“We’ve been worried about you, Emme. I’m so happy to see you’re okay.”
Kellan distracted me when he side-stepped Hunter and hauled me into his arms. He gave the most perfect hugs, and my chest was doing that stupid heaving sensation again.
I’d never get used to being held like this, with so much strength and need. It was my eternal undoing. With a groan, I sank into his energy, ignoring the pain in my lower half, exacerbated by his tight embrace.
“Remember how I told you I lost ten years off my life when you were attacked by our security,” Kellan rasped brokenly, pulling back far enough to see my nod. “Yeah, well, it was a hundred years when you were blasted off your bike and kidnapped out from under us. I’m running out of years, Shortcake. Can you pretty please with sunshine on top not get taken again.”
This alpha was the perfect dose of good endorphins. “I’ll do my very best,” I chuckled, relieved to feel happiness once more.
Slade left Hunter’s side and I wasn’t the only one who gasped when he pressed his hand against the center of my back, over the material of my shirt. His warmth was so much stronger than Kellan’s, and it was a relief to my aching uterus once more.
“She’s in pain, Kel,” he said in his softly menacing way. “Loosen your grip.”
Kellan immediately released me from his firm grasp, his expression falling into concerned lines as he examined me. “Baby, I’m sorry. You should have said something.”
With a shake of my head, I buried my face in his chest. “You could never hurt me, Golden Boy. Never. This is exactly where I want to be, held as tightly against you as shifterly possible.”
For a second, everything was right in my world, but I knew it wouldn’t last for long.
I had an evil alpha pack and their magical witch to deal with.
Well, two witches apparently. Time to find out who blondie was.
CHAPTER 7
EMME
Hunter’s expression reminded me of an icy winter morning, frosty and biting, as he observed me. We hadn’t had a chance to talk yet, as he’d been occupied with the witch, but now I had his full focus.
Like with Kellan, seeing the massive alpha kitted out in full black including armored vests and weapons was a new, sexy experience. He usually wore suits, and I’d thought that was his hottest look, but this… oh fuck, this was so much hotter. His six-foot-six frame looked massive, topped off by heavy shitkicker boots. Not to mention the stormy darkness in his gold-threaded irises, letting us all know his wolf was present.
“Jewels can release the cuffs,” he said, indicating toward my wrists.
“Of course,” she purred, hurrying for Slade, only to pause when he leveled a furious stare in her direction.
“Remove Emme’s first,” the dragon shifter ordered, and if that expression had been directed at me, I’d have sprinted the other way.
Jewels released an exaggerated huff as she turned to me, moving much slower. “Hello, Omega,” she said, just the slightest hint of an accent in her husky tones.
My wolf was annoyed at how tiny and blond she was, all pale curls and richly tanned skin. Her dark eyes examined me as closely as I was examining her, and while she didn’t look older than me, her energy felt ancient. Instinct told me she was a powerful witch, and I hated her connection to my pack. Magic felt wrong against our beasts, and I wouldn’t want that sulfuric scent of her magic to taint any of us.
It was hard to dislike her as much when she released me from the itchy, irritating cuffs though. “Ahhh, that feels so good,” I said, rubbing my reddened skin. “Thank you for your help.”
“No worries. Your mates payverywell for my services.”
And what in the hell did that mean? She better be talking about cash… Or we were going to have a larger problem.
When she released Slade’s cuffs, I noticed her tuck the discarded magical bands into the pocket of her jeans, and despite their bulkiness, they somehow fit perfectly.
Finley stood a few feet away, arms crossed, wearing his usual grouchy expression. His glorious hair was out, angled down just below his ears and sliding toward his jawline. He didn’t have a weapon, but wore the same tactical uniform as the others. It did add to his appeal, and even scowling, there was no taking away from his beauty.
If I had to guess, the moody bear was pissed off that I’d survived and would live to annoy him another day. Warrick, though, who stood by his side, was all smiles. “Cora is going to be so relieved when I tell her you’re okay,” he told me.
“Thank you for coming with them,” I said again, touched that he’d come into a dangerous situation that involved alphas and magic for me.
The entitled alpha shook his head as his forehead wrinkled. “Sweetheart, you're part of our extended family. Cora and the others are going out of their minds with worry.”
Cora was my newly claimed best friend, and I equally liked the other members of Warrick’s pack too. They did feel a little like extended family. I would have to call them when we finished dealing with our current situation.
