Unrepentant.
Back From the Dead: He has one!! I’ve changed his name so many times… It just never takes.
In my head I pictured Slade’s responding smirk, which reminded me of his stalker wall and the way he manipulated technology.
Slade: *Smirking face* *Skull emoji*
He was scary, but that didn’t mean he was untouchable.
After coming face to face with hiswall, whether his intentions were good or not, I’d been finessing the final steps to my plan, which would add a littleupheavaltohislife. Someone needed to shake up his routine, and that someone was me.
The issue I kept running into was theseReeves Industries camerasthat filled the house. After failing to figure out asolution myself, I’d asked Cora if she knew of a way to hide from them, and she messaged back that she had an idea and would chat to Warrick.
She’d also ordered the other supplies I needed, so there was no online Emme trail for Slade to track.
Back From the Dead: We’re at the rink now. Time to head in. I’ll be looking for your faces in the stands. Especially you, pretty mate. I love you. *Red heart emoji* *pink heart emoji* *red heart emoji**pink heart emoji*
My breath caught in my chest as I stared at those three words. In this new font, they were solid and unmoving. A permanent statement, visible to the world.
Sure, Kellan had said them out loud multiple times since we’d bonded, and I’d said them back, but to see his love in writing. It felt… permanent. More than whispers lost in the breeze.
Tears streaked down my cheeks as my fingers flew across the phone, and if spellcheck hadn’t been on its game, I doubted anyone would have understood a word of my blubbering mess.
Pretty Mate: I love you too, Kellan Jackson. I’m so proud to be your mate, and I’m so proud of you. Kick their asses today.
After almost losing him, I’d decided not to hold back my feelings any longer. You never knew when the last moment you had together would be, and I needed to say everything in whatever time we had.
And while I had fairly strongfeelings for two other alphas as well, the three of us just weren’t quitethere yet.Slade especially, even if he did stalk me like his life depended on it. Andwith Hunter… I still wasn’t convinced that his actions weren’t products of obligation and a desire to keep his pack mates safe, rather than actually wanting me for me.
After shoving my phone and cash into the pocket of my jeans, I wiped away the remaining moisture on my cheeks, fixed up Finley’s number, and stepped out of my room.
Hunter and Slade stood waiting for me in the hallway, and I ground to a halt, not expecting them. Their giant shoulders filled the hall space, and I tried to look beyond them. “Wh-what’s happening? Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine,” Hunter said, brushing back strands of my ponytail that had fallen loose. “You’re just not leaving our sides today. Our enemies are still out there, and you can think of us as your new shadows.”
“We will kill anyone who gets too close,” Slade said, his eyes shining against his neutral expression.
With a shake of my head, I sighed. “How about we makekilling anyone who gets too closeplan B, and slotscaring them awayinto plan A.”
Slade tilted his head as he considered my proposal. “Yes, I guess that’s acceptable. It would only take a fraction of a second to kill them anyway if they ignore plan A and decide they are suicidal.”
Don’t smile. Don’t encourage his psycho side.Why was it so adorable though? This had to be some sort of trauma bond after we’d been trapped together. A one-sided bond anyway, since I doubted Slade held any trauma from it.
Hunter ruined my composure when he laughed, one of those rare, genuine laughs that I doubted many had ever heard. “Well, with our plans settled, let’s head for the game.”
Small sparks of excitement danced in my stomach, and I found myself randomly asking, “Can I drive?”
The alphas tended to act like I was a permanent passenger princess, and while I didn’t hate it, I missed being behind the wheel. Or bike. Even if the last time had been a bit of a disaster.
Today felt like a great day to have a little extra fun.
Kellan was alive.
And we were about to watch our top seeded pack destroy the Golden Dashers, who were currently fourth in the league. Not to mention that no one had attempted to kidnap me in well over a week.
Hunter tucked me under his heavy arm as we walked down the stairs. “You know what, Emme…” He sounded cheery, which was fucking weird.“…you can drive today. The only rule is that you have to choose one of our new, reinforced vehicles. We’re taking no chance on anyone blasting you with a fucking rocket again.”
As I would also like to avoid that, I wasn’t about to argue. “What are my options?”
