Chapter 46
Idon’t know that I’ve ever been so happy in my life. I just bonded Hunter Anderson. Dr. Anderson. Dean Anderson. And damn, the man can fuck. It was just as good as I dreamed it would be.
As he leads me back, we pass shelf after shelf of little discs, each labeled with symbols I don’t understand. And then, I spot one with the same symbol that Caspian has on his palms. He told me it was his royal sigils.
Acting solely on instinct, I grab every disc on that shelf and shove them into my dry bag.
I want a closer look at these, but we can’t stay here any longer.
Not tonight. We’re all exhausted. I shouldn’t take something from what will be an active excavation like this, but I feel protective over anything that might be related to Caspian.
Hunter watches me, but doesn’t say anything. He just takes my hand and gives it a little squeeze. Maybe he feels the same way about protecting my other alpha.
As soon as we step out of the shadows, Caspian and Phoenix rush toward us. Phoenix holds back, but my blue-haired mate grins and sweeps me into his arms. He acts as if I’ve been gone for hours instead of a few minutes.
Once my feet are back on the ground, Caspian turns to Hunter with a shark’s smile. “I already welcomed you to the pack, so I will only say… what is it you humans say… ah, yes, I told you so.”
Hunter laughs, then surprises us all by grabbing Caspian by the back of the neck and kissing him hard. I clear my throat and fan myself. If they keep that up, I’m gonna have another heat spike.
Thankfully—or unthankfully—Branson chooses that moment to walk over and join us.
He’s looking less pale, but the t-shirt wrapped around his shoulder is soaked in blood.
He needs medical attention and probably stitches.
Carter supports him on his uninjured side while Rodrick stays a step behind, like he’s poised to catch Branson if he falls.
For all their faults, they were always good at looking out for each other.
Branson looks between Hunter and Caspian with a frown, then turns all his attention on me, giving me a curious look I can’t quite interpret. The expression lasts only a moment before he sighs, shoulders slumping in something like defeat.
“You saved my life.” His expression is softer than I’ve seen in a long time.
I shrug, trying to dismiss what I did. “You saved mine first.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds without either of us saying anything. Branson is a self-centered asshole, but for a moment, I can almost believe that what we shared was real, that maybe he does care about me in his own messed-up, narcissistic way.
He looks away to take in the library, then sighs. “We won’t fight you on your claim to the discovery.”
Did I just hear that right? I look at my alphas, needing confirmation that I’m not hallucinating. There’s no way Branson would just step aside like that. It seems too easy. He’s never backed down from anything in his life, ever. If he can’t have what he wants, he manipulates until he gets it.
“But…” he says.
Here it comes.
“I want on the excavation team.” He looks at his packmates. “All of us.”
“After those fucking cats things are cleared out of here,” Rod mutters. “I’m not coming down here again until those fuckers are dead.”
I’m not going to kill off a whole species just for Rodrick’s comfort.
But we’ll have to ensure the excavation team can work safely.
I imagine there are biologists who would jump at the chance to study a previously unknown animal.
They could probably figure out some way to humanely persuade the creatures into a new territory, or we can fence off certain sections of the city at a time to keep people safe while we work.
“And we want leadership roles.” Branson tries to cross his arms, but winces in pain. “And our names on any published papers about the dig.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Hunter grits out. Branson puffs out his chest, trying to stand up to my alpha, but Hunter doesn’t cave. When Phoenix and Caspian flank Hunt on each side, Branson deflates.
Seeing this side of Hunter does something for me. It’s gonna be hard to keep our relationship a secret when we’ll be working so closely together. I send all my horny love through the bond since I can’t show it externally.
Hunter’s eyes blow out, and his jaw ticks. I grin. I love knowing I affect him as much as he affects me. Gods, I can’t wait to get him out of here and back to my bed. Or his bed. Or any bed, really.
Honestly, it could be worse. As crappy as the Prescott pack is, it wouldn’t be horrible having them on the team. They have the resources and sway that an excavation like this would need. I don’t like the guys, but I can set that aside in the interest of professionalism for the greater good.
Realizing he isn’t going to make headway with Hunter, Branson meanders toward me with a smirk on his face I don’t like.
He slings an arm around my shoulder like we’re best buds.
“Looks like we’re gonna be working pretty closely together, Mads.
Maybe we can play a little like we used to. Remember that trip to—”
Hunter growls. Branson startles and lets go before I can push him off me. Is he for real right now?
Hunter steps closer, never taking his eyes off my exes. He doesn’t touch me, but alpha dominance pours off him with such strength it makes my knees shake.
Branson gives me an odd look, but says nothing more. My omega side preens. I love when my alphas get possessive. There’s caterwauling from somewhere above us, and we all look up at the same time.
“We should get out of here,” Hunter says. “We’ll need to report the find and come up with a plan for excavating safely.”
We all hurry back up to the receiving room, grateful that we don’t run into any more sea-cats.
“Do you guys know how to get out of here?” I ask Branson. Since we came through the canal, I have no idea how far we are from where we entered the city or how to navigate our way out.
“I got it,” Rodrick says. “I marked the path as we went.”
That was actually pretty smart. And here I was, thinking Rod was just the muscle of the group. I spent less time with him than the others when I was part of their pack. Maybe that was a mistake. Not that it matters now.
I take Caspian’s hand and give it a squeeze. Hunter looks at our interlaced fingers with so much longing it hurts. But he keeps his distance. He gives Rod a quick nod. Then, we all set off to follow the path out of the city.