Chapter 45 Rickon
Chapter forty-five
Rickon
Emotion swells in my throat as the judge declares Zack’s freedom.
Our fractured pack can finally be whole again.
While Red hugs Callisto, I sprint across the room to the dock where the guards release Zack from his cuffs.
Before the hearing, Zack promised me he’d be home soon to take care of me, but I felt hopeless, unable to face the despair if the appeal was dismissed.
Now it’s true.
Zack steps forward and catches me, lifting me up and swinging me around. I twine my legs around him and finally let myself fall apart. For weeks I had to be strong, for Red’s sake and his, but not anymore. Now I cry openly, not caring who hears my sobs.
Zack squeezes me into his chest and purrs, body vibrating with affection.
Bloody oath, I missed him so much it hurts. How did this alpha steal so much of my heart?
“Easy, Ri-ckon,” Zack murmurs, hot breath flushing my ear. “Or you’ll make the sky weep with you.”
I choke on a wet laugh. Trust Zack to come up with something so outrageous. But at the same time, he sounds so polished now, compared to how he was. Full sentences and tonal modulation. He’s grown amazingly in such a brief span of time.
“I missed you, Zack. More than I can say.”
Zack cups one hand under my ass to hold me, then slips his other between our bodies. “Zack knows,” he says simply, pressing his thumb into the bond scar on my hip. “Feel White Mine.”
More tears overflow, and I bury my face in my alpha’s neck.
His scent runs wild, so thick it settles on my skin.
Zack tucks his head and nudges me until I shift.
Then he drags his cheek along mine, marking me with his scent.
His short beard tickles my bare skin, making me chuckle, and I twist my head to offer him my other cheek.
Red thumps into my back and locks her arms around us, sandwiching me between my pack members, and our bond thrums with our relief and joy. We don’t need words between us.
Callisto clears his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to clear the room for the next case.”
When I look up, Zack releases me so I can slide to the ground. Callisto passes me a handkerchief and I snort heavily into it, clearing away traces of my outburst. I feel lighter immediately. “Thank you, Calli,” I say.
He reaches out with a smile and ruffles my hair. “My pleasure. I’d say anytime, but I really hope to never do this for Zack again.”
I chuckle, knowing exactly what he means.
Zack rumbles warily. “No more prisons,” he says, grip tightening on my shoulder.
“Amen to that,” Red adds, clapping her hands together in supplication. “Now, let’s blow this joint.” She chuckles and tows us up the aisle while Zack and I trade amused looks. That’s our girl.
We come to an abrupt halt in the wide hall outside, where Hale waits with Aunt Lexi and Simon. “We heard the good news,” my aunt says, opening her arms. “And wanted to come down and say hello.”
I hug her tight, my heart swelling. She wipes away my tears with her thumbs, smiling and gazing into my eyes like she understands everything.
When I release her, Zack steps forward. “Hug,” he demands, opening his arms wide.
“My word!” she declares, stepping in with a giggle. “Aren’t you an absolute delight? I can’t believe I have such an amazing son-in-law.” Zack squeezes her so tight she wheezes for breath, and Simon steps forward. One touch on Zack’s arm and the bigger alpha releases her.
I rub my mouth to cover a smile. I really do have a wonderful family.
Simon pulls an envelope out of his inner jacket pocket. “After everything that’s happened, we thought you might want to get out of the city for a few days.” He passes the envelope to me with a wink.
I tear off the sticky fold, and a few documents fall out. The top one’s an itinerary.
“Is this . . . a flight schedule?” I rasp out.
“Yeah.” Aunt Lexi grins like a cat in cream.
“I called Thomas Romdine, and he was happy to lend us his jet for the weekend. The Wren cabin’s all yours .
. . but only if you want it, love. No pressure if you just want to go home and crash.
” She leans in so only I can hear. “But if you don’t want to clean up your own mess, the cabin has housekeeping.
It’s only two hours away by plane, if you can hold off the reunion that long. ”
Heat roars up my neck, but I can’t help thinking she makes a good point. I glance at Zack as he drapes an arm over Red to protect her from people walking past, and wonder if I can wait two hours.
“What do you say, family?” I ask, holding up the itinerary. “Can you handle waiting two hours? The trade-off is a stay at a luxury cabin.”
Red’s eyes light up. “Is it in a forest?”
“You betcha,” Aunt Lexi says. “And it has a swimming pool and spa. You’ll love it.”
Red raises one hand. “I volunteer as tribute.”
Chuckling, I swivel to our returned alpha, knowing the private plane trip and remote location won’t contravene the judge’s suggestion. “Zack, do you think you’ll be okay getting in an airplane?”
