My mind spins as I sink back into Glenn’s embrace, trying to make sense of it all.
“Do you think Red was involved?” I finally ask, and Glenn grunts.
“Could be. Wouldn’t put it past that fucker. Although he was up north when this happened. Forest got back to me. They’re still all up there, sorting through their own mess.”
“Right. But Red is tied to a fae, or that’s what Ten and Jex said, and they were both here in town at one point.”
“Yes, and if this is his doing, he’ll have to answer for it.”
“I should let Attie know…”
“Yes. But don’t worry yourself too much. No need to involve yourself with people who don’t truly appreciate you.”
“They don’t, do they?”
“They don’t. I mean, Attie does, but the rest of the pack…I didn’t like how they treated you. So, call him later, maybe after a bath and a cup of tea.”
“I just really hope it wasn’t a fae who did this. Because if that’s the case…gods, that would be so bad for me. I’m existing on the fringes here already. No one will trust me anymore.”
“No one will blame you, Arbor. You’re still part omega. You belong here. And you’ll have me by your side. You’ll be my mate,” Glenn says, his hands rubbing up and down my back soothingly.
“We aren’t mates yet. We haven’t bonded.”
“But we will be when you’re ready. I’ll make sure you and everyone else have no doubt where you belong.”
That makes my chest expand, and I wiggle against him, leaning up to kiss him deeply.
When we finally part, I let him pull me up and toward the bathroom. He runs the bathwater, strips us both naked, and sits me between his legs in the tub. His hands move up to my shoulders, massaging gently, making my muscles loosen and my head loll back.
I feel his fist twist around me, tightening around my cock and stroking. I slide onto his lap and ride him slowly in the tub, water sloshing over the edge as our lips and tongues tangle, my body takes his.
When we finally step from the water, it’s lukewarm and our skin is the texture of raisins. We fall into bed, still damp and heaving. And as soon as Glenn’s soft breaths tell me he’s asleep, I reach for my phone and let Attie know what happened, who I think could be behind it, and let him do whatever he wants with the information.
Glenn is right. Attie may love me, but the pack doesn’t truly respect me.
I’ll focus on myself, on Glenn, and on keeping my job or finding another. And if Red is involved, the Crimson Howlers can take it from here.
EPILOGUE
ARBOR
The moon ishigh and bright in the sky; the woods surrounding us sparking with the essence of it. I can feel the pounding in my blood, in my bones. The urge to be taken, to be knotted.
I know what tonight entails, what I’m going to get from it.
Another Heat Hunt, only this time, I will not leave him. He’s going to be mine. Forever.
I shift on my feet, staring around me as other omegas gather in the woods, waiting for the call to be released, for the hunt to begin.
I look ahead, seeing the glow of the torches near The Den. My alpha is out there, waiting to come to me.
Waiting to be bonded with me.
I told him my fae was ready. I’ve been begging for days.
The tingling of the water lingered longer than I expected, making the last couple of weeks a lot of fun. We fucked and fucked. Made love and then some. And in that time, my desire for him hasn’t waned. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted another.
I can imagine how much more intense it will get when we’ve bonded. When we’re finally mates.
