His head shot up, and the empty voids of his eyes sent shivers down my spine. He tilted his head in the animalistic way of dragons. “Tal?”
I forced a smile on my face. “Well, when you care about someone you give them a nickname. I’ll be back later this evening, okay.”
He didn’t say anything, and I forced myself to swallow down tears as I followed Hunter and Slade from the room. Whether you called it karma or reaping what you sow, Talon was in the thick of his punishment.
I usually enjoyed when that happened to assholes, but in this circumstance, it broke my heart. Nothing was clear cut, and while we were growing closer, we still had a long way to go for true healing.
All I had was instinct guiding me as I navigated relationships with five powerful, damaged, and dangerous alphas. I just kept stumbling along and hoping we all made it out alive.
Alivewas my driving need at the moment.
In the end, everyone I cared about had to be standing, otherwise I wouldn’t survive.
CHAPTER 50
EMME
My phone buzzed through dinner, and expecting it would be the boys, I yanked it up and read the text.
Beaten but still Golden: We’re on our way home! Our plane will land at 10pm. I hope you’ll wait up for us, pretty mate. We both need consolatory kisses and hugs.
UnBEARable: You don’t have to wait up for us, Em. We know you’re tired and have a lot of shit going on. Kellan will crawl into bed with you anyway. And I… can wait. I’m a patient bear.
For some reason those last four words had me wanting to giggle and kick my damn feet under the table. These alphas screwed with my normal sensibilities until I had no idea who I was these days. Slade and Hunter both looked my way. “What did they say?” Hunter asked as he slid another crab cake on my plate. At this rate, I’d be too full to eat the main meal.
“Their plane lands at ten tonight. Kellan wants me to wait up, and Finley was telling me it was okay to sleep.”
Hunter looked pleased. “I like when all of my pack is together.” His chest rumbled, and through our bond his wolf relaxed. “Where they’re safe and under my control.”
“I’ve missed them so much,” I admitted, rubbing my hand over my sternum. “It’s weirdly empty here without everyone, and with our enemies still out there, I don’t like us being separated. I’ll feel much calmer when everyone’s under the same roof.”
Slade’s expression remained neutral, and his eyes were empty. As they’d been ever since we left his brother in the containment room. He’d been back to deliver food and keep him company, but it was clear no one was happy with the current situation.
“I’ve been monitoring them from here,” he said shortly, “and there was never any danger. But like Hunter, I’ll sleep easier when our entire pack is back under my wing.”
It didn’t surprise me in the least that he felt that way.
Clicking to reply, I took a few seconds to consider what I would say, smiling sadly when my name popped up.
Pretty Mate: I can’t wait to see you both. Of course I’ll wait up. Nothing could stop me from getting some pack hugs tonight. Safe travels and see you soon. *kissy face emoji*
Beaten but still Golden: Awww, Shortcake. I am going to smother you in so many kisses. Don’t dress up. You’re only going to get naked.
A flare of heat joined the excitement, and I doubted anyone missed the surge of my scent or the wiggle I did to ease the throbbing down low.
Hunter chuckled. “Annoying pup is going to slobber all over you, isn’t he?”
“I fucking hope so,” I burst out, fanning myself with my fork.
That had Slade smiling. “Who knew there’d be a shifter who’d find his annoying ways endearing.”
Pointing said fork at him, I let a slow smile form. “You forget that I saw you when we thought he was dying. You can pretend all you want, Scary Shifter, but deep down we all need Kellan’s version of love.” Slade shrugged, but he didn’t deny it.
“Are you ever going to tell me what you thought of my last prank?” I asked again, expecting he’d ignore my question like the dozen times before.
He leaned in closer, the low lights from the dining room sconces giving his expression a slightly sinister look. “Oh, Snow. It’s adorable that you think I’m going to spill that secret so easily. I like to stay on your mind, so I might keep this going for a little while longer.”
Yeah, he really didn’t need to withhold information to be on my mind.
