A Twist of Luck (Shifter City Fated Mates #2)

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

EMME

A fter our run, Hunter and Slade said they needed to head into the office to deal with work they’d been neglecting, and Finley had an afternoon game he couldn’t miss, which left me on Kellan duty. Along with the dozen or so enforcers prowling the outside of the family compound.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Warrick asked Hunter. “We can keep her company while your pack is out, even though half our squads are patrolling your street.”

Hunter crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow until Warrick let out a sigh. “You know I’m not a threat to Emme in any way. I’ve already found the love of my life and a scent match. I’ve got a completed quintet. She’s my frien?—”

Hunter and Slade snarled together, and Warrick threw his hands in the air. “Call if you need anything, Emme.”

With that, he spun on one booted heel and got into his car. Cora was inside already, having hugged me ten times before she left. “Thank you!” I called after him. “Sorry about the Neanderthals.”

Neither of the alphas denied their cave-shifter tendencies, and when Warrick’s car was out of sight, they both relaxed.

Our drive home was quiet and comfortable, all of us content now that we’d let our beasts run free. Except for Slade, but he must have been channeling us all the same.

When we were parked in the garage, and I’d just gotten out of the car, Hunter said, “Don’t leave the house for any reason today.”

I narrowed my eyes and took a step into him, our chests almost touching. I had to tilt my head all the way back to keep his face in my line of sight. “It’s in your best interest to rephrase that statement.” I jabbed a finger into his chest, which hurt me more than him, but I had a point to make.

“Did you not understand my order?” Hunter asked softly, brow furrowing as he faked confusion. Asshole . “And here I was thinking that was perfectly clear and non-negotiable statement.”

Hunter and his exceptional grasp on sarcasm. “You don’t own me, Hunter Reeves. You don’t get to control me. You don’t get to order me around. You should know by now that I don’t even need these warnings as I’m not the type to run into dangerous situations without thinking it through.”

Slade, the annoying dragon he was, decided to pipe up. “You did wander off to the guardhouse on your own without letting any of us know.”

Of course, he had to bring that up. “ Your guard house. Why would I expect that the shifters you employed were in with my mom’s evil pack to kidnap me.”

Not that we’d had that theory confirmed, but it was pretty much the general consensus. They’d put a call out, offered a shit-ton of money for my capture, and good old Jones-beta-fuckface had jumped at the chance.

“You shouldn’t trust anyone but your pack,” Slade said with a shrug, like it was pure commonsense.

“Which includes Warrick and Cora,” Hunter added, and for the love of shifter babies, these two were ridiculous.

I jabbed Hunter’s hard chest again, and debated jabbing Slade too, but couldn’t quite bring myself to step over the line with his boundaries. “I will trust whoever I want to trust, and let me tell you, I’m still not sure I should even be here with this pack. Can I trust you four?”

It was a nonsensical question, because I already trusted them more than I’d ever trusted anyone. They’d proven themselves worthy through their care, consideration, and protectiveness. But allowing them to know that gave them way too much power, and it was already unbalanced.

Hunter’s hands wrapped around my waist, and he hauled me up until my face was even with his. My gasp was a muffled sound as his lips crashed against mine and oh my freaking life I was kissing Hunter Reeves .

Hunter Reeves, who tasted like sinful dessert, and everything deliciously wicked in the world.

Every thought escaped my mind except the taste of this alpha as he kissed me.

No, not kissed, devoured.

My lips parted and his tongue collided with mine, consuming me with force. Hunter kissed like he did everything else in life, with complete control and skill, and an edge of ferality that destroyed my ability to reason.

The moan that escaped me was obscene, and I didn’t care that we had an audience as I wrapped my legs around his waist and ground myself against his hard muscles. I had no idea what part of his body was between my thighs, and I was too fucked up to care.

Was it his cock? Ribs? Abs? Who cared? I just needed relief and friction, and I rocked like my life depended on it.

The intensity eased up as he pressed small kisses and nips against my lips, the edge of pain in his bites bringing a gush of arousal to my already very damp panties. My scent was everywhere, edged even sweeter as my desire heightened to levels I’d only ever experienced with this pack.

Slade and Finley . I remembered they were right there, and unless they’d walked away, they’d just witnessed this drugging, perfect kiss, which left me a shaking, needy mess.

“Eyes on me, little omega,” Hunter commanded, and my gaze snapped up to meet his stormy gray irises. “You can absolutely trust us. There are no shifters in this world who you can trust more. Do you know why?”

