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Page 38 of A Twist of Luck (Shifter City Fated Mates #2)

CHAPTER 38

EMME

W ith bags in hand we headed upstairs. I heard Hunter in his office chatting to someone on the phone, which should give us time to discuss the thing.

I’d noted in my brief glance at Slade’s stalker wall that there was a corner of my bathroom which appeared to be outside the security footage. The rest, of course, was all there for him to observe, the creepy dragon. Not that I wouldn’t have watched him shower if the opportunity presented itself, but that wasn’t the point.

The point was, I had a little dead zone to put everything into play.

“How are Richard, Sierra and Marcus?” I asked Cora as we hurried up the stairs. “It feels like forever since I had dinner at your place. What with all the kidnapping and unexpected bonding.”

Cora threw her head back and laughed. “You know, what initially drew me to you is your touch of self-deprecation and humor. It’s similar to how I deal with trauma.”

My snort was filled with disbelief. “All I’ve done is run from my trauma. Don’t be fooled, it absolutely controls me.”

She shook her head and pursed her lips, giving the impression she was thinking it over. “You might run from a situation that’s outside of your control, like another pack claiming you. But trauma exists internally, and as far as I can tell, you’re grounded, realistic, honest, and kind. You haven’t let that trauma turn you into an untrusting, bitter shifter. Which it quite easily could have.”

Hunter had given me a similar compliment, and honestly, I didn’t know how to handle their assessments. It was one thing to be called beautiful, and I enjoyed that as much as any female, but to have them see deeper… no one had ever done that before I met these shifters.

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling choked up and overwhelmed.

Cora didn’t appear to need more than that, understanding in her gaze.

When we reached my room, she glanced around at the decor. “This house is incredible,” she said brightly. “The trims and detailing on the sconces are perfect with the style of home.”

As an interior designer, she no doubt noticed a lot more than I ever had, but I agreed with her. This house was stunning, and I loved it as much as the pack in it. Most of them anyway.

“I’ll give you a full tour one day soon,” I promised her. “It literally has everything you could want in a dream house.”

“And more, I’d bet,” Cora said, leaning closer to one of the edges, running her fingers over the engraved details. “These edgings…” She groaned.

With a laugh, I gently shoved her through my door and into the bathroom. “Come on, show me what you’ve bought for us to wear.”

She patted the bags hanging over her shoulder. “I’ve got everything we need.”

She hung the dresses on one of the towel hooks, before handing me a duffle bag . I backed myself into the corner near the shower and gestured for her to do the same. “We’re being watched and listened to,” I whispered, barely making a sound.

Cora didn’t even blink an eye, her response loud. “I brought my full range of Essence makeup, and of course, that body spray you love so much.”

She gestured for me to open the duffle, and I choked on laughter at the contents. The giant plastic bag was filled with exactly what I’d requested. I was about to become a very minor annoyance to one dragon shifter.

In the bag was a note that I had to slowly read, hoping Cora wouldn’t think anything of the time it took. Thankfully she’d written it in large, block letters, which made it easier. Use the spray to block your scent. It should last about an hour. This is Reeves tech, and the device will briefly knock out the cameras. You’ll have ten minutes.

Slade would notice the security system go down, but I was banking on it taking him longer than ten minutes to get home. More than enough time for my first prank.

Lifting the spray, I quickly doused myself, and when Cora sniffed me, she nodded. “Safe.”

I grabbed the device from the duffle next. “It’s already connected to this system,” she murmured as we both pretended to peer into the bag. “Warrick got Kellan to help, and he said this device would get us where we needed to go. It’s patented Reeves tech, and not even out in the world yet.”

She spoke so softly that there was no way anyone could overhear, but I remained paranoid as I looked around.

“I knew Kel would be in,” I whispered back, “He’s been dying to mess with Slade, and believes I’m the only one who’d get away with it.”

What I had planned was an inconvenience at best, and nothing that should piss the dragon off into a murder spree. I was at least seventy percent sure of that assessment.

Taking one last fortifying breath, I tucked the plastic bag under my arm and hit the button on the device to scramble the security. Cora met my gaze briefly, and she nodded before shoving me toward the exit.

Out of my room and through the hall, I raced like my ass was on fire. I took the stairs to Slade’s room three at a time, attempting to keep my footsteps light so as not to alert Hunter. Like all brilliant, barely thought-out plans, this one had a lot of holes, but it appeared that luck was on my side today. I didn’t run into anyone on my way to his room, and the door was unlocked.

Cora had included a kit to pick the lock, but it would have eaten up valuable time. My stealth skills were a little rusty—it’d been years since I’d needed to escape my mom and her pack.

Slade’s confidence that no one would overstep his boundaries worked to my advantage, leaving his room open and ready for me to explore. When I stepped into the dark, cool space, I half-expected to hear a blaring alarm, alerting the dragon to my presence, but there was only blessed silence.

The bank of computers caught my attention, and as much as I wanted to have a little peek at what he worked on, my time was limited. Opening the zip lock on the bag, I got to work, placing each of the items into the perfect spot, which would ensure he saw them only when he was lying down ready to sleep.

Once everything was in place, I glanced at the stalker wall, curious if he’d added anything new. There was no time for that either, so I sprinted from his room, ensuring the door was closed behind me. By the time I made it to my bedroom, the device was beeping, which I could only assume meant security was up and running again.

My phone rang right as Hunter slammed open my door and raced inside. “Emme!” he shouted, and I poked my head out of the bathroom, forcing myself to breathe evenly.

“Hunter, what’s wrong?” I called back, a faked hint of worry in my tone.

