Page 9

It hadn’t started off special, the things Bonny said had wormed their way under my skin, but then I’d seen Jagger and I hadn’t cared anymore what she had to say.We saved her boyfriend, and I’d left the clinic without another word to her.

I’d thought about my family enough for one day, so shoving tonight’s interaction to the back of my mind, I smiled wide.My nerves were going wild, but they were excited nerves.Good nerves.

Hands trembling, I ran them down my dress.It was floaty, short, and skimmed my curves in a subtle but sexy way.The bright yellow dress was new, dotted with sunflowers that made me happy, and I loved it.

I went back to the bathroom and added my necklaces, slid on my rings and the little peridot cauldron studs I bought the month before, then fussed with my hair again.Jagger liked my hair.He’d never said it out loud, of course, but every time we’d been in the same room, his gaze would drift over it, and he did this thing where he’d draw in a deep breath.I braided a thin, green velvet ribbon, almost the same color as Jagger’s eyes, down the side.I gave my outfit one last look in the full-length mirror and smiled.

“You’ve got this,” I said to my reflection.

Snatching up my bag, I hefted it over my shoulder.I’d filled it with some extra things in case I was away for a few nights.When Fern and Relic mated, she vanished for several days.Hounds were possessive and, once they found their mates, completely obsessed.Jagger had been forced to stay away from me for several months, he’d want me close now.

I assumed Lothar or Roman had told him earlier tonight that I was at the fights, which was obviously why he’d gone there.I’d texted Fern when I got home and told her I’d seen him.She said she was at the clubhouse waiting for Relic, that the hounds were in some meeting, which was obviously why Jagger wasn’t here with me now.Warrick, their alpha, must have called them in.

I could message him, but I wanted to surprise him.I’d be there waiting when their meeting finished.

My entire life I’d been insecure.Being brutally rejected by the people you loved and trusted the most in the world did that to a person.I didn’t need to fear that from Jagger.He was my mate.I’d tried so many times to tell myself I was wrong, to not get my hopes up, but even with all the trauma I’d been through, all the hate and rejection because of my demon blood and the way it made me look when I used my magic—there was no ignoring the truth.

Jagger was mine, and I was his.

I had nothing to fear from him.

The fates had chosen him for me, and for the first time in my life, I had nothing to be afraid of.Yes, it helped that Agatheena had confirmed it, but even if she hadn’t, the truth had been there—I’d just had to listen, to surrender to my own intuition.Jag wanted me too.That’s how mates worked.I’d watched Relic pursue my friend.I’d witnessed him break down her walls, and I watched them fall in love.

Now it was my turn.

It was my turn to be loved and cherished.It was my turn to be the most important person in someone’s life.

I quickly texted Fern to tell her I was heading to the clubhouse and not to tell anyone.My friend knew the truth.She hadn’t said it outright, but she wasn’t as subtle as she thought.

Slipping on my coat, I slung my bag over my shoulder, then carefully lifted Boo, who was snoozing, hanging from his perch, and I placed him on my shoulder.He crawled in more snugly, and I grabbed my keys and headed out.

When I pulled up to the clubhouse thirty minutes later, I was greeted by Brick.He opened the gate for me, and I lowered the window to say hi.He leaned in, and the young hound gave me a cocky wink.

“Hey, Sutton,” he said, flashing his dimples and a good dose of sharp canines.The kid was a flirt.

I laughed, feeling breathless and honestly a little faint, but gods, joyful.I don’t think I’d ever used that word in my life.“Is Fern still here?”

“Yeah.I’m just waiting for War to send my replacement for guard duty, then I’ll join the party.”

“Party?”I looked toward the clubhouse.The doors were thrown open, and I could see it was full of people and, yeah, could hear music.

“Jag’s back.His brothers wanted to welcome him home.”He gave me another grin.“So, you want to hang later?I’ll come find you.”

Okay, I wasn’t expecting a party, but I guess they started after the meeting?I shook my head at Brick.“As lovely as your offer is, I already have someone to hang with.”

“If you change your mind, I’m not hard to miss.”Giving me another flash of those dimples, he stepped back.

He wasn’t wrong, Brick was only twenty, but he was huge, definitely one of the larger hounds in the pack.I parked, grabbed my bag, got out and, taking a deep, steadying breath, strode up to the main doors.

The place was crowded.Friends and family of the hounds, mainly witches and shifters, were already here partying.

I searched the room, but I couldn’t see Jagger.Gods, what if he’d come looking for me right after the meeting and we’d missed each other?—

The crowd in front of me parted.

There.

My heart did a wild thud in my chest when I saw him.