“He’s right.” A soft voice sounded from behind me. I turned to see my angel. He walked up to me, and I immediately opened my arms to him and pulled him to me. I was pleased that he was getting more comfortable coming to me. It was quite a change from his initial impulse to run. “Chad usually left m-me aloneif Tom and Rick weren’t around. He even tried to help m-me once,” Embry said.
I nodded slightly and turned back to the others. “Do you think Chad knows where the two could have gone? It also begs the question—if Rick wasn’t involved, why did he leave with Tom?” I asked.
“Rick was always j-just as cruel and nasty as Tom. He probably sympathizes with him,” Embry said.
Brian and Jackson looked on with somewhat confused looks on their faces. I wondered why, but James could answer that question.
“Embry, how long have they been harassing you?” James asked softly.
I felt Embry shrug in my embrace. “A w-while. I didn’t want to b-bother you and make the pack think of me as a whiner,” he admitted quietly.
“You could never bother me, Em. You’re my cousin, and I love you. I want to see you happy,” James replied. He looked at me when he said the last part.
I nodded. I would make him happy. It was my sacred duty.
James gave me a small nod and turned to address Brian and Jackson. “I want them found. Send trackers to locate them. Tom was the one who beat Embry, almost killing him. His life is now forfeit,” he commanded.
“Yes, Alpha!” they responded in unison. They quickly left to carry out their alpha’s command.
“I’m going to finish my meal,” James said, then was gone.
I looked down at my beautiful little mate. I smiled at how small he was. He gazed up at me.
“Did you get enough food, Angel?” I asked.
“Yes. I don’t think m-my stomach could handle much more,” he replied. “Can we—”
He stopped, seeming to collect his thoughts. When he didn’t continue, I prompted, “Can we what, Angel?”
“Can we go shift? My w-wolf he…he wants to meet your dragon,” he said.
“Absolutely. My dragon is eager to meet your wolf. Do you know of a spot where we can change? I worry that with the sun still being out, humans may freak if they see a dragon.”
He grinned. “Yes, I know a spot,” he said excitedly. He pulled away and grabbed my hand. “Come on.”
I laughed at his excitement and followed him. I loved holding his hand. I could do this forever.
I was falling in love with my mate.
Thirty minutes later, we were walking through the mountain forest. We traded questions as we continued to learn more about one another. He loved to read and enjoyed country music, which differed greatly from my passion for action movies and hard rock.
“Do you like sports?” he asked as if he were scared to hear the answer.
I laughed. “I do like sports, but probably not the sports you’re thinking of. I like the caber toss andMaide-leisg.”
“Caber toss? Isn’t that where you throw a tree? It’s p-part of the Highland games, right?”
I laughed harder. “Yes, it’s part of the games, and it’s where we throw a huge, tapered pole made of wood.”
“What’s maid-a-leash?”
I smiled at his pronunciation. “Maide-leisgis sort of a one-on-one tug of war, but you use a stick. Each man holds one end of the stick and whoever lifts their opponent off the ground wins.”
“Interesting. I’d like to see the Highland Games. I think. I’m not m-much of a sports person. My dad loves f-football. I’d prefer to find a book to read,” Embry said.
“I’m not much for football unless we’re talking Aussie footy. Now that’s football,” I replied.
We continued to walk in silence for a bit. I wasn’t worried. I knew Embry would have another question.
