When we reached the car, I handed Finley the key, knowing I was far too unsettled to be controlling a powerful vehicle. He opened my door, and though we no longer touched, my awareness of him remained sky high. Ifelthim even without touch.
By the time the car thrummed to life, I was somewhat under control. “I’m proud of you,” I said, as he pulled out into traffic. He shot me another one of those slightly broken smiles. “I know you haven’t heard that much in your life, but you did fucking good, Grouchy Bear. You’re loyal to those you care about. You play hockey like a dream, and bring old cars back to life, andthrow down for your family. I know you weren’t taught any of that from your parents, which means you did it all on your own.”
He didn’t have Hunter’s ability to take his eyes from the road for an hour and not crash, but he did look back and forth a lot, as if attempting to unravel a hidden meaning behind my words.
“I was just surviving,” he finally said, shrugging it off. “Until my pack came along. I owe them for a lot of what I have in my life.”
“It was a team effort, but I understand what you’re saying.” It was my turn to shrug. “Not that I have much to brag about, but I did okay as a waitress with limited reading skills and a semi-decent driving ability?—”
“Not to mention the best fucking pastry chef.” Finley growled. “You’ve got a lot to brag about, Emmeline Anders. You’re a survivor. You have strength that most would hope to possess. I wouldn’t choose a different mate, not even if the goddess lined up every single female shifter in the world.”
That statement was powerful, and it went a long way in reassuring me that he wasn’t just making an effort because there was no other choice.
“I’m not ashamed of who I am,” I told him. “I did what I needed to survive. Though…” I pulled a face. “…would it have been too much to ask that the rest of you weren’t like the top fucking tier of alphas.”
Finley flashed me dimples and a semi-smug grin. “If we’re exceptional, then you have to admit you are as well. You’d never be a scent match otherwise.”
I snorted. “Maybe the goddess knew that no one else could handle your arrogant asses and massive egos.”
That kicked his smile up another notch. “You know that none of us care about success in the way of making money or having fancy titles. We care about loyalty and passion and showing up for each other. In that regard, you’re more than our equal.”
And now I was dead.
“We might have to switch your group chat name back to Care Bear,” I murmured, only half kidding.
Finley closed his eyes briefly, before he shrugged. “You know what, if it comes from you, then I’ll accept it. But if Kellan does it, I’ll be forced to hurt him.”
Kellan got threatened almost every time he was in the group chat, so I doubted Finley’s words would deter him.
Our conversation switched to hockey for the rest of the journey, and we arrived home to find everyone waiting for us in the dining room. When I settled into my chair beside Hunter, I was filled with contentment from my bonds. Today with Finley had been a positive step forward in healing our quintet, and it had already seeped through to the others.
Kellan leaned over to press a kiss to my lips, his nose gently grazing my cheek as he breathed me in. “I can feel your happiness, pretty mate,” he said. “Next time, I’ll be the one taking you on a date.”
Finley, who hadn’t reached his chair yet, rolled his eyes at his brother. “It was therapy, you fucking moron. Ourpretty matewill know when we go on a date, don’t you worry.”
My insides tightened as my stomach flip-flopped and my wolf howled.
Kellan gawked at Finley, his mouth open, while Hunter and Slade leaned back in their chairs, the former wearing a satisfied stare as he swirled his whiskey and murmured, “All in its own time.”
For the first time, I believed that our entitled alpha had known how this would work out all along.
No wonder he was such a smug bastard.
CHAPTER 42
EMME
That night, after Hunter and Kellan wore me out by edging me closer to the art of double penetration—we weren’t there yet, but we were so deliciously close—I fell into an exhausted sleep. Only to find myself startling awake not even two hours later.
The tendrils of a dream I couldn’t remember coated my skin, and my body tingled as if energy or magic had caressed it. By the time I shook off the strange sensation, I knew I wouldn’t be falling asleep for a while, and not wanting to wake the alphas, I slid out from between them.
Snatching one of their shirts from the floor, I headed for the kitchen in search of a snack—I might not have been baking much lately, but Florence’s cookies were to die for, and a loaded chocolate chip sounded like the key to shedding the last of my dream.
The house was dark and quiet, and while I loved the sounds of my pack, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. Not when this place always felt like home.
My first real home.
As I passed through the front entryway, I caught a familiar clang from the garage. Without giving myself time to considerthe consequences of my actions, I switched directions and hurried down the stairs. Low lights illuminate the vehicles, and I stopped to give my new bike a gentle caress. “Soon, sweet girl,” I crooned, my gaze lingering on all her pink and black curves. “And this time I’ll keep you safe.”
