‘Eetu and Theodora have been getting me intel. How they do it, I don’t have a freaking clue, but they’ve been able to track some of the pack members that have been hunting us. Some are doing a piss poor job. I had my suspicions before we left but I get the feeling at least half don’t like Adicious’s rule.’
‘So, what, they’ll welcome you back and give you space to kill him? Ty, it’s too risky.’
‘No, I don’t expect them to help. But if I can engineer a way back to Froan, and into the pack, I think I stand a chance. I haven’t got that far with the planning yet but having the other packs support is a big deal. Some of them have been watching Adicious, as he’s been risking our exposure with his experiments, with you, and they want him gone too.’
‘Do you think they’ll send help?’
‘Sadly not. Whilst they’d step in if Adicious made the authorities suspicious, he’s too careful to make that kind of mistake. Most packs are too afraid, understandably. But, if they accept me, accept my leadership, it’ll make taking over much easier. I also need to tell them about you. I’ve left you out of all correspondence so far.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I didn’t want any competition.’A growl reverberates around my head following the statement and I see the fire light in Ty’s eyes.
‘So possessive.’I purse my lips at him.
‘Of you? Always.’
‘It’s a good thing I like it then.’My lips stretch into a grin. Ty kisses my nose.‘Where does Henry fit into this?’
‘I was thinking of asking if he wanted to join us, officially. Be part of our pack.’
I’d been so distracted with the thoughts of Ty risking himself with Adicious that I hadn’t thought of the ramifications. Ty’s talking about us starting a pack. Being leaders of several vampires, responsible for them.
“I’ll take your sudden paleness and silence as a good sign,” he deadpans.
“Can we do that?”
Ty tucks a stray wisp of hair out of my face. “I know it's a lot. But even mated, you’re still incredibly valued. There will be males out there, besides Adicious, that would kill me for you. A pack is the best way we can be protected. Andwouldn’t you like that? A place we can call home with a large family we create for ourselves.”
There’s definitely an appeal to it.
“It’s such a huge responsibility.”
“It is,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist. I mirror him and do the same. “But we will do it the right way. Everyone will support us as much as we support them. It’ll be a community, a family.”
I let out a long exhale at the path being laid before me. Had I thought about it? No. Was it appealing? Yes. I’ve adored being here with the wolves, they’ve shown me just how alone I’ve been the last few months, and how rich and loving this kind of community can be.
“Okay,” I say, nodding my head as the idea takes roots in my chest. “Let's do it.”
‘I love you,’Ty says through the bond as he kisses me thoroughly.
‘I love you too,’I reply, gripping onto him that bit tighter as my world shifts a little bit. Hopefully this time for the brighter.
CHAPTER 28
TY
Ifeel lighter than I’ve felt in years as we finally reach the clubhouse. I hold the door to the entryway open for my mate, earning a smile from her in thanks as I let her into the warmth.
My mate.Gods... Fireworks light up in my chest every time I think about it. We’re bonded.
After we lose our coats and boots, we head towards our room, hopefully for some fun in the shower, but are met by a wall of wolves in the common area. Wolves, and Henry.
They’re all in their human form, either drinking coffee or devouring what looks like huge stacks of pancakes, but every single eye swings to us as the door closes behind us. They quickly abandon their breakfast and are surrounding us in an instant, pulling us into the room and enveloping us into hugs and congratulations.
“What are you all doing? I wasn’t expecting such a reception.” I hear Red ask from a few feet away, we’d been separated in the melee. I, not forcefully but also not gently, push through the crowd so I’m back at her side.
“We have to celebrate. A mating is a blessed thing,” Theodora answers Red, her hands clasped at her chest. Shelooks from Red to me and I see her eyes glistening. “You didn’t think we’d just let you walk in here and not say anything did you?”