My brain remained a ball of mush from that spectacular kiss he’d just bestowed on me, so I kind of mumbled, “Not really,” and wobbled my head.

Hunter released an amused rumble. “We’re part of your soul. We’re matched in a way that not even the gods can destroy. To hurt you would be akin to hurting ourselves… actually more than hurting ourselves, because I would sacrifice myself for you. I would sacrifice the entire fucking world, including everyone else in our pack for you . Understand?”

It was another version of what Kellan had said, right before he’d thrown himself between me and an unknown magic. The thought of another one of them having to make the same choice made me physically sick.

“I don’t want that,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I stared into the blazing charcoal and gold of his eyes. “I’m not worth that, and I don’t want it for any of you. I’m the least worthy of this pack, and I wish I could take Kellan’s place. I deserve to.”

When the temperature shot up, I took in Slade’s form. The dragon hadn’t left, standing six feet away, but there was no sign of the bear shifter. Not that I could focus on anything other than the burn in Slade’s gaze.

“Slade,” Hunter warned, his voice low and irritated. “Calm down.”

“She needs to learn,” the dragon rumbled back in a voice too deep to even comprehend.

It shouldn’t be possible for a shifter to reach an octave that low, but it was exactly how I imagined it would sound if his beast form spoke. “She’s the heart of our pack, and without her we will crumble. I refuse to be bonded in a weak pack, and for that, she must learn her worth .”

Hunter’s exhalation was filled with both exhaustion and acceptance. “She won’t learn through you scaring it into her. We must build her up. She’s never had anyone build her confidence until it was unshakable.”

“She also doesn’t like being spoken about like she’s not in the room.” I wiggled in an attempt to get down from Hunter, but he didn’t release his hold. “I am strong on my own,” I continued. “I have always known that I could step up and do what was needed, no matter the circumstances. But I’m also aware that you four are exceptional. I’m the outlier in the shifter world, and this is not a woe-is-me, pick-me-girl moment. It’s a fucking fact. In a fight or a battle, you four would be the ones to step in front of danger to protect me, and I fucking hate it. I can’t live with that. I don’t want to be put first… I want us to be equals.”

When I wiggled to get down again, Hunter held me tighter while releasing an annoyed grunt. “We are equals in the pack. Even as the entitled alpha I acknowledge that. The only reason there is any hierarchy at all is for our beasts, but you must know you’re the core and heart of the pack. Always protect your heart.”

“Because you can’t survive without it,” Slade finished, and I was absolutely fucking gutted.

These alphas continued to be my most beautiful destruction.

Slade reached out to touch me, stopping just short of my cheek. “You are strong on your own in survival mode,” he agreed with me. “But this is about pack strength together. You need to learn how to rely on us emotionally… which, understandably, with your upbringing, will take more time.” His dragon fire died down, as if he was now satisfied with our discussion.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay here on your own?” Hunter asked, drawing my gaze back to him. Back to his lush mouth and the memory of the kiss that would be forever seared into my brain.

I had no doubt he’d stay home with me, and as nice as that sounded, I needed a little space to think and breathe. “Totally okay. I’ll be with Kellan, and I’m still tired, so I’ll catch up on sleep.”

Might fit in a sobbing session or two while I was there.

Hunter’s all-seeing stare took me in for many long seconds, but he did eventually return me to my feet, his hand drifting up to cup my throat. “Don’t forget who you belong to, little omega,” he whispered, leaning in until our lips touched. “ Mine .”

His thumb scraped over my skin as goosebumps covered me from that simple touch. “I won’t forget,” I choked out.

“Once again, it’s ours , you possessive bastard,” Slade drawled, back to his usual calm, logical shifter. “But as the entitled alpha, I’ll let you have that today.”

Neither of us missed the unsaid reminder that he’d let him have the entitled part as well.

Hunter didn’t take offense as he brushed his thumb across my throat once more and released me. The alphas stood side by side as they moved together, and I couldn’t stop staring at the masculine beauty. I mean, it was like an all-you-can-eat buffet of my favorite foods, and I was suddenly starving.

Despite the lack of blood ties between them, Slade and Hunter could have been true brothers with their dark hair, bronze skin, huge frames, and piercing gazes. Even if Slade did have the poor little guy beat on height.

Goddess, it was a lot being around them like this, and it was good to have a reprieve from the intensity.

I also needed a hit of Kellan, because it had been too long without my golden boy.