Page 54

EMME

A fter our heavier conversation, we moved on to normal chats about our lives, and then we started shopping. An hour later, I found myself in the dressing room with a small pile of clothes to try on.

Cora and I finished at the same time and converged on the counter to pay for our items.

“I’m really happy to see you so settled in your pack,” she said as she leaned against the bench. “You have this new glow about you.”

Ah, the old glow of happiness. Or maybe it was copious amounts of sex.

“It’s weird, we’ve gone through the sort of drama and hardships a lot of packs wouldn’t experience in a lifetime,” I said, pushing my clothes toward the shifters behind the counter.

“But we missed the normal dating and getting to know each other part. I only just recently learned their birthdays.”

She shot me a lopsided smile. “In the first few months after finding your scent match, it tends to be more about our beasts and hormones than dating per se. You’ve actually taken it slower than most. From what I recall, War and I didn’t even come up for air for weeks, and it was only later we started to converse about more than what surface to screw on . ”

I blinked. “It still takes me by surprise when you speak so bluntly. There you stand all refined and proper, but on the inside you’re just sass and sex.”

She howled. “Oh goddess. That’s so damn true. I like to keep everyone guessing.”

“I’m starting to see that.” And I absolutely loved it.

“You ladies are done already?” Kassidy called as she hurried over. “How did you try everything on so quickly?”

She dropped a pile of clothes so massive on the counter that I couldn’t even see the sales staff behind it. “Uh, I don’t think we had quite as much as you to try on.”

She tossed her hair and fired off a satisfied smirk in my direction. “Look, big brother is paying, and while I normally wouldn’t take a cent of his money, I’ve decided that today is about friendship. It’d be rude to refuse the gift of friendship.”

“The height of rudeness,” Cora confirmed with a smirk.

“I admire your independence,” I told Kassidy. “When Kellan mentioned that you chose not to have a pack for no reason other than you didn’t want one, I knew you were far stronger than me. You lose none of that by taking Hunter’s gift.”

Kassidy’s smile faltered, and there was a hint of pink in her cheeks. “Well, there’s a little more behind the reason than that. Some shit happened to me, and I decided I couldn’t risk losing myself again. The last time it happened… well, yeah… it was fucked up.”

“How long ago was this?” Cora asked, her concern shining through in her worried expression.

There was a pause as Kassidy’s brow furrowed. “You know… fuck, it’s been five years. Time flies when you’re escaping from your mistakes.”

She’d have been quite young five years ago, and I wanted to comfort her as I draped my arm around her shoulder. “You seem pretty damn strong to me. And once you learn how strong you are alone, you can have the same in a pack. If that’s what you end up wanting.”

Her smile held hints of pain and sadness. “I’m getting there.”

Kassidy changed the subject as she moved on to plans for the new year, and what we hoped to achieve.

Cora revealed that her and Warrick had started discussing the possibility of having a baby, and my heart clenched at the thought of a tiny shifter coming into this terrifying world.

Shifters didn’t have young easily, and it was a huge decision for any pack to make.

Which reminded me that with my fertile period approaching soon, and this time having copious amounts of unprotected sex, I would have to go to the healers for the potion to prevent pregnancy.

I hated using magic, but there were no other choices except abstinence. Condoms weren’t designed for our kind.

When all of our purchases were rung up and bagged, I shot a text to Hunter and not even a minute later he strolled into the store. He gathered up the dozens of bags like they weighed nothing, and piled them all into the back of the Mercedes.

“You certainly make life easier, mate,” I said, popping up on my toes to kiss his cheek.

He turned at the last second so my lips landed on his, and the rumble of his wolf reverberated down my spine until my toes curled in my shoes. “You will never struggle through life again,” he promised me.

My sigh was lost in our next kiss, and Kassidy groaned. “Come on, guys. I don’t want to see my brother making out. Not to mention we’re all lonely over here without soulmates.”

Cora’s face lit up as a Range Rover pulled in beside our car. “Speak for yourself, Kass. I’ve got mine right here.”

Warrick exited the vehicle dressed in a suit and looking very suave. “We’ve got a council meeting,” he explained, as Cora whistled and hurried toward him. “Members of all five cities are here.”

