And I choose to stay as long as they’ll have me.
So, when we drive through the night in complete silence, I don’t try to fill the space. I just enjoy the truth.
I just enjoy the night for what it is, because when the sun rises, I know we have more work to do. Because I’m not letting Sneed get away with what he did to my mate. I will not let him rest for what he did to me.
I choose vengeance.
I choose death for the man who destroyed so many. And as I look at Gage and his steady gaze, I know vengeance will be ours.
Chapter 38
Emmett
I groan as the bed shifts. Someone’s leaving, which shouldn’t bother me, but I feel the faintest sadness in my chest as I listen to the footsteps.
The sound of the birds outside chirp, and the sadness is soon replaced by the overpowering scent of lemongrass and cinnamon. With a hint of sunshine.
The groan that escapes me is a happier one as I pull my body closer to my mate. I bury my face against her chest, breathing her in and then I feel a heavy palm against my hip. That’s when I open my eyes and suck in a breath. Because on the other side of Auryn is the leader of our pack. Gage.
When did he get here?
I blink, remembering how Diego had shoved him in the bedroom last night, urging him to talk to Auryn, to fix their rift, and remember they’d left together. My cheeks flush because I remember that they were gone a while, and it was just Olly and me in the nest. Which should have been weird, considering most of the time Olly gets on my last nerve, but he’s not so bad when he’s passed the fuck out or when he’s touching my dick, apparently.
Which…That was weird. But not in a bad way. I’m not sure what I expected, I know the guy isn’t the most…comfortable with sex in general, but medically speaking, he’s sharp as a tack and cool as a cucumber. I know hands down, I wouldn’t have been able to make it through what happened last night, let alone through these last few days, without his expertise. I wish I could blame what happened between us on my omega chemicals, and maybe that’s partly to blame, but I know Olly’s not the first man to touch my dick in this place. I’m just surprised I liked it as much as I did, all things considered. I’m also surprised he didn’t come. Like…at all.
That’s either some hella strong restraint, or Olly’s more of a sapiosexual than I thought.
Though I probably shouldn’t think too much about it. Maybe he just prefers Auryn over me, which I do get.
My nose wrinkles, and Diego’s scent is faint, which tells me he wasn’t here last night, and I tense.
“Where’s Diego?” I ask, panic rushing over me.
Gage groans as Auryn’s eyes flutter. “Hm?”
“Diego,” I say, sinking my fingers into her hip.
And then I smell it. The thick, spicy scent of peppers and onions, of cheese and garlic, making my mouth water.
Auryn pulls me close as I relax and Gage murmurs. “Kitchen.”
Relief floods me as my body relaxes.
He’s okay. You’re okay. We’re all safe and okay…
Auryn must sense my tension. She pulls me closer, threading her leg through mine and pulling my jaw with her small fingers until her mouth is on mine, and something inside of me clicks.
I groan, relaxing into her kiss. I can hear Gage grumbling something, and a moment later I feel his hand on my hip again. He holds us both with one arm, and my shoulders loosen.
My hands travel down Auryn’s small frame. I can tell from the heady whiff of rain and dirt that she’s still wearing Olly’s clothes, which is what she’s been wearing since we brought her here because he’s the smallest of the pack, but they are still too big for her.
Auryn is a petite little thing, but she’s got bite. She may be small, but fuck if my alpha girl isn’t mighty.
Memories flash in my mind of that day she and Gage found me begging for death.
My stomach growls, and so do I. Auryn lets out a soft whine, and I regrettably push myself up. “I don’t know about you assholes, but I’m fucking starving.”
I throw my legs over the side of the bed and notice I’m already semi-hard from cuddling with Auryn. And while it’s not entirely comfortable, the pain I felt before is definitely less.
