Page 22 of Freed

“It’s Blaze. He’s alive.”

His jaw clenches before he nods. “We’ll just have to make sure we’re ready for him this time. We’ll figure out how he got into our home and fortify against him.”

“He used magic,” I tell him. “He admitted as such, and his car was invisible when he took me."

“I’ll help.” We turn to where Philip and the others are standing nearby, clearly hearing our conversation. “My coven can help with protection spells and charms,” he explains further.

“Coven?” I ask in confusion.

“Yeah, it’s the same as what you call your pack. It’s my family.” Oh, he’s talking about Erica, Zack, and Jon.

“Thanks, man,” Hunter says with a nod.

The front door opens as Finn steps back inside, spreading sunlight into the foyer as I wonder what time it is. “The coast is clear,” he tells us.

“If you want to take her to your vehicle, we will stand guard around it until the others come out,” Alaric says, surprising me a little since he doesn’t seem to say much.

“Yes!” Casper says excitedly. “I want to help guard her too!”

Alaric just shakes his head, then motions for Casper to follow him out the door. Hunter waits for the door to shut behind them before he turns to Finn and asks, “Is he always like that?”

“Who, Casper?”

“Yeah.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“He seems nice,” I say, not wanting to speak badly of someone who volunteered to come here and help rescue me.

“Oh, he’s probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet,” Finn confirms with a small smirk. “He’s also a little… off kilter.”

“Is he part of your pack?” I ask, curiously.

“No, thank goodness,” Finn says with a laugh. “The guy is super nice and all, but I think I’d go crazy being around him all the time. He’s always trying to impress everyone, and he’s obsessed with finding a mate of his own.”

“Gee, sounds terrible,” Philip says sarcastically.

Finn sighs, pushing his hair back from his face as he pushes the door open. “When they were teenagers, Alaric saved Casper from his abusive father, Alaric’s uncle. Casper has looked up to him ever since. And he even saved Alaric’s life once, taking a bullet meant for him.”

I gasp in surprise, looking out to where the two of them are walking across the field.

“I think after finding out our mate, Lexi, was an omega and can take multiple mates, they both expected Casper to be her fated mate too. But he’s not.”

Silently, we follow Finn outside with Philip behind us. We step through a chain-link fence that’s been torn open and continue toward the trees. Once we reach the forest, I can feel everyone alert as we silently move through it.

It only takes about five minutes to reach our SUV. Alaric opens the side door for us as he and Casper stand on either side of it, like guards.

As Hunter is about to step inside, I reach out and gently touch Casper’s shoulder, making his head whip to me in surprise.

“Thank you for helping my mates come get me,” I tell him. “I can see you’re a good man. You shouldn’t worry. I’m sure whatever plan the Goddess has for you will be worth the wait.”

His eyes widen in delight. “You really think so? You think I’ll get a fated mate?”

I smile at him as I wrap my arms back around Hunter. “I do.”

Hunter starts to climb into the SUV as Casper replies happily, “Thank you!”

Chapter 9