Page 15 of Crew

They walked out to his truck and he opened the door for her, and then he slipped behind the wheel.

The seafood restaurant was outside of Little River, where she had fried flounder and sweet cornbread, and they shared a brownie sundae to finish off the evening. When they were back at the farm, they went for a nighttime walk through the fields where his herd ran in their shifts, protected from view by the thick woods and large parcel of land that they owned. They talked about their hopes and their dreams, with Crew sharing that he wanted a safe and thriving herd, but he didn’t believe that Colton or his people belonged with them.

“The sooner they’re on the way, the better,” he said.

“I agree,” she said. “He wouldn’t step down as alpha for anyone, not even someone who is clearly a good leader like you.”

“What do you want?” he asked.

They faced each other in the field.

“I want to be with you.”

“According to our laws, once you and I are fully mated, we can perform a joining ceremony to make you an official member of the herd. But you’ll need to leave the Valley Herd first; there’s no such thing as dual membership in herds.”

“I know,” she said with a sigh. “Colton already knows that you and I are soulmates, so he shouldn’t be surprised that I want to leave. I really just want to be free of the past, you know? I feel like being part of the Valley Herd is like a chain around my neck. I never really paid much attention to how I was treated. It was better when my parents were alive, but since they’ve been gone, it’s like I’ve just gotten accustomed to being treated like crap. Like I’m only good for whatever I do for the herd. You don’t treat Tris or Nancy, or any of the guys, like that.”

“Of course not,” he said. “Even when Dexter was alpha, the herd has always treated every member, whether they’re a stallion or not, as valuable. We do have expectations for our people, so that the herd works together and no one person is doing more than their fair share, but other than that, we make our own way. I want that for you, and not just because you’re my soulmate.”

“You’re very sweet.”

“I promise I’m only sweet for you, Zara.”

She shivered as she looked up at him. Behind him was a sky full of stars, each one like a wish that was filled with infinite possibilities.

Was this what hope felt like? Like falling in love?

He rubbed her arms and she smiled. “I’m not cold,” she whispered.

“You shivered.”

“Because I’m thinking about hope.”

“Hope?”

“Hope that our night isn’t over yet.”

He let out a low, rumbling growl. “It’s definitely not over yet.”

“Good,” she murmured before rising onto her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m falling for you, Crew.”

His large hands settled on her waist and he kneaded her flesh for a moment. “I’m falling for you too, Zara. Sweet soulmate, sweetest female I’ve ever met.”

“Take me home,” she said, brushing her lips over his.

He scooped her up into his arms and then kissed her. As he strode through the fields toward the farmhouse, her stomach flipped and anticipation filled her.

The night was far from over.

Zara couldn’t believe how much had changed in such a short time. As Crew carried her upstairs to his bedroom, she said, “I keep thinking that I’m going to wake up and this will all have been a dream.”

He moved through the threshold of his bedroom and kicked the door shut.

He stared down at her, and she could see his eyes flashing in the darkness. “It’s not a dream, sweetheart. This isveryreal. You, me, both of us are exactly where we need to be.”

He set her on the bed and moved to the window, opening the blinds to let in the moonlight, casting the room in soft, pale light. When he’d returned to her, standing in front of her and gazing down, his voice was deep and husky when he said, “Tell me if we’re moving too fast.”

She shook her head and tucked her feet under her, rising up onto her knees. Planting her hands on his chest, she said, “We’re not. I want this, I want you.”

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