His returning grin was full of carnal promise. “There isn’t enough time for me to do all the things I want to do to you now.”
“Tease,” I muttered darkly.
Something in his gaze shifted and he hauled me against the front of his body. The very hard line of his erection pressed into my stomach, sending a whole new wave of delicious anticipation racing through me.
“Does this feel like I’m teasing?” His voice had gone soft and growly, and I had to remind myself—again—that Dante was standing a few feet away and the door was open.
My eyes closed as I tried to reign in my hormones and my wolf, who wanted nothing more than to be with her mate.
He kissed my eyelids. “Tonight.”
I nodded mutely. The cool air that whipped between us as he stepped away did absolutely nothing to help the raging inferno of my skin.
I crossed the room and dug a bottle of water out of the mini fridge, twisting off the top and taking a long drink, ignoring Remy’s laugh full of total male pride.
I dribbled some of the water in my palm and swiped it across the back of my neck as I walked outside to join Dante, flicking the droplets in Remy’s face as I walked by him.
He laughed harder, but didn’t follow me. Probably because there would be no telling how turned on he was if he stepped outside.
I smiled, loving that he was just as hot and bothered as I was.
Dante was standing several feet away from the cabin, his gaze on the line of houses across the lake, waiting for the first glimpse of Tate.
He gave me a smile as I joined him. “Thank you again.”
“You don’t need to keep doing that,” I said, squirming uncomfortably. I wasn’t used to gratitude or the spotlight it thrust me into.
“I still remember the day Luke brought her home,” he admitted softly.
“How old were you?”
“Eight. My birthday was the day before. Ryder had spent the night, and we were outside playing. Luke drove up, and pulled her out of the truck. Her hair was so short, and she was all legs and arms and big, hazel eyes. Her eyes were what got my attention first.” A rueful smile stretched across his face, and he rubbed his jaw at the memory.
“Maren was the only girl our age in the pack, and she was coddled by her parents and grandparents. She was the first girl born in our pack in a decade, so everything was pink and soft and girly.” Dante grinned wryly. “Ryder tried to get her to play with us by throwing a snowball at her, and she started to cry. Every boy in the pack under the age of fifteen got a lecture about protecting Maren.” He laughed, the sound warm and inviting.
I smiled back.
“Tate was … She was nothing like Maren,” his smile deepened, a rare dimple flashing in his cheek. “The second she looked at us in the front yard, you could tell she was hell on wheels. All fire and fight.” He glanced down at me. “A lot like you.”
“Me?” My brows lifted.
“First time I saw you standing by that bonfire, I knew you were different,” he confirmed. “You weren’t like the other girls.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said slowly, snorting. My early days with the pack at GPA had been rocky. “I was shell-shocked and terrified.”
“You were ballsy as hell,” he argued. “Sitting on a log with Caleb, staring his punk ass down. Protecting Larkin, accepting Katy and Maren … You know, Tate told me you two were going to be friends that night when we got home.” Another dimple appeared. “I’m glad she was right.”
His eyes narrowed before a full blown grin broke across his face. “There she is.”
Three people were making their way around the side of the lake towards us, the two bigger builds were obviously Luke and Gabe, and the tiny spec between them, now running ahead, was Tate.
I nudged his shoulder, still grinning. “Go get your girl.”
He winked at me and took off across the open lawn, his long legs eating up the ground between him and Tate. When she was still several yards away, she leapt into the air, launching herself at him. He caught her with a grin, spinning her around once, twice, and then setting her on her feet and kissing her hard.
I heard Remy’s feet come down the stairs behind me, a second later his arms slid around my waist, hugging my back to his front. He rested his chin on my shoulder.
My hands settled atop his, tracing the tendons and knuckles of his hands.
“You made that happen,” he said quietly, his breath a whisper against my ear.
I leaned back against him, letting him absorb my weight. “I’m glad she’s back.”
“But?”
