Page 39 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter (Moonbound Mates #3)

PEACHES

I wish our business with the Gulf Pack was truly, completely over…but that’s not how it works when you grew up in a cult.

The rest of our crew—the group responsible for distracting Gideon’s wolves at the dock—arrives back home the next day.

I somehow manage to haul Javi and myself out of the comfort of our bed and out into the corridor after a knock on the door from Will letting us know that Reyes wants to talk.

It’s already mid- morning and we’ve missed breakfast, but I hope there’s something left in the community center for us to eat.

We definitely need it. We spent all night wrapped in each other’s arms, fucking as loudly as we wanted for the first time ever.

Can’t imagine we were good neighbors…but I think the others will understand.

Birds are singing in the trees around the den when we come out into the sunlight, a few people working in the big garden plot between here and the kitchens. They raise their hands and wave at me as we pass. Javi keeps his eyes up, scanning for any threats.

There aren’t any threats.

Or…maybe I shouldn’t be so confident about that.

After all, he and Boyd got in just fine.

We cross the space to the community center quickly enough, the smell of breakfast still wafting from inside.

Pancakes, I think—sweet and warm, maple syrup mingling with sugar and flour.

I glance around to see if I can find leftovers when I catch sight of a group of wolves at a table near the kitchen, still dressed in fatigues from the road.

My eyes widen and a smile breaks across my face.

“Reyes!” I call. “Tilda, Frankie!”

The three of them are sitting with a blond man that I recognize as Boyd, though we’ve never actually been introduced.

I rush toward them and grab Frankie in a tight hug before she can protest, knowing she’s the one most likely to try fending me off.

I grab Tilda next, the Reyes—and Boyd huffs out a surprised breath when I hug him, too.

“Wasn’t expecting that,” he chuckles as I step back.

“Why? Because you kidnapped me?” I scoff.

He snorts. “I mean…yeah, that would be a damn good reason not to hug someone.”

I shrug, pointing at Javi. “He was part of that whole thing too, and we’re basically married now.”

They laugh and clasp hands, then I get to business introducing everyone.

“Javi, this is Reyes, Tilda, and Frankie…Reyes is Prime, Tilda is his mate, and Frankie is our only female alpha here in the Austin Pack.”

Javi reaches a hand out to shake. Frankie just eyes him, refusing to shake his hand—but she’s always a little standoffish.

“She’s like that,” I whisper. “Don’t mind it.”

He nods. “Gotcha.”

After introductions are done, we all sit down and dig into the remaining pancakes at the table.

Will joins us as we chat, pulling up a chair next to Arden.

It feels like getting back to normal—sitting in the community center with my friends, eating breakfast while birds sing outside.

Javi and Boyd talk quietly while I catch Reyes and Tilda up on everything that’s happened, Frankie listening in silence.

“And I understand we have another little wolf joining the pack?” Tilda says, her brows raising.

“Wow,” Javi mutters. “Word travels fast around here.”

“It’s a small community,” I smile, and Reyes laughs.

“We ran into Charlotte on the way through—just stopped by to check on she and Elijah,” he says. “She told us you were expecting.”

“I don’t want to speak too soon,” I say. “It’s still early…don’t jinx it.”

Javi puts a hand on my leg, his thumb grazing my knee. “I’m sure they’ll be okay,” he says.

“I don’t want to trouble you more than I have to, since you’ve been through so much,” Reyes says, “but I did want to talk about what happens next.”

Javi’s grip tenses. I listen carefully, trying to soothe him through the bond. I know that Reyes would never kick him out…right?

Of course, he did steal a member of our pack…

“I want to offer you both a place with our pack, for helping us get Peaches back,” Reyes says, looking from Javi to Boyd. “I know you were responsible for taking her away in the first place, but my understanding was that Gideon was obfuscating the true reason for her departure from the Rig.”

“Well, that is a million dollar word, preacher man,” Boyd chuckles. “But no…I’m not really the settling down type. Gotta get back on the sea at some point, and there’s no better time than the present—since I just brought down one of the most hated men in the Gulf.”

“His allies will be out there looking for you,” Javi says.

“Eh,” Boyd shrugs. “Life is more fun with a little danger in it.”

I bite my lip, glancing over at Javi.

“And you, Javi?” Reyes asks. “You’ll stay, won’t you?”

My mate smiles down at me. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I twine my fingers with his as Boyd chuckles.

“Never thought I’d see the day the big guy settled down, but you just keep surprising me,” he says. “Maybe I’ll come back by to visit. No kidnappings this time.”

I glare at him…and I think it might be better if he doesn’t come back at all.

“Well, that’s not all,” Reyes continues. “There’s also the matter of the Gulf Pack—and the fact that you managed to take out their Prime, but that someone else has stepped in to take his place.”

“Let me guess,” I say, unable to keep the venom out of my tone. “Abel.”

Javi growls under his breath, a low rumble that would strike fear into the hearts of any of our enemies.