I met Hunter’s gaze, and he nodded. “Yeah, Slade is going to be at the house to take over security since I can’t miss this one. Jewels, and our few allies in the witch world, will be there too. It’s time to lay out a plan to draw Fletcher and the Termaine witches from their hiding spot.”

“Won’t Fletcher’s council want to take his side?” I asked. “Or Blaine’s?”

Hunter snarled, his expression lethal and furious. “Fletcher’s council is Golden Claw—he’s just never here enough to claim his spot. Not that anyone would have him at this point. He did himself no favors with the way he acted in the past.”

“And Silver City with Blaine?”

Warrick spoke up. “We don’t think so, but it’s one of the questions we have for them today. So far it appears they’re washing their hands of that pack. Especially since Blaine is the only one left.”

I hated knowing they were going into that building again, even if it had been repaired since the magical attack. “Stay safe,” I said. “After the last betrayal, I’m a bit nervous about these meetings.”

“We’ll be on guard, little omega,” Hunter said as he pressed a kiss to my forehead, wrapping his arms around me. “And I’ll be back in time to catch the game.”

Kellan and Finley’s game was tonight, and since we couldn’t be there, I was determined to support them from here. “We’ll be watching too!” Cora called, as she hurried over to give us one last hug. “Text me updates.”

After promising I would, she grabbed her bags from the car and left with Warrick. Hunter drove Kassidy and me to the compound, dropping his sister and her many bags off first, before he followed me into the house. He changed into a suit and kissed me quickly as he raced out the door.

Once he was gone, I tried not to panic at what might happen during the meeting. Hunter was powerful and capable, and could take care of himself, but when you loved someone, worry for their safety appeared to be part of it.

Slade wandered into the entrance hall as a nice distraction. He smirked at the pile of bags around my feet. “Had a productive day I see.”

I glanced down. “You know, it looked like a lot less in the store. Hunter did say go crazy and get what I wanted.”

Slade surprised me when he brushed a hand across my cheek, leaving a burning wake in its path.

He’d been so distant lately that I soaked up that one touch like it was a full-body hug.

“This is nothing, Snow. One day soon, all you’ll have to worry about is shopping, eating, and embracing your freedom.

We can travel and see the world. Or stay right here in our home. Whatever you want.”

I shrugged, my heart beating so damn hard that Hunter, who was well on his way to the council meeting, could probably hear it. “You’ve already given me everything I ever wanted. All I need now is Fletcher and his witches wiped off the fucking planet.”

Slade’s expression softened, and again it was such a rare occurrence that my parched emotions were desperate for another sip. “You’re helping to heal all of us through your own innate magic, Emme. We can never repay that.”

I wanted to tell him that it was the same for me, but I knew if I spoke, my voice would crack, and I didn’t need this to get all weird and angsty.

Slade gathered up my bags, managing them easily in one hand, and I followed as he took the stairs three at a time to the second floor.

In my room, he placed my new purchases in the wardrobe, and I decided I’d put them away later.

Uninterrupted time with my most reticent alpha was too good to turn down.

“We have a couple of hours until the game,” Slade said, as if he’d had the same thought. “What would you like to do?”

Usually, he was more of the give an order and expect it to be obeyed alpha, but apparently he continued to channel his softer side. “What if I said face masks and a pedicure?”

His jaw twitched and he sighed. “If that’s what you want. I know you’ve been having a rough time lately. Or… we could practice reading?” He tagged on the last part with a semi-hopeful tone, and I managed not to laugh.

“I’ve been practicing my reading,” I told him, “And I’m happy with my progress. Could we maybe try knife training instead?”

During my early morning sessions, I’d grown more confident with weapons, and Horton had suggested we move on to real—still blunted—blades soon.

Slade’s relief was palpable, and I was almost tempted to go back to face masks just to stir him up. “Get dressed and I’ll meet you in the gym,” he said, leaving before I could respond.

After quickly using the bathroom, I threw my hair into a ponytail and dressed in black Lycra pants, a matching sports bra, and sneakers.

Slade was already in the gym, and I followed the sounds of thuds to find him in the back corner whaling on a boxing bag.

Oh. Fuck. Me.

He was shirtless, with just his gym shorts and sneakers on. He wasn’t sweating, but I sure as hell was as I watched the play of muscles in his broad shoulders every time he slammed his fist into the bag. It swung hard into the wall, and when it returned, he smashed it again.