“But,” I added reluctantly, “I’m worried what else Linden will pull. No way Tate’s parents sought out Damien and Norwood for a quick payday.”
“There’s probably more to it,” Remy agreed. “We’ll have to figure it out.”
“I feel like there’s a lot we need to figure out,” I whispered, letting the fears that had been weighing me down out. “I’m scared we’re not going to be able to find all the answers before someone else gets hurt.”
“I know.” He sighed behind me. “But let’s focus on the good. Tate’s back, and tonight we’re going to be with our friends, celebrating you.”
A small smile teased my lips. “The last time we planned a fun night out, I punched Preston in the face.”
He tensed behind me. “All the more reason you deserve a do-over.”
I angled my head to smile at him. “Punching Preston was fun. I wouldn’t hate it if he was strung up like a piñata tonight.”
He laughed hard, his forehead dropping to my shoulder. “God, I love you.”
I giggled. “It could be a great party game.”
I peeled away from him as Tate got closer. She dropped Dante’s hand and ran, throwing herself into my arms.
“Thank you, thank you!” She wrapped her arms around my neck, squeezing me hard. Pulling back, her hazel eyes sparkled. “You’re freaking brilliant.”
“I’m freaking lucky,” I corrected dryly. “I had no idea the creatures who birthed you would be ranting and raving a few doors down. And it helped that Daniel distracted Trace so I could snoop around.”
“Yeah, I owe him a big thank you, too,” she said. Her face split into a grin. “Trace was cursing up a storm about something he broke.”
Dante pulled her away from me once we were done hugging, tucking her against his side. I had a strong feeling she wouldn’t be leaving his side anytime soon. But, judging by the way she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into him, she didn’t mind.
Gabe and Luke finished closing the distance to our group, and Luke surprised me by hugging me. He lifted me off my feet in his giant embrace, his arms thicker than oak trees as he held me.
“Mighty thankful my girl has a friend like you,” Luke said as he set me down.
Gabe grinned at me, pulling me in for a sideways hug. “That’s why she’s my favorite kid.”
“Right here, Dad,” Remy muttered, shaking his head.
Gabe looked over my shoulder. “I don’t remember you figuring out a way to free Luke and save Tate.”
“I recorded the message!” Remy said with a laugh, shaking his head.
“It’s not a competition, son,” Gabe told him with a dismissive frown.
Remy threw his hands in the air as we all laughed. But judging by the grin on his face, he wasn’t too upset.
“Thank you, Remy,” Tate said, leaning around Dante with a smile.
God, laughing felt good. Laughing with my family and friends. A moment of levity in a week that had been full of suck.
My wolf was getting tired of being cooped up with no space to run, but right now I couldn’t let her out. We needed to survive the last week of the Summit. When we were home, we would be free to run. She could run and play and bond with her mate on the mountains of Blackwater.
Gabe and Remy had arranged to rent out one of the restaurants inside the lodge for my birthday party. The space had been transformed by silver and
gold balloons and streamers, and a giant sign that read, “Happy Birthday, Skye!”
I stepped into the middle of the room, really thankful Katy had convinced me to pack an emerald colored dress that matched my eyes and simple black heels. I had laughed when she tried sneaking them in, but she kept saying, “Just in case” until I caved.
Thank God I had caved, because just in case had happened tonight.
“You like it?”
I turned to look at Remy, reminding myself that other people were coming and I couldn’t rip off the black pants and black button down shirt he wore. But when he rolled the sleeves up past his forearms, the tendons and muscles flexing, I had to bite my own lip to keep from biting him.
“This is like a dream,” I admitted, looking around the room.
“We’ll have a bigger party when we’re back home,” he promised, tucking a loose curl behind my ear.
“I don’t need one,” I said quickly. This was more than enough.
He smirked. “Katy and Larkin have been planning it for weeks.”
My eyes went round and wide. “They have?”
He pressed a finger against my lips. “Shh. I never told you that.”
