Page 26 of Howl For A Kiss (Rebellious Mates #3)
TWENTY-FOUR
DAMON
D amon watched Elena's face light up with genuine happiness as Cade's truck rumbled back toward the rebel compound.
Her father Martin was settled into the passenger seat beside Cade while Elena, Fiona, and Damon occupied the back bench.
The sight of his mate finally reuniting with her family sent a wave of protective satisfaction through him that bordered on primal.
This is what she needed, he thought, studying the subtle changes in Elena's posture.
The rigid tension she'd carried since Tyler's death had eased, replaced by something softer yet no less determined.
Through their shared bond, he could feel her relief and cautious joy pulsing like a warm current between them.
"The cabin I have in mind sits just past the main lodge," Cade called over his shoulder, navigating the bumpy forest road with practiced ease. "Three bedrooms, full kitchen, private entrance. Should give you folks the family space you need."
Elena's fingers found Damon's hand, her touch sending electricity up his arm. "Thank you, Cade. For everything."
What Elena didn't know—and what Damon had deliberately avoided mentioning earlier—was that Martin's isolated cabin had become a death trap the moment they'd rescued Fiona from the Tidewater stronghold.
The Alpha would undoubtedly send trackers to every location connected to the escaped prisoners, and Martin's home would be first on their list.
At least she made the decision to visit him when she did, Damon mused, his protective instincts humming with approval. Her timing probably saved his life.
The compound's familiar gates came into view, and Damon felt his wolf settle slightly. Here, surrounded by rebels and fortifications, his mate would be as safe as possible while they figured out their next moves.
"Welcome home," he murmured against Elena's ear, earning himself one of those brilliant smiles that made his chest tight with possessive pride.
Within an hour, they'd moved Martin's essential belongings into the new cabin—a cozy structure that smelled of pine and possibility. Elena moved through the space with purposeful efficiency, her tactical mind already cataloging exits and defensive positions even as she helped her father settle in.
Always thinking like a warrior, Damon observed with admiration. Even in moments of peace.
They gathered around the small dining table for lunch, and Damon found himself studying the family dynamics with his Beta's eye for interpersonal assessment.
Martin clearly adored both his daughters, but Damon caught the guilt that shadowed the older man's weathered features.
Fiona seemed fragile but determined, her healing abilities manifesting in small ways as she unconsciously soothed her father's lingering anxiety.
And Elena—his Elena—sat at the center of it all like a golden anchor, finally allowing herself to be part of a family again.
"I need to make a supply run with Cade this afternoon," Damon announced as they finished their meal, his tone carefully casual. "And I should visit my old place on Silvercrest territory. There are a few things I need to collect."
Elena's fork paused halfway to her mouth, her light blue eyes sharpening with that familiar intensity. "Your old place?"
"My cabin. Some personal items, and weapons I left behind." He met her gaze steadily. "And I want to speak with Kieran personally about my decision to step down as Beta. I owe my best friend that respect."
Damon felt Elena's immediate spike of protectiveness and possessiveness through their bond. The thought of him leaving her side, even temporarily, clearly didn't sit well with her wolf.
"I'm coming with you," she said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Damon's lips quirked in amusement. "Elena?—"
"Don't 'Elena' me," she interrupted, her voice taking on that commanding edge that made his wolf preen with pride. "We're mated now. Where you go, I go."
Martin chuckled from across the table. "That's my daughter. Stubborn as a mountain and twice as immovable."
"It could be dangerous," Damon pointed out, though he was already mentally adjusting his plans to include her presence.
Truth was, he'd prefer keeping Elena at his side at all times now.
Not because she couldn't protect herself—few warriors could match her skill—but because he simply didn't want her to have to.
"When has that ever stopped me?" Elena's eyebrow arched in challenge.
"Fair point." Damon's chest rumbled with quiet approval. "I'll ask Daniel and Maggie to keep watch over Fiona and Martin while we're gone."
Fiona looked up from her plate, color returning to her pale cheeks. "I can take care of myself, too. And Dad."
"I know you can," Elena said gently, reaching over to squeeze her sister's hand. "But humor me. I just got you both back."
