He gave a single nod. “We ride.”
Relief flooded Elijah’s eyes. “Thank you.”
Cupping his cheek, Matias brushed his thumb over soft skin. “You stay next to me at all times, understood? No running off. Got it?”
It was about trust. Trust that his mate could handle himself. Trust that he wasn’t a liability but a necessity.
He’d found something special in Elijah, a rarity in his world. A shifter’s animal counterpart was extremely selective, only choosing a worthy mate. Matias’s wolf had seen something in Elijah, softness with enough tenacity to strike balance, compassion while standing his ground in spite of his fears.
Things Matias sorely needed in his life when he was surrounded by rough, aggressive wolf shifters all the time.
Matias wasn’t just a warrior. He was a man who desired balance. Elijah wasn’t just some fling or passing attraction. He was the missing piece Matias hadn’t realized he’d needed.
A gentleness he craved.
Elijah gave a sassy salute.
Matias growled softly, pulling him in for a kiss. It wasn’t soft but still gentle. Because Matias would always take great care with his little bunny.
He swept his tongue over Elijah’s lips, and his mate opened for him, tasting like everything Matias had ever hoped for and dreamed of.
The longer he kissed Elijah, the more he wanted him. If Matias didn’t pull away, he would carry Elijah to his bed to enjoy his sweet, tempting body.
Reluctantly, he eased back. “We still need to talk, conejito.”
He wanted to make sure Elijah was dealing with being mated. Fuck. Him. Matias Salvador. Was mated to a beautiful, blue-eyed little bunny.
And Elijah would now be the most protected in the Salvador pack.
“Any talk you want,” Elijah quickly agreed. He grabbed Matias’s hand, trying to pull him from the kitchen. Matias chuckled, allowing Elijah, but sobered when they entered the tavern, retrieving his hand and adjusting the sleeves of his jacket.
More of his pack was there, freed up from previous obligations. Matias never objected when his men had family matters they needed to take care of. Family always came first.
He and Elijah headed for the door, but Matias stopped long enough to say, “We don’t return until Percy is found. Whoever locates him immediately informs me.”
So his mate’s worries could be put to rest. Elijah cared deeply for his best friend, and Matias cared deeply for his bunny.
No one asked where to look. They didn’t need to. Every one of them had Percy’s scent since he’d spent time in Sin & Steel.
His entire pack had been in the tavern the night the two had wandered through the door like two little morsels of prey, untouched because of Santiago’s personal invitation.
Mostly untouched. Matias hadn’t been able to resist Elijah from the moment his eyes had landed on his bunny.
Under the hot sun, men took off in every direction, the sound of their hogs ripping through the quiet streets of Blackthorn.
Matias locked the place up then headed toward his ride—a sleek and formidable motorcycle that exuded raw power and rebellion. Its body, a deep crimson hue, glistened like a polished gem. It was adorned with intricate metalwork resembling flowing tendrils and a fierce, stylized wolf’s head on each side of the gas tank.
The glimmering chrome pipes curled like serpents, hiding a roaring engine that was always waiting to unleash its thunderous growl on the open road.
It wasn’t just a machine but a work of fucking art.
Elijah arched a brow as he looked it over. “A wolf motorcycle, really? A little on the nose, isn’t it?”
Matias stared incredulously at him, feeling deeply offended. “You just reduced this masterpiece to a pile of metal that lacks subtlety or—”
“I wasn’t saying it’s not a nice bike,” Elijah argued. “It is. I was just stating the obvious.”
“The obvious has been stated.” Matias waved his hand like he was shooing Elijah away. “You may walk your way to finding Percy.”