Page 33 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Pilot
Her smile warmed.“I’d like that.”
I led her through double doors into an ensuite bathroom that drew another gasp from her.A sunken marble tub large enough for two dominated the space, with a glass-walled shower behind it and dual his-and-hers vanities at the other side of the room.
“I think a proper bath is in order,” I decided, moving to the tub and starting the water.
She watched as I adjusted the temperature, adding bath salts from a crystal jar.“You’re taking care of me.”
“Always,” I promised, returning to her side.“If you’ll let me?”
Her response was to lift her arms, allowing me to peel away layers of borrowed rescue gear and tattered clothing.Each inch of revealed skin captivated me anew.My mate was safe in our den and allowing me to provide comfort after days of hardship.
When she stood naked before me, the claiming mark vivid against her neck, my wolf rumbled with primal satisfaction.Mine.Protected.Home.
I shed my own clothing quickly and guided her to the filled tub, helping her step into the steaming water.Her deep sigh as she sank into the warmth conveyed her contentment as much as her feelings flooding through our bond.I joined her, settling behind her so she could lean against my chest.
“Better than melted snow?”I murmured against her hair.
“Marginally,” she teased, relaxing against me.“Though I’ll miss our cave a little.It was simpler there.”
I understood what she meant.In the wilderness, we’d been stripped to essentials.All that existed was survival, discovery, and the connection between us.Now we faced the complexities of integrating our bond into the real world, navigating the tangle of business responsibilities and pack politics that awaited us.
“Tomorrow will bring challenges,” I acknowledged, running soapy hands along her shoulders, washing away the last traces of our ordeal.
“You don’t have to face it alone anymore,” Felicity said, turning to meet my gaze.“Risk assessment is literally my job.And apparently, I’m pretty good at surviving difficult situations.”
Pride and gratitude surged through me.My brilliant, adaptable mate was offering her strength alongside mine instead of expecting protection from the harsh realities.
“We’re stronger together,” I agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple.“The Roberts pack hasn’t had a proper alpha pair in years.It’s time that changed.”
She settled back against me, the water lapping gently around us as I contemplated the future.
Love, unexpected and undeserved, had brought me home at last.
Chapter 10
TANNER
Driving toward Angel Spring felt like approaching my own execution.Each mile brought us closer to a reckoning I’d spent years avoiding.The town’s welcome sign came into view, faded and weather-beaten, its cheerful proclamation of “Home to Roberts Mining” looking more like an accusation than a greeting.
Felicity sensed my turmoil through our bond.“You’re not your father.The town will see that,” she said quietly, her presence soothing me in ways I was still learning to understand.
I nodded, drawing strength from her certainty.The mating bond between us flooded with shared emotion, her determination flowing into me and easing my dread with purpose.
Main Street unfolded before us, a somber parade of struggle.Empty storefronts were boarded up with faded “For Lease” signs.Tired faces of locals turned to watch our SUV pass by with undisguised suspicion.The town had deteriorated since my last visit.Its decline was etched in the crumbling infrastructure and people’s wary expressions.
My senses detected what human noses couldn’t.The subtle, metallic odor in the air.The contamination from the mine was seeping into everything.I could smell it in the soil, the water, even the skin of the townspeople we passed.
I parked outside the town hall, a weathered Victorian building with cracked wooden siding, peeling paint, and sagging steps.For generations, Roberts men had shaped policy from inside those walls, wielding influence through a mixture of economic necessity and carefully cultivated loyalty.
“This is where it starts,” I told Felicity, drawing strength from her determined nod before we stepped out to face my father’s sins.
The whispers began immediately.
“Roberts’s son…”
“The mining family…”
“Greedy poisoners…”
