Page 20 of Howl Me to the Moon (Moonlight Siren Supernatural Cruises #2)

CHAPTER 20

PIPER

“N o!” I shouted, horror surging through my veins as the thought of losing Rex forever haunted me. I reached for him, but something yanked me back.

“Piper, no. It will take you too.”

It was Sloane’s voice. When I glanced quickly over my shoulder, both Marcel and Sloane held on to me.

I struggled against them. “I have to help him!” I couldn’t let him go. Couldn’t lose Rex. He was only here to save me. I couldn’t let him sacrifice himself for me.

Wherever he was being taken, I’d go with him.

How funny it was how it all settled in my head without any uncertainty. How right it felt to finally accept that I belonged with Rex just as he belonged with me. We’d come together for a reason.

“Let me go!” I struggled against their hold, summoning my magic to use on them if they didn’t release me, as I watched Rex in wolf form being dragged by a screaming demon toward the portal.

Iridescent light rippled across Rex’s fur. In the next blink, he’d shifted back to human form. That movement relinquished the demon’s hold just before he was sucked into the vortex—his screams silenced.

I partially wrestled out of their grasp and rushed toward Rex—just as he was headed for me. We crashed together, with me meeting his hard chest with my face.

“Oof,” I gasped out as the others slammed into me from behind, and we all fell to the ground.

“What just happened?” Rex asked.

Good question. The four of us were tangled up in a ball of bodies. As I attempted to pull my limbs away from theirs, so did they, and we collapsed back down in a pretzel.

“Are we okay?” I asked, glancing around.

Sloane and Marcel muttered their yesses while I tried to process everything. We were together and the demon was gone. I untangled my limbs from the ball of bodies, and Rex pulled me to him. The heat of his body warmed me.

That’s when I realized he was naked.

And I was on top of him, staring into his deep eyes, still glowing a shade of amber.

He wrapped me in his muscular arms.

“Piper.” His voice was barely a whisper.

I pressed my cheek to his chest, comforted by the sound of his racing heartbeat.

“I’m right here.” Then I took a deep, shaky inhale. “And I’m not leaving—ever.”

Rex responded with something unexpected. He burst out with a thunderous laugh.

I pulled my head up and glanced at him, perplexed. “Is something funny? After all that mate stuff, I thought you’d be happy.”

He pushed my hair behind my ear. “Happy is an understatement.” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Relieved. Wondrous. Exhilarated.”

“Oh.” I settled back against his chest and the soothing rise and fall of his warm chest. “Those are all good adjectives. I echo that.” I released a slow exhale, picturing how close he had been to being sucked into that portal and torn from me. “Rex, I was so scared that I’d lose you forever.”

“Me too.” He ran his hand down my back, his solid touch reassuring. “But I’m right here, Piper. Thanks to whatever the three of you managed.”

“Just a little magical mélange,” I said with a smile. I pulled my head up again to look into his eyes. “I’ll never doubt this again,” I said as I tapped the side of his nose.

His brows drew closer. “What?”

“I’ll explain later.” I’d let him know how he was right about something being off about Sloane and his scent, but what was more important now was having Rex here with me. Safe. I pressed my hand to his cheek. “I shouldn’t have run away earlier, but—but I was scared. Overwhelmed. But not as much as almost losing you and regretting it forever.” My voice caught in my throat.

“I understand,” he said. “It was a lot to throw at you so soon.”

“I want to be with you, Rex.” I swallowed. “Be your mate.”

His eyes flickered with surprise as he searched my eyes. “Are you sure?”

I nodded vigorously before I said, “Yes.”

“Oh, Piper.” He took my cheeks in both hands and planted a slow kiss on my lips. When we broke apart, he whispered, “I love you.” Then he groaned. “I shouldn’t have said that yet. I don’t want to pressure you into anything until you’re ready.”

So much warmth and a sense of rightness filled me. “I don’t need more time.” Happy tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “I love you too, Rex.”

Marcel cleared his throat. I’d forgotten that we weren’t alone. I turned to see him and Sloane watching us while I was sprawled out on a naked wolf shifter professing my true feelings.

“Hate to interrupt,” Marcel said with a nod toward the painting. “But we have a portal to close.”