Page 19

Jess loved the heck out of this truck. Her boss, Cliff, had even let her hang a little pink, glittery air freshener from the rearview mirror. She’d done it mostly as a joke so the guys at the shop could all complain about it in jest, but now it was her little good luck charm.

It was three weeks at the new job, and already, she was recognizing car parts and pulling some of the orders herself. She was also getting to know the receivers at the different auto shops from here to Missoula and loved that every day of work was different.

A call came through Bluetooth on the truck, and she grinned as she saw the name on the screen. “Hello, hunk,” she answered.

“Hey, Cactus. How was the call?”

“Okay, Clara Daye is awesome. She is my shero.”

“And Vyr?”

“Terrifying, but very nice and had good advice too. And his mate Riyah too. We’re going to start doing training over video calls a couple times a week just to get me some more support, and they are planning a trip out here for next month to meet with me in person. And some really pretty lady named Lucia joined the video chat too.”

“Holy shit, Lucia? That’s awesome! Do you know who she is?”

“I’m not sure. I was going to ask you.”

“She’s Beaston Novak’s daughter. She’s a seer and powerful. She’s coveted in Damon’s Mountains, just like her father. Her brother, Weston has the power of sight too.”

“I feel like I’m meeting famous people. Vyr was quieter, but Lucia and Clara had a lot of things that really make sense for my powers. And Riyah did too.”

“Do they think you’ll be able to control putting our animals to sleep?”

“They think I’m already correcting, and learning. I just need more practice containing it.”

“I freaking love this. I’m glad Damon is putting a team together for you. You deserve the support, Jess. It’s time to correct the path of that lineage of yours.”

“I think…” She bit her lip, hesitating. “I think I might start learning spellcasting.”

“Are you serious?” he asked, and she loved the excitement in his voice.

“They think it may help me to learn control, and it’s also something I want to learn if we ever have kids. If we have a daughter, I want her to know who she is.”

“Oh hell yeah! Jess, I’m so proud of you.” Truth. “Are you almost home?”

“I’m pulling up the hill now,” she told him.

“Good. I made dinner but wanted to check your ETA.” He got off work earlier than her, and they’d settled into a routine that just made her so happy from her heart outward. Even through the brutal stretch of time he’d had to heal from Wreck bringing him back to life, he’d cooked for her. Kade’s home was gorgeous, and the kitchen was to die for. She’d also learned that he loved cooking, and sharing food, and she was fairly sure it was his love language, taking care of her in that way.

God, she loved him. She loved their life. She loved everything!

“Okay, I can’t wait to see you,” he said. “Speed. But not too fast. Drive safe. I miss your boobs. Okay, bye.”

She was giggling when she said bye and hung up. She was so grateful he was recovered from Wreck’s green flames now. That was a brutal couple of weeks.

When she pulled into the clearing, Kade was standing right out front, and the Crew had the grills going. Reed and King were flipping what looked like steaks on the grill. The others were all here, including Garret’s human brother, Dylan, setting up a huge spread of food on folding tables.

Confused but excited, she stopped right where she was and rolled down the window. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Park it right there,” Kade told her. “The Crew wants to celebrate our Promise tonight.”

“What?” she asked, even more excited now.

“Yep. They were just waiting for me to recover. The girls have been planning.”

Her mouth fell open. She looked over at Raynah who was approaching with the others. “Is that what y’all have been so secretive about?”

“Yep!” Raynah said, switching baby Breah to her other hip. “We got matching Cold Foot Crew t-shirts for tonight, since you will officially be one of us.”

Jess’s eyes burned with happy tears as she shook her head in disbelief of how she’d stumbled into a life like this. She loved matching with the girls. She felt a part of something finally, not coasting on the outskirts.

She belonged.

Jess got out and Kade pulled her into a hug, and kissed her, then patted her butt and said, “Go get your clothes on, pretty girl.”

“Seriously,” Cash said from where he was digging around in a blue cooler for a drink. “If I have to hear one more gosh-dang thing about these stupid t-shirts…”

“He’s jealous we didn’t make any for the guys,” Harley explained.

“You know, guys like things that match too,” Cash griped, standing. “I’m going to make a rap about it.”

“No!” Wreck barked out. “I forbid you from doing one of your stupid raps tonight. You are not ruining this.”

Jess laughed at their banter as she followed the girls toward Timber and Wreck’s house to change into her shirt. Before she made it three yards though, she just needed to touch Kade again. She was so excited and happy, and so was he, and this was like food for her soul. She turned and bolted for him, and he caught her and held her up off the ground, hugged her tight as he looked deeply into her eyes.

“I like being your Promise,” she uttered.

“You’re not just my Promise anymore,” he said softly. “You’re my mate.”

If a heart could smile, hers would be doing that right in this moment. It was the first time he’d ever used that term with her.

Did he know? Did he understand how proud she was to be his? How proud she was that he belonged to her back? How proud she was to be a member of Cold Foot, under an Alpha like Wreck, with friends like the members of this Crew? How proud she was to be an honorary auntie to baby Breah? How much she looked up to the relationships here?

Did he understand how safe she felt here, with him, and how damn much that meant to a girl like her?

His answering smile said he could read it on her face.

“Happy?” he asked.

She nodded, eyes full, heart bursting, wishing she had the words to make him understand. She didn’t, but when she leaned in to kiss him, his lips went so soft against hers, and his hand was so gentle on the back of her head, like he was coveting her.

Someday she would find a way to tell him how very much he was appreciated.

How his sacrifices had tattooed devotion onto her heart for him.

How him showing up in Sister’s Edge had ended up being the first day of her favorite part of her life.

She eased back from the kiss and rested her forehead on his and listened to the sound of his beating heart—the most important sound in the entire world.

He really was the best part of her life…

And they were just getting started.