“I need to go eat something and get ready to leave,” Levi said. “If I know Rainier, he’ll be ready to go early. Can you do me a favor while I’m gone?”
“Important requests?” I said, grinning at him. “I’ll try. What’s the task?”
“It might be good to have a party or celebration ready for when I get back.” Levi reached out and took my hand. “For when I tell the pack aboutus. About you being my fated mate.”
“Oh,” I said, unable to keep the surprise off my face. “I can try. Linnea and some of the others will probably help. How big of a party?” Remembering the spectacle of the pack meeting, I wondered how much work I had cut out for me.
He grinned and ran his hand up and down my back. “Up to you. Doesn’t matter to me. The main thing is that we get to give the pack good news.”
“Big it is, then,” I said. “No half measures here.”
“I look forward to seeing the Ferris wheel, pony rides, and rock concert when I get back.”
“Don’t be a smart ass,” I said, elbowing him in the side.
His smile slipped away as he glanced at the door. “I really do need to go.”
“I’ll walk you out,” I said.
“You don’t have to,” Levi said, shaking his head. “Someone might see us.”
“I’ll take you to the back door. It’ll be dark there, plus no one ever goes that way,” I said, quickly tugging on more clothes to guard against the chill.
Outside, the night was pitch black, only lit by the stars and moon above. The few streetlights were all out front, lighting the main paths and roads. Levi embraced me, holding me close tohis chest. When he kissed me, it was sweet and gentle. He pulled away, taking my hands and giving them one last squeeze before he disappeared into the darkness.
Standing there, I hugged myself, staring into the blackness. Before I turned to go inside, I got the distinct, yet unsettling, sensation of being watched. I turned, glancing around, wondering if I was imagining it. If someonehadbeen there, they might have seen us kissing. When I didn’t see or hear anything, I headed inside.
30
LEVIATHAN
“Ready?” Rainier asked as he stepped into my cabin.
“Just about,” I said as I stuffed the last of my sandwich into my mouth.
He adjusted his coat and glanced around my living room. “I don’t see June. Did you speak to her?”
“I did,” I said. “I think we’re good. I apologized about earlier today and told her we were leaving.”
“And?” he asked, giving me a probing look.
I shrugged, doing my best to keep from smiling. “And we’re…fine.”
Grinning, Rainier slapped my shoulder. “Ah, makeup sex. Love it.”
“You really are the worst beta, you know that? I need to get a yes-man who kisses my ass and never talks back,” I growled.
Rainier waved me off. “That’d be no fun. You’d get bored with a guy like that, and you know it.”
Ignoring that, I nodded at the door. “You ready?”
“I am. Do you want to bring any supplies? Food? Water?”
I shook my head. “We travel light. We can hunt and in our wolf forms if need be. Even if it’s a couple days, I can fast that long. Not a big deal.”
“Speak for yourself,” Rainier grumbled. “My wolf will love munching on some squirrel or racoon, but…ugh. Not my favorite.”
“You’ll be fine. Let’s get going.”
