Tears are streaming down his cheeks and his hands have a firm grip on my waist. He captures my mouth with his in a demanding, passionate kiss. My hands move into his hair to hold him tighter to me and we don’t break apart until we are both desperate for air.
He’s breathing hard when he says, “I don’t know what happened in my life that made me deserve you, but I’d go through it all again as long as they guaranteed me I’d be on this couch in this moment with you.”
Chapter 35 – Bloom
~ I think we have another mating coming on ~
“Darlin’, Bonnie’s here to see you,” Pike hollers from the living room. It’s the day after I was abducted and we’ve had almost everyone in the pack come by to check on me, including Kit and Emily. But I’ve been waiting on two people to show up and Bonnie is one of them.
I get up from the chaise lounge on our balcony and walk into the living room. She runs up and grabs me into a hug as soon as I’ve made it in the door. I hold tight to her and say, “Bon, I’m okay.”
“If you ever scare me like that again I’ll kick your butt,” she tries to threaten but her voice is too shaky for it to sound convincing.
“I’ll refrain from being kidnapped again, so you won’t have to worry,” I try to joke.
“Stop being a smartass, Bloom Michael! What would I have done without you in my life?”
She’s barely finished her sentence when I feel the butterflies in my stomach start to go crazy. I look at my best friend and smile.
“Tennesse, I think we have another mating coming on.” I tell him through our connection.
“Are you sure?”
“I’d bet money on it,” I confirm confidently.
“I wonder who he is.”
There is a knock on the door and I look at Pike and grin, “I think we’re getting ready to find out.” He doesn’t say anything but moves down the hall to greet our new guest.
Bonnie looks at me and says, “Bloom, I don’t like that look. It better not mean what I think it does.”
“Don’t worry Bon. I now know what you’d do if I’m not here.”
“No, Bloom. I’m serious you can just tell that gut of yours to go to hell, because I’m not gonna be mated to one of the big bad.” She’s walking backwards away from me.
“Pike, you better hurry up and get whoever it is in here, because his mate is getting ready to jump out the window to get away from him.”
He still didn’t say anything but I could hear his deep laugh coming through our bond.
“Who is it?”
I hear Pike’s laughter coming from the hallway leading to the front door as he walks back towards us. Moments after he enters, still laughing, Tucker enters watching his friend like he’s having a nervous breakdown.
“Sis, I’m not sure what’s up with your mate, but you might have to have him committed,” Tucker says shaking his head.
Bonnie who up till that point had still been trying to retreat from the room spins around and comes face to chest with Tucker.
He grips her arms to steady her and inhales deeply causing her eyes to grow to the size of saucers. He looks down at her and his voice is a growl when he states, “You smell like fresh apple pie.”
“W-w-what?” Bonnie stutters still in shock.
He pulls her closer to his chest and declares, “You’re mine.”
That snaps Bonnie out of it. She steps back out of his arms and snaps, “I hate to tell you Fido, but I don’t belong to anyone, especially not you. And I do not smell like freaking pie.”
Tucker takes a step closer and she takes another step back, “You’re my mate, Bonnie Anne Harris.”
“How do you know my full name?” Bonnie asks stunned.
Tucker taps his finger to his temple, “We’re connected now. You’re my mate, Bonnie-bean.”
She glares and pokes him in the chest with her index finger, “Oh no Big Bad, there will be no giving me pet names. There is no Bonnie-bean. There is only Bonnie and she is not your mate.”
“Bon ….” Tucker begins.
“No. You just need to forget it. I. AM. NOT. YOUR. MATE.” She turns to me and says, “Blu, I’ll see you later. Stay out of trouble.”
“I’ll try Bon,” I answer trying to contain my laugh.
She turns to leave and Tucker grabs her arm to stop her. “Wait, we’re not done.”
She levels her icy stare on him and tells him, “Release me now, Lassie, or I’ll make it so you can never produce children.”
He releases her arm and looks at me for help.
“She’s serious, little brother, her Daddy’s a vet so she can follow through with that.” I advise.
“Shit,” he says running his hands over his face. While he does this Bonnie slips out of the suite and is more than likely half way back to Ohio to hide. Tucker looks at Pike (he has finally contained his laughter) and asks, “What the hell do I do now?”
Pike claps him on the back and informs him, “Now you go hunt down your mate.”
“Pike, you just saw how she reacted.”
“Tucker, a wolf like you should already know the best prey doesn’t go down easy. Now go take down your prize, brother.”
A wolfish grin spreads over Tucker’s face and he stalks out of the suite to find his mate.
“Well that is an interesting revelation.” I giggle.
“Yes, it is darlin’.”
There is a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” Pike hollers down the hall.
“Um …what’s wrong with Tucker? He is stomping down the hall like a man on a mission.” Rose asks from just inside the living room.
Pike looks at Rose then turns to me.
“It’s ok, Tennessee. I need to talk to her anyways.” I reassure him. He nods then takes a seat on the couch.
I join him and turn my attention to Rose, “Have a seat, please.”
She hesitantly sits down and looks between Pike and me, “Is Tucker okay?” The concern for her son is sweet, but it hurts because I had been kidnapped and almost raped only a day before and she has yet to ask me how I am.
I swallow my anger and say, “Tucker is fine, he’s just dealing with a ….” I don’t want to out Tucker and Bonnie’s mating so I turn to Pike looking for help.
“He’s got hunting on the brain,” Pike assists.
“Okay, he should probably get out in the woods then,” Rose mumbles.
“Rose, why are you here?” I cut to the point.
She fiddles with the hem of her skirt, “Well, Isla told me about yesterday. The breakfast meeting and what happened afterwards. Bloom, I’m sorry I would never have imagined my son Kyran capable of doing something like that.”
“Rose, don’t feel bad, none of us would’ve thought that. And I don’t hold it against you.” Though part of me wishes I can.
“Are you okay?” she asks softly. Maybe she does care a little bit.
“I’m fine,” I answer her just as softly.
We all get quiet again, not sure what should be said next. I’m getting ready to tell her she should go when she speaks again.
“Isla, also mentioned your gut “feelings.” She hesitates to watch my reaction.
I hold my breath for two beats and finally release it and ask, “And?”
“Your father never had them that I know of,” I visibly collapse till she continues, “but, I remember your grandma did. She would always say she had a “feeling” something was going to happen and whatever it was would happen. I always thought it was a coincidence, but if you’re having the same “feelings” then there must be more to it.”
“I guess I’ll never find out what it is now,” I sigh looking at Pike.
“I’m sorry?” Rose asks.
“They’re all gone, Rose. Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, they’re all gone. There’s no-one left for me to ask about this,” I explain calmly. I want to yell at her. She knows I’m alone. Why is she acting like she doesn’t?
“Bloom, I’m sorry I know they’re gone, but you
still have family left,” Rose informs me watching me closely.
“Rose, I know I have you and the boys, but they can’t answer my questions about Dad’s family.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Your grandma has a sister. She’s younger than your grandma by several years and she’s still alive,” Rose informs me.
“I have a great-aunt?” I ask surprised.
“Yes, your grandma and her had a falling out when your Dad and I were in school, but she’s still alive. Last I heard she lived in West Virginia with her mate.”
“Wait, did you just say she has a mate?” I ask shocked.
“Yes, your father didn’t know about that, but I overheard your grandma on the phone with her one day. Your great-aunt is mated to a shifter,” Rose explains calmly.
I grab Pike’s hand, “We have to find her, Tennessee. She may be able to give us the answers we need.”
He squeezes my hand and says, “Looks like we’re heading to West Virginia.”
The end … for now.
Reviving Bloom (Bloom Daniels Series) Page 19