I rolled my eyes with a laugh, turning my head to see Luke walk in. He smiled at Gabe, who was standing off to the side, quickly discussing something with the waiter.
Luke crossed the open floor to me, looking good in a simple button down and black pants. He tugged at the collar of his shirt, and I worried the seams on his arms would burst for a second. “Damn monkey suit. Thought for sure I had taken this out when Tatum tried packing it.”
“You look great,” I said helpfully.
“I look like an old man in a monkey suit,” he deadpanned, but his gray eyes sparkled. “But you, my dear, look incredible.”
I blushed, ducking my head.
Luke smiled fondly. “You remind me a lot of my Regina. She was my wife. Tate was little when she …” He swallowed, suddenly emotional.
“Tate told me,” I said softly. “She said from what she remembers, your wife was kind to her.”
Luke’s gaze was trapped in the past as he shook his head. “Gina always wanted a houseful of kids. She loved Tate. She was always finding excuses to babysit Ryder and Dante. She’d have been a good mom. Had a big heart, and spirit of fire.” His gaze focused on me. “Like you.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by the comparison.
“Yeah, well,” Luke shrugged off the emotion gruffly. “I could use a drink. Tate and Dante will be by in a bit. She was calling Ryder, making sure to check in with him after today.” He rolled his eyes. “Lord knows how I would end up with a baby girl with two boys chasing her. Always figured she'd eventually pick one.”
He shrugged again. “Just as well she didn’t. I love those little shits like they were my own kids.”
I giggled, covering my mouth as Nero and Allie came in.
“Excuse me.” Luke winked. “There’s a bar over there with my name on it.” He clapped Remy’s shoulder on the way to the bar.
“You look stunning!” Allie squealed, pulling me into her arms. “Green is absolutely your color. And where have you been hiding those legs?”
“How are you?” I asked when she stopped hugging me. “How’s the baby? I’m so sorry about the other night. I was going to get Nero and—”
“—and some dumbass attacked you?” Allie frowned, shaking her head. “Honey, this baby and I are fine. More than fine.” She reached back, finding Nero’s hand.
He stepped up, pressing himself against her back and taking a subtle sniff of her hair before kissing her.
Allie’s dark eyes danced. “You guys will never guess what happened last night.”
“Well, you’re already pregnant, so …” I trailed off with a grin.
“We bonded,” Allie whispered excitedly, her dark eyes dancing.
Remy’s jaw dropped, his gaze snapping to Nero. “What?”
Nero grinned. “We were out for a run last night—”
“—sometimes I get this weird burst of energy at night from the baby,” Allie added, rolling her eyes. “Pregnancy is so weird.”
“We had been out for about an hour, and … wham. It was like being hit by lightning.” Nero chuckled, breathless.
Allie smiled at him, her hand absently stroking the top of her shirt, where I would bet my ass was a claiming mark.
“That’s amazing!” I sputtered, happy for them. I hugged Allie again.
Remy shook Nero’s hand. “Congrats, man. I’m happy for you guys.”
Nero rolled his eyes, hip checking his wife playfully. “I don’t know how happy I should be. First thing I realized after we bonded was how much I was craving dipping pickles in yogurt.”
Allie shrugged. “Pregnancy cravings. Now he can experience them anytime we shift.”
I exchanged a look with Remy. “Was that all that happened?”
Allie tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“You couldn’t … hear each others’ thoughts?” I asked hesitantly.
Nero shook his head with a smile. “No. Just a weird craving, and knowing this girl was my everything.” He pulled Allie close, kissing her softly.
“Besides,” Allie added when she turned to look at us, “most bonded mates don’t get the telepathic bond until they’ve been together for over a decade or longer.”
“Nero, Allie,” Gabe greeted as he came over, shaking each of their hands. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Allie’s hand covered her nonexistent baby bump. “In so many ways.”
“Allie and Nero bonded last night,” Remy added.