“These bags are made by a shifter company,” Slade said, and even though I shouldn’t have been, I was surprised that he’d already sensed me standing there.

“They make it from a synthetic material which can withstand our strength.” He was speaking words, that was for sure, but all I heard was static in my head as I drooled.

When he hit the bag one last time, catching it on the backswing, he caught me mid obsessive stare. “Uh, right? Very strong,” I managed to say, as I sucked in a ragged breath.

Slade relaxed back into his stance, arms crossed over his chest to highlight both dragon heads. His gaze was heated as he ran it down my body, taking in my workout gear too.

“You ready to practice?” he asked, and I nodded roughly.

I already knew I was going to be utterly useless today, but we were here now, and I was still determined to learn how to fight… or at least hold my own for a few seconds.

“Can we use actual weapons?”

Slade’s smile kicked up a notch. “You can, and I'll keep the wooden practice ones.”

“What? Why?” I shot back, my annoyance cutting through the lust. “I’m never going to get better if you keep babying me. I’m a shifter. I’ll heal!”

His smile disappeared faster than a drop of moisture in the desert. “I can’t cut you, Snow. I won’t fucking do it. If that blade slices your perfect skin, I’ll probably plunge it into my own damn chest. So, just work with me here so I don’t lose my shit and destroy the world. Please.”

My fire died off, and since he so rarely said please, I knew I’d give him whatever he wanted. “Is that why you’ve been having Horton take point on my training? So you don’t hurt me?”

Poor Horton though, taking all the risks. I needed to make sure he didn’t accidentally stab me; otherwise he’d be a dead eagle.

Slade shook his head. “I don’t trust myself to touch you more than necessary. My dragon is starting to crave the feel of your skin against mine.”

The thudding of my heartbeat was loud in my ears. “Have you ever stopped to think that might be exactly what you’re supposed to want. You said I was healing you all, in my own way, so why wouldn’t I be part of healing the rift with your beast?”

I expected his immediate rebuttal, but he was slow to respond. “It’s possible, but it’s still a risk. I’m hoping everything will make more sense once we return to the volcano.”

“You and Talon?” I asked.

“You will all have to come as well,” he said shortly, “but only we will venture into the depths.”

Before I could ask another of the million questions I had, he gestured for me to head back into the main part of the gym. “Let’s get to training.”

We moved past the machines and climbed into the training ring. It was an elevated square shape—ironically—roped off on all four sides. As I bounced onto the floor, I found it was hard with a very mildly spongy upper layer.

Slade picked up a case from a shelf on one wall, and I sighed as my beautiful blades came into view. “They’re so darn pretty,” I cooed, brushing my hand over the handle and hilt.

The embedded jewels were smooth as I wrapped my palm around one handle. “And fits so well in my palm.”

“Like it was made for you,” Slade said with a knowing smile, reminding me that he’d used his stalker ways to create these for me.

He retrieved a wooden practice blade, and we fell into a fight stance. It was getting easier for me to move my body the way I wanted, as my muscles, stamina, and wolf grew stronger with each lesson. I’d even managed to keep up with the back of the enforcer pack during our last lot of warmups.

My aim had been to get stronger, and as hard as each day was, I hadn’t given up.

“Bring it on, big boy,” I sassed Slade, and I was rewarded with his terrifying smile as he moved forward, the blade sliding toward me so fast I could barely track it.

When it touched my throat, I sucked in a rapid breath. “Good call on the wooden blades,” I choked out, the blunt edge moving against my voice box.

Slade nodded, before removing the weapon and stepping back. “You move like magic,” I whispered. You are magic . “Horton moves like an octogenarian compared to you.”

His smirk appeared, and everything was right in my world.

“Next time, don’t leave yourself so open.

Your throat is an easy place for anyone to inflict a quick death.

Along with here.” His hands slid down to hover above the joint of my hip and groin.

He wasn’t touching me, but I felt his heat in a much more intimate place .

“So, get your blades in position to defend yourself.” He took a step back, and I shook myself from the daze. “Again.”

Flames danced in his eyes, and I breathed deeply to try and maintain stability. As I brought my blades up, I nodded. “Yeah. Again.”

And this time, I would be ready for his speed.

Probably.