“It’s nice seeing you like this,” I noted, amused by her rare lack of refinement. “You just feel so… free.”
Cora spun, arms held out on either side of her. “I think that’s the true beauty of my mate bond.”
She slowed and lifted her head to seek out Warrick, who stood at the railing of the VIP level beside Hunter, Kellan and Slade. The four of them watched over us on the main floor, just as they’d done every time we’d danced without them.
We both knew they’d be here in seconds if needed, which was half the point Cora made.
Her whole face softened as she stared at her mate. “It’s a privilege to have a mate at your back and know that it’s an unconditional support. When I’m with War, I don’t even look over my shoulder. I could walk along the path with my head buried in my phone, headphones on, my mind in the middle of a daydream, and know I’m safe. War allows me to find strength inother ways that have nothing to do with survival. I do the same for him as well, giving him a soft place to come home to.”
“Isn’t it terrifying though?” I asked, words grating against my dry throat.
My gaze roved over the alphas, and when I pressed my hand to the bite on my shoulder, Kellan mimicked the movement, his expression soft. “It scares me to know that I could tie my happiness to another.”Or four others. “They could betray my trust at any point and completely tear me to pieces.”
Cora grasped my hand and squeezed it tightly. “That’s the part that makes it so special. Theycantear you to pieces. They could easily do it, actually, but they choose not to. Every single day they choose to put you first, and after a few years, you learn that it’s not an act. It’s the real alpha, and he would burn the world for you.”
I want that. It was a sudden and ferocious thought.
My heart bled at the very thought of losing this pack. “I’m not sure I’ll ever let go enough to truly trust in a pack,” I admitted, undecided if this was still my truth or not.
“I know, and with your past, that’s understandable. My only advice is to let yourself believe in fate and your mates. The rest will work itself out.”
Put like that, it sounded simple, but she didn’t know everything. When I spilled the full truth of my past to the alphas and Cora, their advice might be different.
When the song ended, lights slowly lit up the edges of the room, reminding everyone that it was time to start heading their drunk, happy asses home.
Warrick, Kellan, Hunter, and Slade appeared, blocking us from the shifters exiting the club. “You have fun, pretty mate?” Kellan asked, brushing back a strand of hair plastered down my sweaty cheek. The curls had fallen out long ago, and Ihad no doubt I looked a mess, but you’d never know from his expression.
“So much fun,” I trilled, sadly sobering up already. “Though I will be glad to get out of these heels. My feet are killing me?—”
I choked as Hunter, for the second time tonight, lowered himself into a half-kneel crouch before me. He gestured for me to lift my foot. “Come on, baby girl,” he murmured. “Let me help.”
An entitled alpha does not kneel.
But he had.
There was no denying it this time. I almost fell to my own knees in front of him and begged him to take me. Fuck waiting for my birthday; I couldn’t wait another damn second. My wolf howled in my chest, scraping against the hold I had on her.
Hunter’s nostrils flared as he stared at me, the drowning darkness of his eyes hypnotic.
Slowly, feeling dazed, I lifted my right foot, and Hunter slid the small zip down on my boot before removing it. He ran his thumb over the arch of my socked foot, and I closed my eyes at how good that felt.
When he released me, I dropped my foot on the floor, which was no doubt gross as fuck, but who really cared. When he removed my left boot, my feet screamed in happy relief. Hunter tossed the boots over his shoulder, letting them clatter across his empty club floor.Shit.I’d have to figure out how to get them back for Cora—not that she appeared remotely worried, too busy gawking at Hunter.
My entitled alpha’s expression exuded a sliver of darkness as he stood and swept me into his arms, cradling me against his chest as he headed for the exit. “I can walk,” I said with a nervous chuckle. Did I really want to get down? Nope. But I had to at least make an attempt at independence.
“There might be broken glass,” he said, tone brooking no argument. “I won’t let you get hurt, little omega. Not now. Not ever.”
Damn him.
This alpha was getting lucky tonight, and I would beg for his claim before the sun rose.
My days of denying Hunter were done.
CHAPTER 41
HUNTER
Her wolf was vibrating, fighting harder than I’d felt in a while. My beast howled back, ready to claim its mate. I might have accepted Kellan being the first to bond due to sheer necessity—saving my brother’s life trumped everything else. But the fact that I still hadn’t claimed my mate was a restless energy inside me. An energy that grew worse every day.