Gabe’s eyes went wide before his face broke into a smile. He hugged them both, congratulating them. “Seems like this night is full of good news for a change.”
“We heard about Luke being released and Tate being returned,” Allie said with a grimace. “What was Norwood thinking?”
“Damien’s claiming he was duped by Tate’s birth parents,” Gabe replied with a sigh. “Both of whom have disappeared.”
“What?” The question flew out of my mouth.
Gabe pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded. He gave Allie and Nero a polite smile. “If you’ll excuse us, I need to talk to Skye and Remy for a moment.”
“Of course,” Nero said, pulling Allie away and towards a group of people Griffin was walking in with.
“What’s up?” Remy asked when we were by ourselves.
Gabe took a deep breath,looking both of us in the eye. “One small business item, and then I want you two to actually have fun tonight, okay?”
We nodded.
Gabe sighed. “The Council is going to hear our petition to have Long Mesa investigated for their crimes tomorrow. They’ll also vote on whether or not Addie, Zara, and Bella can stay in Blackwater.”
It was like a black hole opened under me. “Tomorrow? I thought it would be a few days.”
“Why now?” Remy asked, his hand finding mine and squeezing reassuringly.
“After this stunt with Tate’s parents, the Council is sick of the back and forth between our packs. The whole Summit has turned into a damn warzone. I think they’re hoping they can make their decision and salvage the rest of the Summit. Focus on the more pressing issue, which is all the women who have been kidnapped or gone missing the last year.”
I swallowed, trying to reign in the overwhelming terror threatening to consume me.
So, my fate would be decided in a few hours.
No pressure.
“Hey.” Gabe touched my shoulders. “Kiddo, I think you missed what I said.”
“Have fun tonight,” I muttered. “Deal with people deciding my life tomorrow.”
Gabe smiled, actually smiled. “Honey, they’re deciding on your mom, aunt, and cousin tomorrow. Not you.”
I frowned, my brain struggling to piece that puzzle together..
“Does that mean …” Remy trailed off, his own smile starting.
“The Council officially recognizes you two as bonded mates. Linden and Long Mesa have zero claim on you, Skye.”
Remy’s arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground and twirling me in a dizzy circle before he set me down. His hands grabbed my hips, his forehead dropping to mine.
“You’re ours,” he whispered, joy suffused in his grin. “You’re Blackwater. No one can take you away.”
My choked laugh turned into a soft sob. I pulled him into my arms, my body trembling against his as I cried. He cuddled me against his chest, peppering kisses on the top of my head.
For the first time in my entire life, I was officially free.
44
The party had lasted into the early morning hours, more and more allies of the pack trickling in. Remy and Gabe introduced me, but all the names and faces started to blur together. Tate and Dante showed up late, their clothes and hair a barely tamed mess, cheeks flushed with happiness.
I had forgotten half the people who smiled and wished me a happy birthday, but their platitudes were icing on the I-finally-had-a-home cake. I had taken a million pictures with my phone, excited to share them with Mom when I got home to Blackwater.
Remy and I had tumbled into bed after the party, our hands and mouths moving restlessly on each other, until he surged inside of me, reminding me with his body that I was home.
I rolled over the next morning, ready to pick up where we had left off, but Remy’s side of the bed was empty. I smoothed a hand over the cool sheets, propping myself up on one elbow, looking around the room for him.
The bathroom door was halfway open, and the shower was running.
I grinned, tossing the sheets off my legs and planning to join my mate in the shower.
Which was when my phone rang.
I picked it up, thinking it was Mom. We’d been playing phone tag the last few days, and I missed hearing her voice, especially on my birthday. She had left a voicemail, her sweet voice singing me happy birthday while I was tangled up in bed with Remy.
I flinched. I was the worst daughter. Then again, maybe if I could convince the Council that Mom belonged in Blackwater with me, away from Long Mesa, I could make up for it.
Prey (Blackwater Pack Book 2) Page 39
