Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-nine
Emery
I wasn’t surprised Isla and the gammas met us at the border.
Isla took a running jump, and Matthew caught her.
She peppered kisses all over his face while he laughed.
Then she launched herself at Ben, and I watched as Ben soaked up every drop of her attention.
I also caught the envious look on Rhys’s face.
Phoenix was carrying Estrelle, and Ben drew Rhys alongside him, who was hanging back and looked very uncomfortable.
“This is Rhys,” he said. “He’s my brother. ”
I saw Isla take in Rhys. She wasn’t an idiot, and I knew she realized exactly who he was.
With a glance at Matthew, who was obviously clearly happy to leave the decision-making to Isla, she approached him.
“All cubs need their own space. Ben and Callie will have their own bedroom, even if they’re sharing at the moment.
You can share with them while we build you a room, and we expect you to help. How old are you?”
Rhys looked at her like she’d asked him to fly to the moon. “Fourteen,” he whispered.
She nodded decisively. “We’ll have to sort out school. As Matthew, Ben, and I all have jobs, you’ll need to take your share of looking after Callie. Your sister,” Isla added, in case Rhys didn’t know who she was. In case Rhys was in any doubt, she counted him as family, and my throat grew tight.
It was like everyone was standing on a cliff, and I watched the young vampire struggle to take in what she was saying.
It was clear she was saying she expected Rhys to live with them, and my heart filled as I watched her open her arms. “We also hug a lot. That’s a rule.
” And I watched as Rhys stepped forward and folded firmly into her arms, and Ben and Matthew joined them.
“You did good, Alpha,” I half-teased Phoenix, and he nodded, watching it all unfold.
“You know we’re not done with them as a threat,” he murmured. Then he walked Rhys and Isla to one side and murmured something quietly.
The rest of the pack was waiting as we walked to the pack house, and I wished I could have warned Esther and Simeon, but there was no way.
It was Esther who realized first as she gazed at the bundle Phoenix held.
She went so pale I was surprised she was still standing, and she waved in the general direction of her cottage.
Then Simeon appeared. He’d obviously heard Phoenix’s quiet explanation and stepped in front of Phoenix as he was about to follow Esther to her cabin.
He didn’t say a word, just held his arms out, and Phoenix immediately relinquished her. She was still unconscious, but Simeon pressed a tender kiss to her forehead and simply followed Esther.
I needed to see Tia. It was such a pull that my legs were heading to the pack house before my brain caught up.
I burst inside, Phoenix on my heels, and came to a stop as I saw Gemma, Daniel, and Bayer.
I didn’t need to ask where she was as they all moved to let me see the crib.
I didn’t care that she was asleep, and I gathered my baby in my arms.
“Well, thank goodness,” Danny said. “Because we’re out of bottles.”
I laughed and held Tia close and then sat exposing my nipple without a second thought, and she latched on without even opening her eyes. I could hear Phoenix’s explanations to Gemma and then looked up when she was sucking contentedly to find Danny watching me.
“I don’t know where to begin to say thank you.”
Danny waved a hand—dramatically because this was Danny—and sat abruptly, watching us.
I could hear Gemma demanding every detail from Phoenix but tuned her out.
He watched me change sides after a moment, and Tia’s desperate sucking slowed.
“Is it because you’re a wolf?” he asked, and I knew what he was asking.
He wanted to know if the same could happen to him.
“I don’t think I’m a wolf,” I said. “Esther just said I’m a human omega. I’m not sure what that means, but you’d need to ask her.” I wanted both to give him the hope he so desperately wanted, but to caution him at the same time.
Danny nodded. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I just wanted sleep, but that wasn’t what he was asking. “Maybe have my back?”
It was much later when everyone went home.
Tia was content and asleep, but I knew from the things I’d felt, our little girl was going to surprise us as she grew.
Phoenix agreed and told me he was pretty sure she’d reminded him he had the ability to scent track me. “What did you say to Rhys and Isla?”
Phoenix grinned. “I asked him when he’d need blood.”
“Wizard's whiskers . I completely forgot about that.”
Phoenix shook his head, even though he was smiling. “Wizard's whiskers? What the hell is that?”
I sniffed and ignored him.
“I’m sorry about your dad. I checked, but there was no scent. If he’d been alive, I would have gotten to him.”
“He made his own decisions.” Had he deserved to die? I didn’t know.
What seemed way too many hours later, I was curled up in bed with my head on Phoenix’s shoulder.
“I don’t know where to start figuring everything out.
” And I thought about what Alessandro had told me about our bond, and that if I disappeared, Phoenix’s wolf would die.
I buried closer. Not that it mattered. I had no intention of leaving, so I just let it go.
“I think we have time.”
“Do we?” I tilted my head up. “You might have killed Alessandro, but there are many more covens.”
He huffed. “I didn’t kill Alessandro.”
I shuddered, trying to get rid of that visual. Estrelle had scared the peanuts out of me. Nope. That just sounded ridiculous. Peanuts was definitely out.
“What do you think of the boys being with Isla and Matthew?”
“I think it’s perfect,” Phoenix said. “And I know you do, too, or you would have said something.” I hummed a reply. This was true. “Don’t forget, we’ve got a secret weapon now.”
“You mean Rhys.”
“Well, I didn’t mean Danny,” Phoenix joked.
“Oh, I don’t know. I think Danny’s going to surprise us.” And I hoped the pack was ready for it. I wasn’t sure Bayer was.
Phoenix grunted, then, in a very smooth move, slid down, pushing me onto my back, and kissed every part of my skin that he could reach.
It wasn’t about sex, not this time. I was tired and sore, and I knew Phoenix would be, as well, but this was more about reminding each other we still got to do this.
My yawn set Phoenix off, and he chuckled, shuffling back up and pulling me into his arms.
“I knew you’d come for me,” I said quietly. “As much as I knew I had to go in the first place.”
Phoenix was quiet for a moment. “You know I’m your alpha. You’re supposed to obey me.”
I grinned. “I’m not a wolf.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re my mate. That means you do as I say.” I could tell he was trying not to laugh, but half-hoping I would agree.
I snickered because I couldn’t help it and snuggled down, closing my eyes.
Dream on, my alpha. Dream on.