Page 37 of A Twist of Luck (Shifter City Fated Mates #2)

CHAPTER 37

EMME

F or the rest of the drive I was more relaxed than I’d ever been in Hunter’s presence. The wall between us had crumbled piece by piece, and it was like a breath of air when I’d been struggling under water.

We filled the time chatting about our lives, and I enjoyed learning different facets of what made up Hunter Reeves. “Your favorite color is black?” I said with a snort. “Could you be more of a brooding alpha cliché.”

He growled playfully. “Slade is the broodiest of the lot, and his is green.”

With a shrug I said, “Based on his wardrobe, I’d have said black too. But his eyes and dragon coloring are stunning, so it makes sense.”

Hunter’s smile was gentle, and I barely managed not to crawl across the console and into his lap. “What are your guesses for Fin and Kellan?” he asked, slowing for a light.

I thought about it for a second. “Maybe red for Finley, and teal or gold for Kellan.”

Hunter nodded like he was somewhat impressed. “Kellan’s is yellow, sunshiny bastard that he is.”

Where was the lie? “And the bear?”

This got me a side-eye and smirk. “Light, icy blue. A color very close to your eyes, actually.”

There was a jolt in my stomach, and for my sanity, I pretended it was food poisoning from the stadium food. “How long has it been that color?”

His smirk grew. “A long time, Emme. What a delicious coincidence… or not.”

“He does love ice,” I reasoned, “so I would guess that was where it originated.”

That got me another raised brow and a slightly impressed expression. “You appear to have a pretty good read on him already.”

The satisfaction in his tone annoyed me. “Don’t make more from it than is warranted.”

Hunter was choosing his battles wisely today too, and just nodded. “As you wish, little omega.”

Our conversation shifted to the places we’d lived over the years, and I was surprised to find that outside of the first ten years of his life in Golden Claw, Hunter had spent the rest of his youth in Europe, following his dad on scavenger hunts.

“If he wasn’t making money, he was excavating for ancient and unearthed shifter cities,” he said, tone flat. “That was how he found Slade. He’d heard the stories of a treasure buried beneath this ancient volcano, and when it erupted, he knew it was his chance. I wasn’t even born when he found Slade’s egg about to hatch.”

“Was he surprised when out popped a beast instead of a baby?”

Hunter laughed, a dark, raspy sound. “He loved it, the evil bastard. Allowed him to treat Slade like a dumb animal rather than the genius shifter he is. He deserves to die for how he treated my brother, but for some reason, Slade won’t take him out. And he won’t let me either.”

Knowing Slade, it was either a misplaced loyalty to the man who found him… or it was because of his loyalty to Hunter.

“How did you handle rolling around with a baby dragon as a wolf pup who couldn’t shift yet?” I asked, hoping the subject change evoked happier memories. “What was Slade like when he first shifted into his human form?”

A wistful expression crossed Hunter’s face, and I got a sense of those happier moments intermingled with the darker. “He was wild. It took years to domesticate him. My father used specific techniques that I won’t ever speak of without Slade’s permission, to break the dragon in him. It didn’t work of course, but he did teach my brother how to control it in the worst possible way.”

“He destroyed the connection between Slade and his beast?” I guessed, my words a whisper of horror. And now I hated Hunter’s father with the same fervor as I hated my mom and her pack.

Hunter’s jaw tightened, and he didn’t deny it.

“What did he do to you and Kassidy growing up? Why did your mom never stop him?”

I was captivated by the way his bronze throat expanded as he swallowed roughly. “He ignored Kass, as females are only good for one thing. With me, he ensured that any shred of weakness was stripped from my soul. Apparently, I was quite a sensitive little asshole, which was unacceptable to my family. My mom is just as bad as he is, or maybe worse, because we barely even existed to her. She gave birth to us and then never looked at us again. We were born to carry on the family name.”

“Reeves,” I whispered, trying not to hate the name I’d already fallen in love with.

For the first time since this conversation began, Hunter smiled. “Actually, it’s not. I changed my name as soon as I grew strong enough to claim the status of entitled alpha. Reevesen Latia , or “Reeves” were the name of these tall, willow-style trees that surrounded our land. Trees that Slade and I escaped into when we were younger. They represented our freedom, and my father hated them, so it felt fitting to create a new life under Reeves. His pack name is Davenport.”

The name Davenport tickled the back of my mind, and I wondered if I’d heard it somewhere before. Where, though, I had no idea. “I’m glad you changed your name. Why does Slade use Riverson though, if he grew up with you?”

Hunter shifted lanes, smoothly merging us onto the road near his offices. “When Slade was about sixteen, he felt a calling to shift and return to the place of his origin—the volcano where our father found him. The area was called Riverson Canyon, and etched into the walls in the dialect of the dragons, which to this day he’s still the only one to speak and understand, was the same family name. Slade felt like there were more of his brethren out there, and it was they who called to him, but he never found evidence of more eggs. Or dragons.”

