. For some reason, he hadn’t realized he would get to mark his mate too. As the bond fell into place, he felt all of the emotions Ryder had for him and for his daughter. Jax’s arms tightened around his mate. Even as he realized that everything he’d been through till that moment was laid bare for Ryder to see.
Jax didn’t care. Because seeing himself through Ryder’s eyes had tears rolling down his eyes.
When Ryder pulled back and kissed him, Jax knew he was truly home. His mate pulled back and whispered, “Mine.”
And Jax sniffed and nodded. “Yours.”
They were still knotted together, and Ryder rolled over so Jax was on top and held him close.
“I love you,”Ryder said through their bond, and Jax’s heart beat faster hearing him.
He’d never be alone again. He had his mate with him—always.
Jax sent back,“I love you too.”
He felt how much those words meant to Ryder and snuggled on his alpha’s chest, saying a silent thank you to the Goddess for the first time in a long time.
She hadn’t forgotten him. Ryder’s arms tightened around him, but Jax didn’t mind. He loved being surrounded by his mate like this, and that was how they drifted off to sleep. Jax had a smile on his lips. He was with his mate, and nothing could ever tear them apart.
Jax stretched out in the bed. He ran his hand over the rock-hard body next to him and smiled. Pulling himself up, he took in the sight of Ryder sleeping beside him, then reluctantly cast a look at the clock in the room. It was after two o’clock in the morning. His stomach growled, reminding him they hadn’t eaten. He was hungry … starving, actually.
He leaned over, brushed a kiss on Ryder’s back, and breathed in his scent. Jax knew he’d never get tired of smelling their mixed scents. His stomach growled again, and he finally slipped out from under the covers.
He was naked, so he grabbed Ryder’s shirt. It smelled like mate. The closer he got to the kitchen, the chillier it got. He shivered and rubbed his arms together as he crossed them. But the chill never left him, even when he stepped into the kitchen. Only this time, he heard the whirring of wind. He looked at the door and frowned. It was wide open.
They always locked the kitchen door.Did we forget to lock it?They had been preoccupied.
He walked over and shut it. When he turned around, he jumped and let out a little yell. A dark figure stood in the kitchen. As if that wasn’t strange enough, he was holding a gun and a baby. “Tabby?” Jax’s stomach twisted and he took a step towards his daughter, but the man held up his hand.
“Come any closer … and she dies.”
Jax halted and stared at the man, fear and shock warring for the top position. The intruder had a black hoodie on, and something covered his mouth and nose. With all of those and how dark it was, Jax couldn’t make out the man’s features. “Who are you?” His voice sounded strangled even to his own ears.
“No questions,” the man said. With the gun, he motioned. “You’re coming with me.”
“What? Why? Give me back my daughter!” Jax made to lunge for him, but the sound of a gun getting cocked had him freezing.
The intruder made a tsk tsk sound. “I wouldn't do that if I were you.”
Jax just stood there, his heart beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of his chest.
“You have some unfinished business. I believe.” The cloaked figure gestured for him to come. “Come with me, or your daughter doesn’t live to see another day.”
Tabby seemed to be sound asleep. Jax wanted to scream. How did this person get ahold of his child?Ollie and Ronin.Goddess, he hoped they were okay.
His brain raced even as his heart cried, not again. Why him? This was meant to be one of the happiest days of his life.
“Please, don’t hurt my baby; I’ll come with you.”
“Looks like your daddy is a smart one,” the man said with a glance at Tabby.
Jax wanted to shift and rip his face off, but his daughter would get hurt.
He let himself be led to a black vehicle and was taken aback when he saw there was a car seat in there already. Jax felt some of the tension leave his body when the man put Tabby in it. The door was closed with his daughter inside and Jax was shoved to the other side of the car. All he could do was think of Ryder, and he cried out to his mate.Ryder… Please, help us.
He knew Ryder might be able to hear him now that they’d mated. But before he could try again, something hard hit him on the back of the head. Everything went black.
Chapter Eight
