Joanna chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, you’re going to have to tolerate him. We need him.”
“I know. But that doesn’t mean I have to like any of it.”
Joanna stepped closer and tapped my cheek. “No, it doesn’t,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “But youdohave to play nice.” I bit back a laugh at her derisive tone. “Seriously, Blackwood. That mouth of yours is going to get us in trouble.”
I smirked, my hand meeting hers. “You have no idea,” I murmured as I grabbed her hips, pulling her closer. I lowered my head, my lips capturing her moan as her body pressed against mine.
I broke the kiss, my hands moving into the waistband of her pants. “You know,” I said, my voice low and teasing, “I can think of much better uses for my mouth if you’d like.”
Joanna’s eyes widened, her breath hitching as I slowly slid her pants down, revealing her supple skin. Icrouched down in front of her, my eyes never leaving hers. She was already panting, her body trembling with anticipation. I smirked, ready to show her just how much better my mouth could be.
Chapter Fourteen
Joanna
It was the early hours of the morning. The sun had yet to rise, and the Moon was still a beacon of light in the sky. We were in the forest surrounding Cedar Grove—me, Grace, Robert, and the rest of their pack.
Marcus, Maya, and Jerome had left to scout ahead as planned. So, the rest of us stayed back and waited for their signal.
“Do you think your friends will show up?” Grace asked, stretching against the trunk of a tree.
“They’ll be here,” I replied, as I made sure my GPS tracker was still on. “James can be a hard ass, buthe’s reliable. And the others will follow if he tells them to.”
Robert checked his pocket watch, his pale face ghostly in the moonlight. “Sunrise is in two hours. We need to be in position by then.”
There wasn’t much we could do but wait for Marcus’s signal. I nodded, surveying the surrounding forest. The trees stood thick, their leaves whispering in the gentle breeze. The rich scent of wet earth calmed me.
“Marcus won’t send for us until he knows for sure that it’s safe.” Grace pushed herself off the tree and gestured to the shapeshifters. “Especially since a quarter of them are not fighters.”
As we waited, tension seeped from the shapeshifters’ pores. This wasn’t just another mission for them; they were fighting for their home. As long as Thomas was alive, they weren’t safe.
Grace must have sensed my thoughts, because she turned to me with her eyes steady. “You know, none of us agree with what Thomas and the others are saying? We believe in coexisting with humans, not ruling over them.”
Robert nodded in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. “Marcus is a fair alpha. He listens to us and respects our opinions. He’s not the type to want power for the sake of power. Every decision he’s made is what’s best for the pack. That has to be why he hasn’t found a mate yet. He hasn’t had the time.”
A young werewolf with blond hair and nervous eyes stepped forward, wringing his hands together. “Thomas and the others… they were wrong. Marcus promised us you were an ally. And while one of us—an elder I respected… killed his friends… you protected me, my little sister, and everyone we care about in the Den.”
Grace placed a reassuring hand on the blond’s shoulder. “This is Peter,” she introduced, her breath visible in the crisp morning air. “He and his sister are two of our newer members.”
Peter’s hands clenched into fists. “I know I’m young, but I’m here to prove myself to you, my sister… and to our alpha. I’ll fight for what’s right.”
I nodded at Peter, offering him a small smile. “You’ve already proven yourself by being here… And I agree with you guys. Marcus is a good leader. He cares about the pack, but the fact that he teamed up with me proves he cares about doing what’s right.”
Grace smiled, looking out into the forest. “He cares about you too, Joanna. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone.”
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.
Before I could downplay Grace’s comment, she and Robert froze as if listening to a silent command.
Robert confirmed my suspicions. “We move out now. Everyone, stay close. We can’t afford to lose Alpha’s wolf bond, so we don’t stop until the next checkpoint.”
We were shadows slipping through the trees, moving silently in the forest. Our senses were at their peak. And as we neared the checkpoint, the werewolves grew tense.
I soon realized why.
I let out a breath of relief at the sight of the hunters. James, Rebecca, Jeffrey, Malik, and a large group of others I didn’t recognize. They were geared up, sharpening their blades. At the sight of the shapeshifters, they all seemed to hold their breaths.
James nodded at me as we approached. “Joey,” he greeted. “Any sign of them?”
