Page 36

EMME

K ellan led me into what he dubbed the “present room,” which was actually a private parking lot on the other side of the main entrance.

This one had metal gates to lock it off from the rest of the track, and at first I couldn’t figure out why we were here, until we reached a large shipping container.

Crap . What had my insanely generous alphas gotten me for my birthday?

“Mine first,” Kellan chanted as he dropped my hand to dash for the doors of the container.

He lifted the latch with his free hand and swung both sides open.

“Are you guys kidnapping me and shipping me off to another country?” I joked, trying to peer in through the opening. It was too dark to see much more than the first few feet in, and there were no visible presents there.

“If we could find a country where you’d be safe,” Hunter grumbled, while Slade nodded and said, “Excellent idea.”

Okay, then. No more giving them ideas.

Kellan disappeared into the depths of that massive unit, and I tried not to fidget as I waited for him to return.

Slade stepped in closer until his heat caressed my spine, and I sucked down a groan when he pressed his hand to my lower back, as he’d done that day in Silver City. Grounding and comforting me.

Kellan was back in no time, wheeling a familiar but also unfamiliar motorcycle.

Joy lit up in my chest as I ran my gaze over the newest Ducati Panigali to come into my life.

It was an almost exact replica of the one I’d lost in the blast, but I could tell that this was brand new, with a differently designed color scheme.

“Kellan, you beautiful alpha.” I huffed in excitement. “Oh my goddess. You got me another bike? I don’t even know what to say.”

I was crying, which was partly why I hadn’t wanted to do presents—it was just too much for me. These alphas seemed to crave my stronger emotions though, as they all watched my tears like they wanted to lick them from my face.

“Baby,” Kellan laughed, and then shook his head as he caressed my face, wiping up the tears, “this is absolutely nothing, but I’m thrilled to see your pretty face this time when I hand over the dream bike.

” He turned to shoot the other alphas a gloating stare.

“Dream fucking bike for our dream mate.”

When he released me, I gave my bike all the attention she deserved.

I brushed my hand across the silky paint, noting that this time it was mostly black with a few pink accents.

Across the tank was a flaming pink wolf head, and the leather seat was wrapped in the same shade.

“It’s perfect,” I rasped. “I love it, and I love you, Kellan Jackson.”

His grin was so wide it almost split his damn face as he leaned over and kissed me.

“That’s not all, pretty mate.” He left me to caress the seat as he grabbed a black and pink leather jacket with Shortcake stitched across the back and the same wolf and flames embroidered below, along with a black and pink helmet.

Lastly, he had a set of hardcover books in a boxed set.

I stared at the books, and he shot me the cheekiest grin so far. “Now these are really a birthday present for me, because I plan on reading this spicy-as-fuck series to you every night, and then we’re going to reenact the scenes.”

The very thought had heat rising in my cheeks, which helped stem my emotional tears. “When is your birthday?” I asked him, realizing I wanted to make their days as special as they’d made mine.

“February twenty-first,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll take one naked omega as my present. In advance of course.”

Which would be a present for me too. “I didn’t realize I was older than you, Golden Boy,” I teased.

His eyes lit up, but we were interrupted by Slade striding past us into the container. “My turn,” he called.

Kellan leaned down to whisper, “To be continued, pretty mate.”

I tried not to fidget as I waited for Slade to emerge, determined to give him my full attention too.

In most packs there was a natural hierarchy based on dominance, but I didn’t want that between the five or us.

We were tied together for a multitude of reasons, and we all needed each other in different ways.

Dominance didn’t need to be part of that.

When the giant dragon stepped out from the container, he held two medium-sized black boxes.

He handed me the first one, and I ran my finger over the dark and shiny wood, which was interspersed with mother of pearl and gold accents.

“There’s so much I wanted to give you, Snow,” he said, his face strangely vulnerable as he met my gaze.

“But knowing how overwhelming this day was going to be for you, I kept it to two practical items.” Of course my most logical alpha had gone for practical.

“The box alone feels like a piece of art,” I said as I flicked open the gold clasp and slowly lifted the lid. Two pieces of jewelry came into view, displayed on the deep blue velvet lining the inside.