He ran his gaze from the top of my head to my toes, as if searching out an injury. “Slade called and said the security system went down for a few minutes. He rebooted it from his device but wanted me to check on you.”

A quick glance at my phone showed Slade had called me too. Six times actually, starting about a minute after I hit that button. “I’m perfectly fine,” I told Hunter. “We’ve just been gossiping and figuring out what to wear tonight. Maybe it was a glitch in the system?”

Hunter stepped closer and peered into the bathroom, relaxing when he found only Cora inside. “Yeah, you’re probably right. We’ll have to fire the company who installed them.”

Okay, Mr. Jokester. “Wasn’t that Reeves Industries?”

With his worry fading, Hunter’s smile was dark and sexy. “I’ve heard they’ve been occupied with their new omega. Might be slipping.”

There was absolutely no slipping when it came to anything Hunter touched. “Somehow, I doubt that. They appear to be pretty on top of it all.”

He reached out to snatch me up, but I darted out of his grasp. “No,” I said, pointing my finger. “I’ve got to get ready, Hurricane. You can’t distract me, or we won’t make it out tonight.”

Hunter didn’t appear to care in the slightest. “Fine with me. I’d rather keep you to myself anyway.”

“Yes, but this is for Kellan too.” I shooed him away and he left with a grumbling growl.

Cora’s eyes were wide when she met mine in the mirror. “Close,” she mouthed.

I nodded, pressing my hand to my chest, pleased that my pulse was relatively normal. Hopefully, Hunter thought the slight elevation in heartrate was just my usual reaction to being around the alphas. Charismatic bastards that they were.

Getting ready ended up being an excellent distraction, and I immediately fell in love with the black and gold dress Cora had for me. “It’ll go perfectly with all that gorgeous strawberry-blond hair and tanned skin,” she said.

“I think you’re as good at designing outfits as you are at designing houses,” I said, twirling in front of the mirror, the short skirt flaring around my thighs.

The dress fit perfectly, the top half a bodice with corseted back and thick black straps that tied into bows on my shoulders. Cora curled my hair into loose waves and added heavier makeup than I’d normally wear.

She’d just stepped back to declare me perfect when I heard Kellan and Finley arriving home.

Noise picked up on the lower level, and I recognized a few voices: Warrick, Kenzo, and Christian for starters—along with other unfamiliar males. Possibly more of the team.

Slade had texted me after I’d missed his calls advising that he would see me tonight at Luxuria, and that next time I’d better answer my damn phone. Bossy fucker .

“Okay, you ready to drop those alphas’ jaws to the floor,” Cora said, doing her own little twirl, her lavender silk dress floating nicely around her body. We both wore heels, though mine were in the form of little black boots and hers were purple stilettos.

“You did an amazing job glamming me. This dress is so perfect that I want to be buried in it, okay?” I looked around for what I needed to bring and asked, “Should we grab coats?”

Cora shook her head as she left the bathroom. “Nah, I don’t want to cover these gorgeous dresses. We’ll go from the car to the club in seconds.” Our metabolisms kept us warm most of the year, though mine was never quite as efficient as other shifters.

In the black wrist purse Cora provided with the dress, I added my phone, a lipstick for touchups, and cash. Hunter had left a bunch of cards on my side table earlier, and I eyed the shiny Amex sitting amongst many other shiny credit cards, all with my name on them. I wasn’t quite ready for that part of pack life yet, but it was nice to know they were there in case of an emergency.

At the top of the stairs, laughter and rumbling voices grew louder, and I tried to ignore the flutter of butterflies in my stomach. This was a night to celebrate and count our goddess-given blessings that we were alive and together.

The Rogers pack might be out there, hiding behind their council, but we’d eventually figure out how to take them down. I should have made them pay years ago for what they did to Mom. Not because she deserved revenge, but to stop them from ever hurting another shifter. By staying quiet, I’d allowed them to continue in the world, wreaking destruction and havoc.

I shuddered to imagine what they’d been up to in the last ten years.

“Are you okay?” Cora asked, and I realized I was clutching the railing at the top of the stairs, lost in my darker thoughts.

“Oh. Yeah.” I shook my head and loosened my grip. “Sorry, got lost in the past for a second there. I think I need a drink.”

She linked her arm through mine. “You and me both, girl. Come on, let’s get our guys.”

With the first click of our heels on the step, the noise cut off below, and a crowd of giant males made their way to the base of the stairs to wait for us.

Warrick stood front and center, his eyes wide and his smile wider as he dragged his gaze over Cora, eating her up with eyes that were liquid pools of darkness. “That’s exactly how a mate should look at you,” I murmured.

She released a few heavy pants before nodding. “My alpha certainly has a way with non-verbal communication.”

“He does?—”

Hunter and Kellan pushed in through the crowd, and I was seized by a pair of hungry gazes. Kellan had his hand pressed to his chest, jaw slightly unhinged as he stared up at me. I took in his blue button-down shirt and black slacks, and felt my heartbeat quicken. Whenever I saw him dressed up, it all but took my breath away. Goddess above… he was stunning.

The lights from the foyer highlighted the gold in his blond hair, casting a glow over my golden boy. He watched me as if I were beyond his belief, a sight he never expected to encounter and had no idea how to process. It was enough to have me stumble over my own feet.

Then there was Hunter, whose predatory stare had my breaths coming out even faster than Cora’s.

The darkly handsome shifter wore an inscrutable expression. His eyes blazed with gold, and he looked… ravenous. Hunter was also dressed nicely in a black button-down and slacks, his hair tousled and ready for me to run my hands through it.

With a sudden lurch forward, he stalked up the stairs, and I was frozen to the spot, locked in the stare of a predator.