“That’s right,” Reyes says. “And according to our intel, they’ve decided it’s time for a full-on war against us—with the help of the Heavenly Host.”

My eyes widen and I look over at Javi, but he doesn’t look surprised. “Did you know about this?” I ask.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk about it, but yeah,” he says. “Before they dosed me with kraken, they met with an Angel named Uriel. It was spooky as hell—and Gideon was talking a big game about coming after the Austin pack.”

“But why?” Frankie cuts in, her British accent slicing through the warmth of the room. “They have resources, food, a whole pack out there. Why come after us?”

I gasp as the realization hits me. “Because they can’t have babies anymore. They’re dying. They want what we have here…family.”

Everyone goes silent for a moment, Tilda tapping her foot on the ground. She shakes her head as she considers what I’ve just said. “Well, shit…that means our omegas are going to be in more danger than ever.”

“Which is why we’re all going to learn how to fight,” I say.

Javi looks down at me, his brow furrowed.

“I can protect you,” he says.

“I know you can,” I reply, squeezing his bicep. “I mean—you’re huge, I know you can protect us. But until we take care of the Gulf Pack, we need to make sure we’re not defenseless. Can you teach us?”

He nods. “Anything, Peach.”

“It’s a good idea,” Will pipes up. “This is the second time in six months that the pack has been threatened, and in this world…well, we all have to adapt.”

“Agreed,” Javi says.

“Which leads to my last question,” Reyes says. He leans forward and clasps his hands, looking Javi in the eye. “How exactly did you get past our perimeter fence and patrols without being detected?”

He exchanges a look with Boyd and is about to open his mouth to reply, but I cut him off. “Wolfsbane—isn’t that right?”

He nods, though he shows the hesitancy of a man protecting his trade secret. “Yeah…we’ve skirted around plenty of lycan that way. It dulls your instincts and makes it harder to shift, but it also masks your scent. Other lycan can’t sense you when you’re on it.”

“It’s how we spent three whole days together before we figured out we were fated,” I say. “The stuff is strong.”

“Where do you get it?” Will asks.

“Homestead,” Tilda says before anyone else can.

Javi raises an eyebrow. “You’ve dealt with them before?”

“They’re my blood,” she replies, mouth tightening. “My little sister still lives there, even though I’ve tried to get her out. If someone in Homestead is dealing, it means things are stirring there again.”

Reyes frowns. “That a problem?”

“It might be,” she says. “Homestead’s been quiet since we warned them off—but if the Angels are moving and the Gulf Pack’s regrouping? We’re gonna need allies.”

“There’s a crew out of New Mexico that might be worth talking to,” Boyd says, glancing around the table. “Tough, scrappy, and they hate the Host almost as much as you do. Soledad Vega runs point, and she doesn’t take shit from anyone.”

“I’ve heard of her,” Reyes mutters. “Runs a neutral zone near Roswell, right?”

Boyd nods. “Yeah, out on the old military base. Might be worth a visit.”

“I don’t like relying on might,” Tilda says. “But if Homestead’s trading wolfsbane and the Host is regrouping, then yeah—we’re gonna need backup. Real allies. Ones who bleed like we do.”

Will leans back in his chair, arms crossed. “Then it sounds like we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Javi’s hand finds mine beneath the table and squeezes. He doesn’t say anything, but I feel it in the bond: whatever’s coming, we’ll face it together.

And this time?

We’ll be ready.

“And Javi?” Reyes locks eyes with him. “I trust that you’ll prioritize protecting our pack from now on. I’m putting my trust in you based on Peaches’ word. Don’t squander it.”

A warning—and probably one that’s deserved, given how this whole thing started out. Javi takes it to heart, though, and doesn’t seem to be offended.

“I’ll fight tooth and nail for our pack,” he says. “You have my word.”

Reyes looks around at the others. “Alright, then. We’ll discuss more after the full moon.”

The others stand up and we join them. Frankie walks off talking to Will, while Boyd grabs another pancake and drowns it in syrup. I’m about to take Javi back to our room when Reyes stops us, his hand on Javi’s shoulder.

“It’s good to have you in the pack, Javi,” he says. “Welcome.”

It’s like looking at two giants…but I realize that Javi is bigger. I watch as the two of them square off, all broad shoulders and hard muscle, and I realize that Javi could challenge Reyes if he wanted.

But that’s not what he wants.

All he wants is me .

“It’s an honor, Father Garza,” Javi says, shaking Reyes’ hand. “Thank you for your generosity.”

“Please, Javi—it’s Reyes,” Reyes smiles. He looks over at me. “I hope to see you both for dinner?”

I nod. “We’ll be here.”

“Well, then…enjoy the day,” he says. “Rest. Recuperate. And most of all, enjoy one another.”

Tilda takes his arm as he walks away, and Javi stands in stunned silence. I look up at him and grin, hooking my hand through the crook of his elbow.

“I think you’re going to like it here,” I say.

“Yeah,” he says. “I think I am.”