Hearing is name, Quin turned to his aunt. “I’m glad you’re well, Aunt Hope,” he said, giving her a tentative smile.
“Thank you,” Hope said, smiling warmly at him. “I am, too.”
Quin then asked Mase, “Are you going to call Hunter? I think he’ll be very surprised. Hey, maybe you should get Robin and Sawyer on the phone at the same time.”
“That’s a good idea, Mase,” Mac said, as his brother nodded in agreement.
Catching Cody’s eye, Jackson understood whathehad to do. Giving a quick nod, Jackson checked the time before deciding it was too late to call Carson, making a mental note to call his brother tomorrow.
“Oh my gods, I have another fantastic idea! We need to have a party, a celebration party, don’t you agree,macushla?” Kieran exclaimed, bouncing in his chair. “I can see it now, lots and lots of pink balloons, flowers, streamers, and we need music and food…”
“I can make the cake,” Theo offered.
“Zane and I can help with the decorations,” said David.
“Oh my gods, it is going to be fabulous! Don’t you agree,macushla?” Kieran asked.
“I do,mo anan cara.” Logan glanced at his twin. “Well Jackie, what do you think? Time for a party? We have a lot to celebrate.”
Listening to the carefree chatter at the table, Jackson felt the happiness flowing through his pack, something that had been in short supply during the years they’d spent simply existing. “I think it’s a perfect time for one,” he agreed.
Smiling, Hope let the voices wash over her, healing some of the broken places in her heart and soul. Sending up a prayer to the gods, she thanked them for saving her and beseeched them to take care of her younger angels until she could be with them once again.
Chapter 10
Entering the campgrounds, Alex pursed his lips while trying to decide which campsite he should go to. The dream convinced him Sawyer was his future, but years of yearning for freedom were hard for his mind to ignore. And it didn’t help that his animals were siding with his heart; they wanted to claim the wolf for their own. Regardless of how they felt, Alex knew he needed to take it slow where his mate was concerned. For as long as he could remember, he’d only made a decision after a thorough examination of its pros and cons. Granted, it was easier when his heart or, for that matter, his animals were not involved, but he refused to change just because they wanted him to. Sighing, he took the road leading to his trailer.
Fleeting disappointment filled Sawyer when his mate didn’t choose Sawyer’s motorhome, but he quickly ignored it. On the drive back, he and Alex spent the time talking but it was all superficial, revealing nothing he didn’t already know about his mate. And even though Alex sounded eager when Sawyer proposed going to a hotel, he couldn’t forget his mate’s rejection of him that morning. So he decided it would be better if they spent the evening talking instead of stripping down. Of course, if Alex had chosen his trailer because he’d felt more comfortable doing it there, then Sawyer was all for it.
Chewing on his lower lip, Alex parked near his trailer, staring into the woods as he tried to figure out why his mate didn’t object to his choice, but then, Sawyer’s behavior remained a mystery. No demands, no orders, in fact, all Alex heard was silence, which was…
“Alex?”
Here it comes.Bracing himself for Sawyer to use his Alpha’s voice to force his will on him, he was taken aback by what came next.
“I don’t know what your plans are, but how about I head back to my campsite so I can shower and change while you do the same here. Then, when you’re ready, I’ll bring another one of Theo’s dinners over so we can eat.”
After his mate’s suggestion finally sunk in, Alex whipped his head around to find Sawyer giving him one of his easy smiles. The air in his lungs left in a giant whoosh, and he found himself smiling back. “That sounds perfect.”
“Great…really great. I, uhm…it won’t take me long…maybe twenty minutes.” Sawyer opened the door, hoping to leave before Alex changed his mind, but before he could, he felt his mate’s hand on his arm. Looking down at it, he inhaled sharply, afraid of what it meant.
“Sawyer…uhm…I’m not ready…you know, for more…I mean I want more with you…I haven’t changed my mind on that, but I’m not ready for sex tonight…I thought you should know because I just don’t want you to be disappointed.”
Closing his eyes, Sawyer exhaled in relief before opening them to look at Alex. “That’s fine. I was hoping we could spend the evening getting to know more about each other…I mean like talking.”
Beaming, Alex said, “I’d really like that.”
“Good. See you in a few,” Sawyer said, as he left the car, waving to Alex before taking off and running through the trees, grinning like a fool. He was getting better at understanding what his mate needed from him. Glancingskyward, he saw the full moon shining brightly, prompting him to open his mouth for his eager wolf.
Pausing when he heard the howl, Alex shook his head in amusement at his mate’s behavior. He was pretty sure it went against the rules of the High Council, but really couldn’t fault Sawyer for his exuberance. Heading for his trailer, Alex was eager to shower and be finished by the time his mate returned.
~/~/~/~/~
Looking around the bar, Glenn picked up his beer, taking a sip before setting it back down. Everyone was in place including Smokey, behind the bar. It was the perfect place to meet Luka’s brother without raising suspicion. Though it looked like the place was filled by rough and tumble customers, they all worked for Ghost and, if they were like the men his friend had selected to guard Sawyer, then Glenn knew they were all top shelf.
And that, in and of itself, raised warning flags in Glenn’s head. When did Ghost form this ‘army’, because that’s what they were and, more to the point, why he’d done it were questions Glenn wanted answers to very soon—but they’d have to wait. For now, he was happy to have Ghost’s men at their backs, especially considering who he was expecting. Hearing the door open, Glenn glanced at the mirror on the wall behind the bar, studying the shifter who entered.
Loki was satisfied he wasn’t walking into a trap, after spending more than an hour scoping out the place from the outside. Beat-up, old, pick-up trucks and grimy motorcycles cluttered the parking lot while sounds of muted laughter and clinking glass wafted his way every time the door opened. Crouching in the bushes acrossfrom the bar he’d paid close attention to the men entering and leaving, concluding all of them were types who’d look the other way if he had to kill someone.
