When they reached the farm, he left her with the females in the farmhouse, who fussed over her and welcomed her back, and then he, Khyle, and Dexter went to meet the guys at the back of the pasture.
By the time Crew and the guys arrived, Ford, Khyle, and Dexter had dug a huge hole and gathered the accelerant that shifters used to ensure the bodies would burn fast and leave no trace.The bodies were dumped into the hole and covered with accelerant.
Before he lit the match, Crew said, “He was warned when he came against us the first time, that we would use deadly force to defend ourselves and our mates.He tested us and he found out the truth: no one messes with the Little River Herd.As alpha, I declare the herd safe and our people victorious.”He lit the match and bent over, touching it to one of the bodies.It whooshed as the flames took hold, and they all stepped back from the heat.
The accelerant not only made the fire burn faster and hotter than normal, but it also produced a low amount of smoke so it was less visible.They were legally allowed to burn things on their property, so no one would mess with them anyway.
“Darcy’s okay?”Dexter asked.
“Yeah.Shaken up, but not hurt.”
“Good.We can finally close this chapter and move on.”
“Hear, hear,” Avi said.
Grey offered to take first watch over the fire.Once the bodies were turned to ash, he’d call for help filling in the hole.Ford found Darcy in the kitchen with the females, and she rushed into his arms.
“I love you,” she said, her voice trembling.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
He kissed her softly, pouring every ounce of emotion into the gesture.She was his mate.He would do anything for her.
Fight for her.Kill for her.
Live for her.
And that’s what he was going to do.
The nightmare was over.She was safe in his arms and the herd was safe from the Shenandoah Valley Herd forever.
At long last, the farm was safe.
Darcy had a few bouts of tears as Ford drove her home.
To the farmhouse, not the apartment.
That realization, that home was where Ford was, had hit home for her when he came crashing into the cabin to save her.
She was still learning about soulmates and shifters, but one thing she knew for sure: she wanted to live with Ford.Go to sleep with him.Wake up with him.
She wanted everything.
Becausehewas everything.
When he walked with her into the farmhouse, the women all rushed to her, pulling her gently from his side and embracing her.
Then it wasn’t just her shedding tears, but all of them.
Nancy, the unofficial mom of the group.
Tris, the wolf.
Zara, the alpha female.
Tatum, the librarian.
And Fallon, the jaguar.
