In the days that followed Jewels’ defeat, my alphas and I barely left the house. Constantine departed from Golden Claw to search for any remaining members of the magical community, and Florence and Gerry took some well-deserved vacation days, leaving us all alone.
With nothing to do but bask in the beauty of our bond.
We didn’t talk to anyone. We didn’t deal with the council. No one even worked.
Kellan and Finley had already missed their road games and therefore didn’t need to be back on the team until next Friday, leaving us to spend our days eating, swimming, healing… and screwing through every bedroom of the house. Along with the pool, cinema, gym, kitchen… yeah, okay, you get the point. We christened every room and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
This time together was a gift, and my hardest daily decision was which alphas to sleep beside. Usually, it was Hunter and Kellan together, and then Slade and Talon together. Finley occasionally joined Hunter and Kellan, but mostly he preferred to have me alone so he could sleep buried deep inside me. However I slept though, I was always surrounded by pack and love.
If Kassidy could experience even an iota of the happiness I wascurrently blissed out on, there was no way she’d still be refusing to see Henderson.No way.
Slade dragged my ass out of bed early the following week.You need to keep training, he said.
He was choosing to mind-speak a lot lately, and I could tell it calmed his beast when we were open in the bond. Along with me wearing my tracking necklace and staying in sight of his million cameras.Jewels might be dead, but there could be more threats.
He was right, and I wanted to grow stronger, so I only complained for half the drive to the training facility. Slade didn’t even growl at me, just wore a damn smirk that told me he somewhat enjoyed my whine.
A ton of enforcers were already on the field, and I ran straight into a battle with Horton, where I beat him two times in a row before he figured out my new strategy and kicked my ass the next three times. I also managed to hold my own with Slade for about two minutes.
On the drive home, we discussed the plans for Kellan’s birthday tomorrow. “Track day again,” I chanted, pumping my fist in excitement. “Is his gift ready?”
Slade nodded, his Lambo picking up speed.Yeah, they were delivered yesterday, along with paper if you want to wrap them.
We kept Kellan from hearing this conversation for obvious reasons, and I was thrilled at how easy it was now to choose who I shared information with. At least with everyone other than Slade, who insisted on knowing everything.
The dragon refused to be excluded from any part of my life, and arguing with him was futile.
Stubborn lizard.
Not a lizard, Snow.
Yeah, yeah. Luckily, there was one part of my life I had managed to keep from him, simply by ensuring all communication aboutPrank Warswas done via text. It had been harder than expected, but if everything went to plan, I believed we could pull it off.
AfterKellan’s birthday.
On our street, the house came into view, along with a familiar Range Rover parked out front. I stared at it as we passed to enter the garage, trying to figure out how I felt about seeing it there.
“What are they doing here?” I finally muttered when we were parked in the garage. “I’m not sure I’m ready to speak to them yet.”
Slade took a second to respond. “You’ve cried a few times in yoursleep,” he said softly, meeting my gaze. His expression was neutral, but his eyes burned. “I know you think about them a lot. It’s time for some closure—in whatever way works for you. If you want me to kill them, it’s done. If you never want to see them again, I’ll kick them out of Golden Claw. And if you want to forgive them, we’ll stand by your side. It’s all in your hands, Snow.”
My wolf howled, and magic surged in our bond as every beast responded. There was nothing foreign about my magic now, and when it combined with the strength of our quintet, there was a scary level of power available to us. Cora and Warrick were no physical threat, that was for sure, but emotional was a whole other story.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I admitted, while still making no move to open my door and leave the safety of the car. He let me sit for many minutes, until eventually he got out and opened my door. Still, all he did after was hold a hand out for me, just waiting there for when I was ready.
Eventually I found the fortitude to grasp on to his lifeline and exit the car. “I do miss Cora and Warrick,” I admitted. “But I’m not sure my trust in them will ever be the same. Even knowing they were victims too.”
“Just talk to them,” Slade advised, remaining strong and steady at my side.
When we entered the living room, the rest of our pack were there on the long couch. I hadn’t used this room as much since the Christmas tree came down in February. I wished for its cheery glow more than ever today.
Cora and Warrick were awkwardly perched on the small couch. The tension was thick as everyone silently stared into the middle of the room. In the bond, my alphas were exuding annoyance, since anything or anyone who hurt me was on their shit list.
Sorry we didn’t tell you, little mate, Hunter said.They ambushed us, and you were almost home anyway. Figured you could bail if you saw their car.
I almost did, I replied, barely suppressing a laugh.
Hunter grinned, but it wasn’t with happiness. All dark and predatory.