“Whoa, this is beautiful, Slade,” I whispered, staring at a massive piece of carved emerald nestled at the base of a thickly woven gold chain.

The emerald was in the shape of a dragon, with gold edging to create a pendant.

It was large enough to near cover my palm as I lifted it.

“But I’m going to need you to explain to me how it’s practical. ”

Slade shrugged like I wasn’t holding a very expensive jewel in my hands.

“It’s from a jeweler in Golden Claw who specializes in creating unique trackers.

The smaller one is for you to wear day to day.

” He cleared his throat. “Not that any of us would care if you wanted to wear the larger pendant daily, but I know you’d be more comfortable with the other one for daily use.

” The smaller dragon was nestled in the velvet, and looked exactly the same, except it was the size of a quarter.

“Trackers,” I said with a nod, switching to the smaller one, and handing it to Slade to put on me. Kellan took the box so I could lift my braid, and Slade’s fingers brushed the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine as he secured the clasp. “That makes sense.”

Those fingertips, roughened from weapon’s training so intense that not even alphas could heal the calluses, slid up to the edge of my jaw. Then brushed the corner of my lips. “Do they have cameras hidden in them too?” I asked, breathless at his touch.

His grin was rueful as he released me. “Not yet, but give me time.”

It didn’t bother me in the slightest to be tracked by my pack, especially not under current circumstances. Popping up on my toes, I waited for Slade to lean down, and my heart hammered as he lowered his head. I moved slowly, giving him time to pull away if his beast reacted.

I felt the burn of the other alpha’s gazes as they watched us closely, and while the dragon was tense, he relaxed as soon as my lips brushed his cheek.

I pulled back to find fire simmering deep in his eyes, but thankfully he distracted us both by reaching for the second box. With my pulse racing, I grasped it, noticing it wasn’t as ornate as the first. This one was shiny, black, and required a thumbprint to open—just like Kellan’s gun case.

I had no idea how Slade got my print, but the case clicked, and I opened the lid to find a pair of gorgeous blades nestled inside.

There was more mother-of-pearl inlaid on their handles, along with embedded emeralds shaped like dragons in the hilt.

There was a green-dragon theme going on here, and I liked that completely unsubtle touch from Slade.

“These are custom made for your grip,” he told me, and I had to wonder if he’d taken an imprint of my hands when he’d stolen my fingerprint. One day he’d have to teach all of us the art of the stalker… he was pretty damn good at it.

“We can start practicing with them once I’m confident you won’t cut your arm off. They’re Damascus steel, magically infused, and sharper than anything you’ve ever worked with.”

Kellan practically drooled as he leaned over and all but kissed the steel. “I’ve been trying for years to get Froyde to make me a set of these, but the bastard told me he was retired. How did you get him to cave?”

Slade shrugged. “I have my ways.”

Kellan only nodded, like that didn’t surprise him one bit. “Power of the dragon. Second only to power of the puss—” Hunter slapped him in the back of the head, and he just laughed like he barely felt it.

Slade closed the lid on my blades before anyone got stabbed, and I gently placed that box on top of the jeweled one. “I love both gifts so much. Thank you,” I said, staring at Slade with all my feelings no doubt on display. The dragon nodded, but he looked pleased by my thanks.

“Your turn next, Fin,” Hunter said, and I found myself staring at the bear as he flushed and hurried into the container.

Slade settled in at my side, his heat washing down my body. “When’s your birthday?” I asked him as we waited.

There was a long enough pause that I wasn’t sure he’d answer until he said, “The thirty-first of October.”

I paused. “That’s… Halloween.” Which, when I thought about it, kind of made perfect sense. “Fitting for a dragon.”

Slade shrugged like he really didn’t care, and as it was a human-celebrated holiday, the significance no doubt meant very little to him. Which got me to wondering if any of them celebrated birthdays normally.

Today’s effort would suggest they did, but these alphas often went above and beyond for me, without ever expecting anything in return. Which wasn’t going to fly with me moving forward.

All of them would get a birthday this coming year, and I would make them all special. Somehow.

Finley’s gift moved into sight then, and I straightened as a huge grill appeared at the end of the container, followed by the rest of a car being guided out by the bear.