“Matteo, that okay?” I checked.
He nodded. His eyes were closed, his fists were clenched, and his face was tight with strain.
Finn pulled out his phone and called, putting it on speaker.
“Another Lucky emergency?” Dice said as she answered.
Finn chuckled. “No. She’s been pretty accident-free the last couple of days.”
“You know that means she’s storing it up for a really huge accidental something, right?”
Finn sighed, as though weary just at the thought. “I know. Anyway, I called because we are in need of your medical services. Matteo was poisoned while on a mission for his alpha. It sounds like the healer who worked on him has done the best they can, but he’s still in bad shape. Can you meet us at the Lodge?”
“And be careful,” I added. I didn’t want the poor woman to get hurt trying to come help us.
Finn nodded. “Yeah, be careful, Dice. There’s a psycho we think is somewhere in Moonhaven or on Bear Clan property. I’m sure you’ve heard about it from the Council.”
“I did. I’ll be careful. I can be there in half an hour.”
“We’ll be a bit longer. Maybe forty-five minutes.”
They hung up, and I felt a sense of relief that Matteo would be getting more help from a specialist.
Finn was introducing himself to Orion. I’d felt Orion’s alpha vibes earlier, so I was surprised when they didn’t seem to have any problems with each other. Then I wondered who was more dominant. Usually, dominance was determined by an alpha’s power, but alphas tended to keep their power under control unless they needed to release it—usually to discipline, intimidate, or protect.
I glanced between the two of them, but couldn’t tell. Now really wasn’t the time to ask, but I was curious enough that I’d ask later. Maybe I’d ask Riggs.
The rest of the ride was quiet. When we rolled onto Clan property, something inside me released. I’d been able to feel snatches of Riggs’ feelings, flashes, but nothing concrete because we weren’t mated yet.
The flashes were getting stronger, though.
I swore I could feel his presence now.
When we pulled up in front of the Lodge, Riggs was waiting by the front door with his arms crossed over his chest. Alanna wasn’t in sight; she was probably down for a nap.
On the outside, Riggs looked sure, strong, steady, but I caught a flash of vulnerability that made me try to push Finn out the door until he laughed and exited the vehicle. I scooted out quickly after him and moved to stand in front of my mate.
“I’m back,” I said softly.
He nodded, his eyes burning into mine.
I didn’t know what to do, what to say.
Slowly, he extended a hand, looping it around my belt loop, then pulled me toward him. I didn’t panic. I didn’t resist. Instead, I allowed myself to be reeled in like a fish in slow motion. Then he wrapped his arms around me and held me tight.
I sighed in relief, my whole body melting into the hug.
“Welcome home, Piper.”
Chapter 8
Piper
Imade a beeline for Alanna the moment I got in the front doors of the Lodge. I nodded at various Clan members, making directly for the crib set up in the corner of the main living room. Alanna was sitting up looking around. Immediately, her eyes zeroed in on me like a wide receiver zeroing in on the football before he catches it and crosses the end zone.
And then her face crumpled, her little lip started wobbling, and she started crying.
I picked her up and held her against my chest, just holding her for a few moments as she settled. Her hands gripped my shirt tightly, refusing to let me go.
