“Yes,” Talon agreed, dropping his hand on his twin’s shoulder—Slade didn’t even flinch, which almost had me shooting up straight. “I felt the same. It was like… coming home. Between Slade and Emme, I found the pack I’d been searchingfor. I put my energy into Fletcher for years, and gave him my loyalty and respect, but he wasn’t my family. He was my captor.”
It was a hard-fought realization from Talon, but one that essentially saved all of us.
“And the rest of us?” Finley asked. “How do you feel about the rest of the pack you’ve found yourself in?” There was no anger in the bear’s tone, and I was proud of Finley for asking so calmly, with rejection a huge trigger for him.
“You’re pack and family too,” Talon said, as blunt and honest as his twin.
Finley relaxed under my hands. “Thanks, brother. We feel the same about you.”
Kellan, who was still rubbing his thumb into the arch of my foot—the boy knew how to massage—groaned. “As much as I love all this pack bonding, and I can’t wait until our quintet is complete, is anyone else really fucking hungry? I could kill Jewels just for screwing up our barbeque.”
Finley laughed, dropping his head all the way back. “Might be time to give up the family days, Hunter,” he said. “We haven’t been able to complete one since Emme came into our lives.”
My chuckle was cut off by a huge yawn, and I shook my head to clear the daze. “If you’re all hungry, I can cook for you.”
Florence and Gerry had a day off today, and I was thankful they’d missed all the danger and drama.
“Em, you don’t have to cook for us,” Finley said, turning to face me. “We’re more than capable of feeding you and ourselves.”
Forcing myself up into a seated position, I dropped my legs down on either side of his shoulders. “What if we do it together,” I offered. “A proper, family pack meal, where we all contribute. What do you guys know how to cook?”
When Talon’s laughter filled the room, I wondered if I’d ever heard him sound so free. “I’ve never cooked a meal in my life,”he told us all. “I was mostly only allowed to eat in my dragon form, while hunting the grounds. I’m not sure I’ll be any help.” He shuffled his ass forward on the couch and turned a pleading stare on me. “But can you please make the cookies and honey cake? Or any of your sweets. They’re the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
That set Kellan off groaning about starving to death again as he got to his feet. “You have the best surprise coming your way, brother. Shortcake’s cookies are second to her actual cook?—”
I smacked him in the gut and he let out an oomph, which didn’t halt his amusement.
As Slade and Talon turned their penetrating gazes on me, I couldn’t ignore the shiver that raced down my spine at the thought of twin dragons.
I’d been unsure if I could handle one of them in a true bond, and now it was two…
Goddess give me strength.
CHAPTER 64
EMME
After we spent a few hours cooking and eating together as a pack, feeling lighter than we had in weeks, I crashed out between Hunter and Kellan, only to wake far too early.
I headed out of Hunter’s room and found myself in the doorway of Slade’s bedroom, staring at the twins sleeping side by side.In the same freaking bed. My ovaries burst into flames, and I died a thousand deaths as I watched them like I was the stalker.
Fitting, considering how obsessed I was with my alphas.
They slept the same way, their huge bodies sprawled back, one arm flung up above their heads, and the soft sound of breathing filling the room. They slumbered so soundly, I knew they had finally found peace. If it wasn’t for the fact that my best friends were dealing with the loss of one of their pack, I’d say that I’d finally reached the pinnacle of happiness.
I couldn’t help Cora or Warrick tonight, but tomorrow I’d be there to do whatever it took to get them through this.
Turning away from the twins was hard; it took every ounce of control not to crawl in between them. For the first time, I wasalmost certain it wouldn’t bother Slade if I did, but they deserved their time to bond. Just the two of them.
Knowing exactly why I’d been drawn out of bed so early, I headed straight for the garage, picking up the telltale signs of a shifter working on an engine. Finley’s presence called to me, and I was ready to finish what we’d started at the hockey rink.
I needed him tonight.
Finley must have heard me coming, and was already waiting, hip nudged against his Ford. I surprised us both when I leapt at him, and he straightened in time to catch me as my legs wrapped around his waist.
“Ice Queen,” he breathed. “What are you doing down here, darlin’? You were exhausted, and that wasn’t enough sleep.”
The concern on his face was almost my undoing. “I just… needed you.”