The vulnerability in those words made Damon's protective instincts flare even hotter. His mate had spent years believing she was alone in the world, and now that she'd reclaimed her family, the thought of losing them again clearly terrified her.
She'll never be alone again, he vowed silently. I'll make sure of it.
An hour later, they were geared up in their tactical clothing—Elena in form-fitting black cargo pants and a thermal top that emphasized her curved silhouette, Damon in his preferred dark jeans and henley. Their weapons were secured in familiar positions, the weight feeling natural and purposeful.
But as they prepared to leave for Silvercrest territory, Damon's wolf stirred uneasily. Returning to his former pack lands as a defector would be walking into potentially hostile territory. Kieran might understand his choice, but others wouldn't be so forgiving.
Still, some conversations required the respect of face-to-face honesty. And if he was going to build a new life with Elena, he needed to properly close the door on his old one.
"Ready, my warrior?" he asked Elena, drinking in the sight of her checking her weapons with practiced efficiency.
Her smile was pure fire and determination. "Lead the way, my mate."
The November afternoon air carried the sharp scent of pine and snow as Cade's truck rumbled up the familiar gravel road to Kieran's private cabin.
Damon's wolf stirred restlessly, recognizing their approach to Silvercrest territory—land that had been his home for fifteen years as Beta, and which he was about to formally abandon.
No going back now, he thought. His protectiveness flared as he sensed Elena's tension beside him in the truck's back seat.
"I'll keep the perimeter secured," Cade called from the driver's seat as they pulled up beside Kieran's cabin. "Take all the time you need."
Damon's enhanced hearing caught the sound of movement inside the cabin before they'd even stepped out of the truck. His lips quirked with familiar amusement—Kieran's supernatural senses had always been exceptional, even for an Alpha.
Sure enough, the front door swung open before Damon could raise his hand to knock.
Kieran filled the doorway, his powerful frame silhouetted against the warm light spilling from inside.
Those intense silver-blue eyes assessed the situation with Alpha precision, taking in Elena's presence and the subtle changes in Damon's posture that spoke of a mated male.
"I wondered when you'd show up," Kieran said, that knowing look settling into something that appeared to be relief. "Come in, both of you."
Maya appeared at Kieran's shoulder, her copper-red hair catching the afternoon light as she smiled with genuine warmth. "Elena, it's wonderful to meet you properly. I'm Maya."
Damon felt a flood of gratitude for Maya's easy acceptance as he guided Elena inside with a protective hand at the small of her back. The cabin's familiar scents—wood smoke, leather, and Kieran's distinctive masculine presence—hit him with unexpected nostalgia.
How many conversations have we had in this place? he mused, remembering everything from tactical briefings to late-night debates about pack policy. And now this might be the last.
"Kieran, Maya," Damon began, "I'd like you to officially meet Elena Walsh. My mate."
The words sent a possessive thrill through him that he didn't bother to suppress. Elena was his, claimed and marked, and announcing that fact to his oldest friend felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Kieran's silver eyes flashed with approval as he extended his hand to Elena. "The famous rebellion leader from Tidewater territory. Your reputation precedes you."
"As does yours," Elena replied, accepting the handshake with characteristic directness. "Thank you for allowing Damon to help me when my base was attacked."
Maya gestured them toward the seating area near the fireplace. "Please, sit. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Something stronger?"
Damon shook his head, knowing he needed to push through the conversation before his resolve wavered. Standing near the fireplace with Elena at his side, he met his best friend's gaze squarely.
"There's something I need to tell you, Kieran. Something that's going to change everything between us."
The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, becoming charged with the weight of unspoken understanding. Kieran settled into his chair with that focused stillness that marked him as a true Alpha, while Maya perched on the arm beside him.
Damon drew in a steadying breath, feeling Elena's supportive presence like an anchor. "Last night, when we rescued Elena's sister and five other young rebels from the Tidewater Alpha's stronghold, I formally denounced my Beta title."
The admission hung in the air between them, heavy with fifteen years of history and brotherhood. Damon watched his best friend's face carefully, noting the flash of surprise followed quickly by something that looked like inevitability.