Page 25

T he rest of the drive to Max’s house is quiet, but not tense. Not anymore.

Zeke keeps one hand on the wheel and the other curled around mine.

Like he needs the contact.

Like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.

I don’t plan on going anywhere. Not now.

When we pull up the gravel path to the main ranch house, my mouth drops open. I’ve seen it from a distance before, but now it feels different.

Like coming home.

The place is gorgeous.

Sprawling, freshly painted, with a massive wraparound porch and flower boxes overflowing with blooms.

It’s like something out of a cowboy Hallmark movie—except this one has Dragons and magic and other things I never knew existed.

It’s amazing, knowing about this secret supernatural world that’s always seemed to live alongside the human one I grew up in.

I mean, sure, I love a good fantasy movie or a fairytale retelling as much as the next girl, but I never thought I’d be living one.

I have to say— I don’t hate it.

I watch my man walk around the front of his truck to my side after his murmured, “Wait there.”

Shivers race up and down my spine. Goosebumps appear on my arms.

The way he takes care of me? How big and strong and utterly masculine he is?

It just takes me to places I never knew existed.

See, Zeke isn’t chauvinistic. He isn’t about false machismo or misogyny.

He’s a born caretaker.

Well, for me, anyway.

And I love that about him.

Hell, I love everything about him.

My heart squeezes inside my chest as Zeke helps me out of the truck like it’s second nature.

He holds my hand as we walk up the path to the front porch. And the second we step through the big wooden front door, I know something’s brewing.

I thought we were here to tell Max what’s going on and to ask for sanctuary, but it appears to be a full house.

I mean, they’re all here.

Every single one of them.

Avery and Dante. Penny and Max. Jezebel and Emmet.

Arliss and Kian. Even Jed, looking grumpy but holding a plate of cookies like he baked them himself—he didn’t, from the way Avery is glaring at him, my guess is he stole them from one of the pregnant women and is now feeding them to one of his Dollies.

I sniff and grin, wiping at the single tear sliding down my cheek.

The air smells like cinnamon and fresh linen.

Laughter hums in the background.

The kids are all tucked away in the nursery, and Mrs. O’Hare waves from down the hall as she herds two toddlers into a play pen like a damn magician.

On the table, in the living room, are even more plates of cookies and pitchers of herbal tea and lemonade.

There’s not a single raised eyebrow, not one look of judgment.

Just support.

Warmth.

Family.

It’s amazing.

But it’s almost too much.

My throat tightens, and I blink fast, but more tears come anyway.

“Hey there! Casey? Are you okay?” Penny asks, her expression going from welcoming to concerned in the span of a heartbeat.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, brushing at my cheeks. “I just. I’ve never expected all of you.”

“What? You mean no one’s ever wrangled a posse to take out the fuckers hunting you down before?” Arliss asks, and for some reason, the pretty woman is grinning.

“No worries, Cas. That’s old hat here,” Jezebel says, a wide grin on her face as Emmet nuzzles her neck.

Avery steps forward first and wraps me in a hug.

“We’ve all had our trials, honey,” she assures me. “But let me be the first to say welcome to the Crew, Casey!”

Penny joins her. Then Jez. Then Arliss.

Suddenly I’m surrounded, enveloped in the soft scent of sugar cookies and good intentions.

“I know I’m not one of you,” I whisper, “not really. But I’ll keep your secrets. I swear. Because you’re important to Zeke. And he’s,” I begin and look toward him, my heart doing that fluttery, ridiculous thing it always does around him. “He’s important to me.”

“You’re already one of us,” Jez says firmly, dabbing at her eyes.

“Yeah,” Arliss sniffles. “You just made it official.”

“I—I want that,” I admit. “I want to belong here. To belong with all of you. If you’ll have me.”

Max stands then, tall and commanding, but there’s a smile tugging at his scarred face as he walks over and claps a hand on Zeke’s shoulder.

“There’s nowhere else you belong,” Max says. “You and Zeke. You're both part of the Crew. And we protect our own.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, and I mean it so damn much.

“Now, how about you both sit down and tell us what we’re up against,” Max commands.

Zeke’s jaw clenches, and his eyes gleam with emotion as he pulls me into his arms, tucking me close like I’m the most precious thing in his world.

And maybe to him, well , maybe I am.

“Okay, I’ll start at the beginning.”