My chest ached at the thought of him making the journey alone. “It must be lonely to be the last of your kind.”

Hunter inhaled deeply, before he released it as a sigh. “There’s a part of him that mourns his dragon side, but he has us, and we’re his family.”

Knowing that Hunter and Slade had each other growing up brought me a sense of comfort. My existence had been eternally isolated. I would have loved even one sibling to call family. “We all have our hidden traumas, don’t we?”

“Except for Kellan,” Hunter said with a broken laugh, pulling into the family compound. He turned to me while he waited for security to open the gates. “He grew up in a functional, loving family.”

“Thank fuck he did,” I said, my own laugh shallow and forced. “Imagine if he wasn’t around to lighten our day. We’d live in a house of morose fucks.”

Hunter didn’t deny that either, and soon we were back in the garage, parking in the Mercedes’ new spot. Once the car was silent, Hunter turned to me, his hands capturing my face. I gasped as he dragged me into a kiss. “What was that for?” I breathed against his mouth, lightheaded and aching for more.

He brushed his thumbs down my cheeks, over and over, in a soothing and somewhat stimulating rasp. “You offer just as much lightness as Kellan,” he said. “We’re a lucky group of morose fucks to have you in our quintet, Emme. You’re strong, resilient, kind, and one hell of a driver. You know cars as well as us, ride motorbikes like a fucking dream, and I have no doubt would kick our asses around the racetrack.” He kissed me again, like he couldn’t help himself. “I’d really love it if you begged me now,” he whispered against my skin.

Oh goddess. I wanted to so badly, and honestly, couldn’t remember any of my very good reasons for not rushing into this with him.

“Hunter…” I whispered, meeting gold eyes.

He was so fucking gorgeous that I was opening my mouth to beg when my phone rang. It broke the moment, and I turned away, sucking in rapid breaths. Blindly, I reached into the center console to grab the device, seeing Cora’s name pop up.

My arousal was doused with worry that she was in trouble, and I quickly swiped to answer. “Bestie,” she trilled, her voice high and excited. “Your glam team is here to get you ready for tonight.”

“Glam team,” I repeated in confusion.

Her laughter rang down the line. “Well, yeah. Kellan told War that we’re heading for Luxuria tonight, and I figured it was my best friend duty to help you get ready. Plus, we have that other thing to discuss.”

The other…? Ohhhh. The thing she referred to was part of my silent battle with Slade, and hopefully if Cora had what I needed, I could enact my semi-evil plan today. Just in time for him to discover upon returning from patrol.

“See you in a few seconds,” I said as I hung up.

Hunter opened my door and held his hand for me. “Come on, little omega,” he said. “Let’s get you delivered safely to your friend.”

“I have a friend,” I chirped, feeling pretty proud of myself. “A best friend. I’ve never had one of those before.”

There’d been acquaintances and friendly coworkers in my life, but no one who would ever show up to help me get ready for a night out. Probably because there’d been no nights out.

But still, I’d never been close to anyone like this before, and it felt nice.

Hunter grunted into a rumbling growl. “I’m your best friend. She can be your second-best friend. Or fifth, once our pack gets their shit together. Make sure Cora is aware of her status.”

With a peal of laughter, I threw my elbow into his ribs, and Hunter’s smirk was his only reaction. Bastard could at least pretend he felt it.

“I will not make her aware of her status . Even I know that’s not the way to enrich a friendship.”

“She’s part of a quintet,” he said with a shrug, like he didn’t give a fuck. “She knows how it works.”

That much was no doubt true.

She’d been pushing me into my pack from the start, knowing that it was the right place for me and my wolf. It was clear she romantically loved Warrick with every part of herself, and the others in her quintet she loved as family. They would be her first best friends too, and after finding my own quintet, it made perfect sense to me.

Hunter must have alerted security that it was okay to let Cora in, as she already waited in the foyer. Dressed in a multi-layered violet skirt and a simple white tank with a cream cardigan over the top, she looked as gorgeous as ever.

When she saw me, she squealed and threw her arms around my shoulders, the bags she carried flopping heavily against my spine. “I’m so excited that we’re heading out tonight,” she said, dancing on the spot. “Come on, girl. We don’t have much time. We need to get ready.”

It was barely five p.m., and from what I knew the club wouldn’t be busy until ten, but she was the expert here.

As we wandered past the living room, the television was on Shifter Sports Broadcast , as per usual in this sports-loving house, and I paused at Kellan and Finley on the screen.

“Hang on,” I said as I hurried to find the remote and turn up the volume. “I want to watch this.”

Cora dropped her bags on the couch and joined me in front of the screen. “You’ve got it bad,” she teased, and I could feel her watching me while I stared at the screen like a creeper. Speaking of creepers, was Slade currently staring at me through a screen, while I stared at the rest of our pack through a screen?

We’d reach a point soon where it would be hard to tell who the bigger stalker was.

“Not that I blame you,” Cora continued conversationally. “And don’t think I didn’t notice that bite on your neck, friend . You need to spill.”

