Page 62 of The Return
Put him…. “What the hell does that mean?”
He sighed and snuggled against me. “Sometimes wolves go feral. They lose themselves in their form, and we can’t get them back out. They’ll attack anyone, even an Alpha, because they feel this is their area. That would be me if something happened to you.”
“Oh, that’s crap! You can’t lay shit like that on me. I lost you, and I didn’t think I’d ever get you back. Did I go insane and shoot anyone who crossed my path? No. I sucked it up and dealt with it as best as I could.” I kneaded his shoulders, pushing my thumbs into the knotted muscles, which made him groan. “Life goes on, and you know it. You survived without me for six years, so I’m sure you’d be able to get by if something happened to me.”
“No, I—”
“Anyone could die tomorrow in a freak accident. When it’s time, it’s time. There’s no way around it. Don’t get me wrong, it would suck, but there are people here to lean on. You have all your friends, your family. They would help you through the rough times, just like I hope they’d do for me.”
Jonas dipped his chin, and his voice dropped to a croaking whisper. “It’s different for wolves. When we mate, and I mean a true mate, there will never be anyone else for us. It wouldn’t matter how many people were around—the wolf would die of a broken heart. I only survived being separated from you because I knew you were alive and healthy and I’d be able to get back to you one day.”
“Oh.” And more information that I wished I’d known in advance. “Is that a given? There’s no way around it?”
He grinned and pulled me to him, sloshing water onto the floor. Moving was awkward, but we made it work. “I wouldn’t want there to be a way around it. When I gave you my bite, it made us as close as two people could be. No one could tell where you started and I ended. I only know one true mate couple, and they’re like one person. Their love is obvious to anyone who looks at them. That’s what I want us to be. For someone to look at you and know you’re in love.”
His eyes twinkled. “Trust me, they’re gonna know.”
We sat there, me in his arms, until the water got too cold to be comfortable. Well, for me. It didn’t bother Jonas in the least. Still, when we got out, he dried us off, then carried me to the bed, placed me down, then crawled in beside me and snuggled against me.
We’d had intimacy and we’d had sex, but every time we were together, it was like we’d reached a deeper level, if that made sense.
Jonas was out within seconds. I could still detect a faint smell of smoke, but decided it was from his clothes. My heartbeat raced, thinking about what I could have lost, and I clutched him a little bit tighter.
JONAS
Something woke me,but I couldn’t be sure what it was. Corey lay in my arms, his face buried in my chest. I squeezed him a bit tighter, then closed my eyes again, already nearly asleep.
BANG!
I was up and out of bed before the echo died away. Outside the room, I could hear Kinsey ordering Matt to get down and not move, then rapid footfalls thudded across the floor a moment before the front door slammed. I was torn between following after Kinsey and pulling Corey down to the floor and covering him with my body. That was settled when he rushed by me and out of the bedroom door.
“What the hell? Where are you going?”
“To see what’s going on! I might be able to help!” Theduhwas obvious.
I caught his bicep before he was able to follow behind Kinsey. “Stop. You’re staying in the house. Go into Matt’s room and keep an eye on him. I can smell his fear.”
“Then you’d better get after Kinsey. He can’t be out there alone.”
“He’s not. There are others patrolling the grounds and—”
He thrust a hand toward the door. “Go!”
Corey ran to Matt, and I made my way to the door. I could hear Corey murmuring that it would be okay. I wondered if he realized how needed he was yet.
As soon as I got outside, I closed and locked the door for an extra layer of protection. Kinsey’s anger was palpable, as he shifted and ran through the yard, nose raised, sniffing everything. Fortunately, I was naked, so shifting took no time at all, and then I was doing the same as Kinsey.
It was nearly impossible to separate the scents that covered the grounds of the pack house. I could smell every person Kinsey had brought in to guard the grounds, Corey, Matt, Kinsey, and… wait. There was someone else. It was faint, but definitely there. Familiarity zipped into my brain. I knew this scent. I’d smelled it a long time ago, but where?
Another shot rang out, and it was followed by Corey’s cry.
“Jonas!” came Corey’s sharp call.
There was panic in his voice, and I took off at full speed, headed for the house. When I got there, he was holding Matt tight. His lips were bluish, his pupils huge, his breaths were coming in gasps, and I could hear his heart hammering.
“I think he’s in shock,” Corey said, stroking Matt’s hair.
“Matt? What’s wrong?”
