“It’s a little creepy.” He takes a swig of his beer and follows my line of sight. “She looks happy, though. Happier than I’ve seen her in years.”
“She deserves to be happy.”
“She does.” James claps a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve done good work these past few months, Bryan. The security team respects you. The pack is starting to trust you. That’s not nothing.”
I nod but don’t take my eyes off Skylar. Working with James has given me purpose again. I’m using the skills the Black Ops taught me, but for protection instead of vengeance. It’s honest work that lets me sleep at night without dreaming of blood and death.
“Go get her,” James prompts with a knowing smirk. “I can tell you’re dying to drag her away from this party.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Painfully.” He laughs and shoves me toward the gathering. “Get out of here. We can handle things without you for one night.”
I don’t need to be told twice.
I make my way through the crowd and nod at familiar faces as I pass. Connor raises his glass in greeting. Dylan gives me a brief nod before turning back to Sera. Dina catches my eye from across the way and offers a small wave. She’s settled into Silvercreek well these past few months. Skylar helped her find a cottage near the medical center, and she’s been training with Sera to become a field medic. The hopelessness I saw in her eyes during those first days has started to fade.
Skylar spots me approaching, and her smile turns from friendly to something warmer. Something just for me.
“Ladies,” I say as I reach the group. “Mind if I steal my mate for a while?”
Ruby grins. “By all means. She’s been talking about you nonstop anyway.”
“I have not,” Skylar protests, but her cheeks flush pink.
“You absolutely have,” Fern agrees. She pats her now flat belly out of habit and adds, “Go on. I need to breastfeed the baby anyway.”
I take Skylar’s hand and lead her away from the gathering before she can argue. She comes willingly enough, though she sends one last look over her shoulder at her friends.
“Where are we going?” she asks as we slip into the tree line.
“Home.”
“The party just started.”
“I don’t care about the party.” I stop walking and turn to face her. The lanterns are distant now, and their glow barely reaches us through the branches. “I care about getting you alone.”
Her breath catches. “Bryan...”
I don’t let her finish. I bend and scoop her into my arms, cradling her against my chest while she lets out a surprised laugh.
“What are you doing? I can walk.”
“I know you can.” I start moving through the forest, following the familiar path to our cabin. “I want to carry you.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Do you want me to put you down?”
She wraps her arms around my neck and snuggles deeper into my hold. “No.”
The cabin comes into view after a few minutes. I carry her up the porch steps and through the front door, kicking it closed behind us. The fire I built before we left for the party has burned down to embers, but there’s still enough heat in the room to chase away the autumn chill.
I carry her straight to the bedroom and set her down beside the bed. She looks up at me with those lustful eyes, and my wolf growls with want.
“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” I admit. “Watching you laugh with your friends, seeing how beautiful you look in that dress. All I wanted was to get you alone.”
“You have me alone now.” She reaches up and hooks her fingers into the front of my shirt. “What are you going to do about it?”