I tore my gaze from the reporter who was asking about the fights during the game, and said, “This is one of those sex sharing conversations, isn’t it?”

She chuckled. “Of course. These are the details we share with our girlfriends.”

I had a lot to learn about friendship, but I felt no embarrassment as I quickly detailed what had happened with Kellan’s magic battle which resulted in my decision to bond with him.

“How did it strengthen him?” she asked, forehead furrowed.

She was the first to ask that question, and I still couldn’t believe the alphas just let it go. Did they already know the truth? Or were they content with not knowing, since it had saved Kellan’s life, and that was all that mattered? Once I came clean about my past and my mom’s, that was a question I’d be able to ask them.

“I’m not really sure,” I lied, wishing I didn’t have to, but I refused to tell Cora before the alphas. “I’m just happy it happened.”

Her face crumpled; her eyes were watery as she nodded. “Oh, goddess, me too. I was so scared for you and Kel. It was heartbreaking to not be able to help.”

I turned back to the screen, needing to see Kellan’s healthy and happy face. Anything to clear the memory of him almost dying from my mind. “He wasn’t really aware enough for true consent in bonding,” I said softly, “But I don’t think I forced him into anything he didn’t want.”

Her tears dried up in the face of her laughter. She even went as far as to slap a hand on her knee when she hunched over. “Forced him…? Girl. Please. You are literally his reason for being alive, and I’m not even talking about the way you saved him from the magic. He must be overjoyed.”

Even with my doubts, I agreed with her. “Yeah, I think he is.”

Cora regarded me for a second, and then waved her hand toward the television. “Call him.”

Wait… what? “ Call him … isn’t this live?”

She nodded before I even finished. “Yep, this is live. Call him and then you’ll never again have to wonder if you’re his one and only reason for existence.”

Unsure whose face this was about to blow up in, I pulled my phone from my back pocket and hit Kellan’s number. It rang and I watched the screen closely. The reporters had just asked about his recovery from the magical attack, when Kellan jumped and glanced down at the table. He held a hand up to halt the rest of the question, lifted his phone, and answered it with the broadest of smiles gracing his lips. “Pretty mate,” he crooned down the line, on live fucking television, in the middle of a press conference. “Is everything okay?”

There was a long, extended silence before I remembered I was supposed to talk and not just stare at his handsome face. “Oh, uh. Yes, totally okay. I just wanted to check in and make sure you were safe.”

Cora took the remote from me and turned down the TV volume so it didn’t echo back as he answered. On the screen, his expression softened, and he leaned on one hand, staring into the main camera. “I’m more than safe, Shortcake. I’m just in a press conference about to tell everyone about how you saved my life, and that I’m one lucky son of a shifter to have the most perfect mate.”

Oh goddess. These alphas were determined to elicit the deepest of emotions from me today. “I see you,” I whispered, drinking him in like I was parched, and he was the only water available. “Sorry to call while you’re doing press, I should have checked first.”

Kellan released a gentle laugh. “You can call me any time of any day or night, and I will answer. No exceptions.”

Truth rang in his voice, and I’d never been surer that there were no exceptions to his feelings for me. My voice caught. “I miss you, Golden Boy.”

On the screen, he jumped to his feet in a graceful rush, and everyone around him went crazy, except for Finley, who just shook his head and leaned back in his chair. Reporters’ shouts rang out as Kellan spoke directly to the camera. “I’m on my way home to you right now,” he said as his long legs maneuvered him around the table. “Don’t move a muscle.”

“Wait,” I called with a laugh, and he slowed as he waited for me to continue. “Finish your press conference, mate. I’ll be here waiting for you when you’re done.”

Kellan blinked, his mouth dropping open in a sexy dip. “Say it again,” he whispered, his voice wavering.

I knew exactly what he wanted to hear from me. “Mate. You’re my mate, Golden.”

He lit up the room, and some of his external warmth crept a little deeper into my heart. “I love you so much, pretty mate. So. Damn. Much. Wait for me. I’ll be home soon.”

With that, he blew a kiss at the camera and hung up the phone, retaking his seat as if he hadn’t just created a frenzy with his dramatic exit.

“Em,” Cora choked out as she pressed a hand to her chest. “That was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I need your alphas to give War a few lessons.”

Still feeling overwhelmed and dazed, not to mention filled with the sort of joy I thought only existed in fantasy stories, I tried not to bounce on the spot like a puppy. “Warrick does just fine,” I said with a grin, giving her my full attention. I needed a distraction until Kellan returned home. “Now, show me what you’re wearing tonight. I’m sure it’s going to knock his fur off.”

Cora shimmied, her layered skirt swirling around her. “You know it. And I have the perfect dress for you as well.”

She dragged me out of the room and away from the television, where two of my mates continued to answer questions in front of the press. Goddess . I had it bad when I was reluctant to walk away while they were visible on the screen.

But it was only an issue if I made it one.

Right?