Relief flows through me so hard, I can’t catch my breath for a moment. “Thank you.”
A hand drops on my shoulder, and I look up at Garrett. “Have you taken a deep breath lately?”
It’s such an odd question that I immediately do it. I inhale, and every muscle in my body locks into place. My wolf howls inside me, and I fight to contain him. The stench of vampireis gone, and the sweet scent of healer hits my nose. But that’s not what makes my wolf howl. No, her true scent hits me. I thought she might be mine; I’d hoped she was mine. Now, it is confirmed. She is really my mate. I can’t speak, can’t find the words to thank this pack. “Thank you,” I manage in a hoarse voice.
Sage smiles at me sweetly, but I can see the lines of fatigue on her face. “You’re welcome. You can sit next to her if you want. We’ll keep an eye on her, but she’s good for now.” I sit next to her on the floor because we didn’t even get her to the bed at the back of the plane. I'll move her there once I'm given the all-clear to move her. Right now, I just want to breathe her in. I take her hand in mine and marvel that this strong, beautiful female is mine—mine to care for, protect, provide for. Mine to make laugh and make love to, mine to hold and cherish. I feel so overwhelmed with goodness, her goodness. I sit next to Sherese for a while, but I know there are things that need to be dealt with. I turn to Garrett, who’s sitting towards the front. “Is he dead?”
Garrett doesn’t have to ask who I’m talking about. “Yes.”
“Good. Rizo is dead too.”
That gets everybody’s attention. “The master vampire?” Paul asks.
I nod. “It happened when Sherese took her life. He sired her, so killing her kills him. There was a point when her heart stopped. That would have been when he died, but I bit her and pushed my strength into our bond. Paul and Sage did the rest.”
Nobody says anything at first; they’re too shocked. Then Garrett says, “Please give her our thanks. The Northwoods Pack is in her debt...again.”
“I’m pretty sure at least one of those debts was canceled out by saving her life,” I say. “Are we headed to your territory?” I ask.
“No. We’re headed to Phoenix,” Garrett says
I nod. “Thank you. All of you.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for giving me Ajax,” Garrett says in response. “We took out Rizo and Ajax. That will be a death blow to the vampires.”
I nod solemnly. “It will.”
“Did you ever find the wolf that betrayed you?” he asks, eyes intense.
“Alicia? No. I’ll have to ask Sherese if she saw her.”
“Where else would she have gone?” Paul asks.
I shake my head. “Another site?”
“We’ll find her,” Garrett says confidently. “Right now, get your mate home. Rest, recover. Take time to just be together.”
“How did you know she’s my mate?” I ask. “I just confirmed it when I scented her without vampire blood.”
“Our wolves know, and you showed every sign that she was yours. There was never a doubt in my mind that she was yours.”
I reach out to Bryce, wondering just how mad he will be.Bryce.
I can feel his relief through the bond.You’re alive.
Yeah.
Sherese?He asks.
I look down at my beautiful mate.She’s with me. We’re on a plane with the Northwoods Pack. On our way to you. Maybe a few hours out.
We'll be ready,he sends through the link.
He doesn’t say anything else, and I'm hoping I’ll still have my position as pack enforcer when I get back. The hours drag slowly, and I get worried that she hasn’t woken up yet. I turn to find the healer, but she’s asleep on Paul’s shoulder. He meets my gaze over his mate’s head. “She’s okay. Her body is recovering from the trauma it went through.” I don’t feel a whole lot better, but I don’t push.
We land in Phoenix, and she still hasn’t woken up. My wolf is on edge when we disembark. I had everybody get off ahead of me, so I could try to calm my wolf. I kneel next to my mate and pick her up. I grit my teeth when I feel how light she is. I hadn’t had time to process it when we were running for our lives. She’s lost even more weight this time. I hate that they were starving her. But no more. I have no idea if she’ll still need blood or not. But whatever she needs, I’ll make sure she has it. She’ll never be hungry again. I hold her close to my chest as I step towards the exit. I take the few steps down to the ground and face the waiting crowd. Bryce and Ava stand just a few feet away. Ava’s gaze is locked on Sherese, and I know it doesn’t look good. Before I get a chance to talk to her, Sage does. I can see her relief from here. I don’t make it very far before Bryce stops in front of me, blocking my path forward. I meet his gaze. “If you’re looking for an apology, you’re not going to get it,” I tell him.
“I just want to know why you didn’t tell me what you were doing.” Anger fills his face. “You may be my enforcer, but more than that, you’re my friend. I would have gone with you.”
