They'd assess when they got home.
"This is awkward."Ezra looked at the pack around them, but he sounded more like himself so Rourke smiled.
"It's the fastest way home."
"I left Jiprix in the car."
"But took the key."Which was buried in Shixyll's neck still, unless someone had pulled it out.
For a moment, Ezra looked a little green."Yeah."
"It'll be okay."
Ezra shook his head, and Rourke didn't know what to say.
Things might not be okay, but as he deposited Ezra in the kitchen in the pack house, and watched him pulling things from the refrigerator and pantry, he believed they'd find a way to be.He nuzzled Ezra's neck."How are you holding up?"
He shrugged."She wasn't a good mother, but I loved her."
Rourke nodded."I'm sorry I--"
"No."Ezra turned around and wrapped his arms around his neck."She would've killed me or had one of the others kill me.It was why she sent Jiprix here.I wasn't thinking.Jiprix said I had to help him get back home, and I got in the car.It wasn't until we were on clan land, I realized there was no reason for me to be there.Jiprix was driving, not me.He didn't need me to get home, he only needed a car."He winced."I'm sorry."
Rourke shrugged.He wasn't pleased about having lost a car, but they could deal with it later.
"I don't think Jiprix was aware she planned to kill me, but if she believed you'd be weakened by my death, then it might have been the plan all along.Hand the least important witch over to the monsters, have them form a bond with the alpha, then kill the witch to incapacitate you for long enough to strike."
"Long enough?Incapacitate?Weaken?"Rourke tilted his head to the side."Babe, if you die, I die."
Ezra's eyes widened."What?"
"You're my heart, my soul, my life.We're bonded.Our lives are merged into one.She was right.If she'd killed you there on the field, I'd have died.There would've been chaos, and they might have slaughtered us all."He squeezed him."Which is why, next time you plan a road trip, you let me know when you're leaving, where you're going, and why.Okay?"
Ezra didn't speak, didn't so much as breathe, then he shook his head."But I can die any second.I have no superpowers."
Rourke chuckled."I think you do."The scent of magic, the good kind of magic, had already spread in the kitchen, and Ezra hadn't started cooking yet."And I'll always do my best to protect you.You're mine, and I'm so glad you're the one Shixyll handed over.I hate that she did so without your consent, and I'll dedicate my life to making you happy, Ezra.You're my heart, and I never want you to want for anything.Now, we're not a rich pack, and I have no idea what will happen with the war--"
Ezra cut him off with a kiss."Thank you."His words caressed Rourke's lips.He didn't have a clue what Ezra was thanking him for, but he didn't care.Ezra was kissing him, nothing else mattered.
* * * *
Epilogue
Two months later
Harold dropped a dead mouse in front of Ezra's feet."No.No, Harold.I'll lock the cat flap if you keep bringing bodies inside."
Ulric chuckled at him as he ate another lacy oatmeal cookie.Ezra was in the middle of baking.He didn't want to pick up the dead mouse.
"Make yourself useful and pick it up."He glared at Ulric.
"Why me?"
"If I have to do it, I have to stop baking, and then you won't get any more cookies."
Ulric looked at the cookies on the cooling rack."I think there is enough for me."
"Nope.You won't get a single cookie more."Ezra pointed the spoon at him.