He shrugs in such a casual way, like he’s been easy-going all his life. “I go where my pack goes.”
Damn, I’m melting into a puddle.
Then Zack surprises us all. He turns and looks Callisto right in the eye. “Cal-ee come too.”
Callisto holds up his hands. “No, that’s fine, I don’t want to intrude on your—”
“Cal-ee come,” Zack repeats, alpha domination darkening his tone. “Unfinished business with me.”
I shiver instinctively, and Red’s breath catches at the compulsion. I might have trouble with Zack in the future if he uses that voice on me, but then again, I’m sure we can reason things out.
Callisto freezes. His tongue darts out to moisten his lips, and then he turns to Hale. “Um, do you think we can move some things around?”
Hale clicks his fingers imperiously. “Begone. You only have a few meetings until Tuesday, so I can shift those.”
Aunt Lexi looks from Zack to Callisto, head tilted to one side.
As far as I’m aware, she doesn’t know Red is Callisto’s scent-match, but I wonder how much she guesses.
She catches me watching and her concerned expression melts away.
“Well then, kiddos. Go have fun!” She makes shooing motions but grabs my arm as I walk past. “Make sure you use the bank card I gave you, okay, Ricky? This is our treat.”
“All right, I will.” I hug her again, breathing in her lilac scent. “Thanks. And thanks for the wonderful surprise.”
“My pleasure, my boy.”
I drop my head onto her shoulder momentarily. For years I kept a certain respectful distance between us I felt was necessary. As if I didn’t deserve to immerse myself fully in her love and acceptance. But I see now I’m a fool; I was the only one who thought I was worthless.
“Love you, Mom,” I whisper before dropping a kiss on her cheek.
Tears glint in her eyes when she steps back, and her bottom lip quivers. “Go on now,” she whispers. “You’ve got a plane to catch, son.”
I smile at her and kiss her other cheek. She clutches at me for a moment, small hands closing in my shirt. If happiness is this simple, why do we work so hard to deny ourselves?
Since both Callisto and I know how well stocked the cabin is, we drive straight to the private airport; me, Red, and Zack all hands and kisses on the backseat.
Red keeps running her fingers over Zack’s shaved head, bemoaning the loss of his hair.
I kinda like the style since it makes him look even more dangerous.
On the way, I explain flying to Zack, and Red adds all the sensations she experienced on her one and only flight out to Darinian.
Our alpha listens intently and asks about the rules of flying.
A part of me mourns the loss of the wild alpha who lived solely on instinct, but only a tiny part.
This considerate, careful alpha is the one who will govern our pack from now on, so he needs to be this responsible.
Besides, we all still have plenty of wildness in us.
The private jet waits on the tarmac for us, black and navy-blue paint lines on the belly rising to the tail at the rear. Inside, comfortable tan seats invite us to sprawl, and a smiling host asks for our drink orders.
It’s not the first time I’ve been on a private jet, thanks to the Wrens, but it’s the first time I’ve allowed myself to think of this lifestyle as part of my family, rather than charity. This time, I’m allowed to enjoy it.
“So, where’s the pole?” Red asks, looking around with her hands on her hips.
“The what?” Callisto asks.
“The pole, for dancing.”
I chuckle and hug her from behind. “Not every private jet is designed for boozy orgies, Red.”
“Phooey!” She crosses her arms, a little ruffled. “Why build such an expensive vehicle if not for fun?”
“Ohm-ga dance soon,” Zack says, voice so low he’s practically purring. “On my pole.”
Holy shit! Where’d he even learn that term?
Red smirks. “All right. I can wait an hour or two, I guess.”
Zack pulls her down onto his lap, and she falls with a giggle.
He cocks his head. “Teach me how packs say hello after being away. Me wait in prison and on plane, but Zack hungry.” A burning possessive desire floods through his bond.
Red strokes his cheek. “We reunite by having sex until we can’t walk and then we eat ice cream straight out of the tub.”
He cocks his head. “Bathtub?”
I laugh. “Well, that might be worth trying sometime.” I sit down across the aisle, opposite Callisto, as the plane’s engines rev to life and the host closes and seals the door.
“You were awesome out there today,” I tell my best friend.
“So were you.” He slumps back in the seat, a small smile tugging on his lips. “But I have to admit to feeling drained. This has been a real whirlwind.”
I nod, knowing exactly what he means, and I only have one client on my hands. Callisto has dozens. “At least we get a few days off now. But do you know what Zack’s planning?”
His gaze flicks out the small port window. “Not a hundred percent.”