Chapter 8
River’s home. He’s really here and he’s okay. Maybe not entirely, but he’s breathing and walking and… Damn him. I’m going to cry all over again. I haven’t been this emotional since I was pregnant over a decade ago.
Cillian steps up behind me and stops my pacing in front of our bedroom window. “You need to rest, Mate.”
“I can’t sleep.” I haven’t been able to since Jules left. I hated sending her on her own to bring my best friend back, but I’d run out of options. At least I was right. She was the key all along.
“It’s been months since you’ve laid more than a couple hours with me in our bed,” he reminds me. “While I’ve understood your concerns and your need for action, River is safe in our pack. You can rest now.”
I’ve been a terrible mate. I know that, and still, I can’t shake the shadows from my thoughts. For six years, I helped provide wolves to search and retrieve the stolen supernaturals. For the first year of that, I had no idea what Uncle Maciah had done.
I thought our uncle had merely sent River on another job to help keep things above board with him and Jules. Instead, Uncle Maciah and Aunt Andie, along with River’s parents, had come up with their own plan that backfired in our faces.
Even though River stayed on task and never turned on us, he forgot everyone. My best friend who is more like my brother… He forgot me. His family, his home. He was a shell of the man he once was. He’d become a machine, and when his tasks were over, I wasn’t sure how we’d ever get him back.
For so long, my heart broke for River and Jules. I hated that time hadn’t been on their side, that they’d had such a ginormous obstacle, but seeing the way he looked at her tonight, it was nothing like before.
Sure, I could sense River’s need to protect and care for Jules, but tonight, he needed his mate. I almost thought she was going to turn him away. Selfishly, I might have been okay with that because then he could have leaned on me, but being with Jules is what River needs right now.
Just like you need to be with Cillian, my wolf reminds me.
With a sigh of agreement, I turn toward my mate who is still standing behind me. My arms loop around his neck and I smile. “Take me to bed. Make me forget the hell we’ve been trapped in.”
His returning grin makes my knees wobble. “That I can do.”
As soon as he lifts me into his arms, the tension that’s held my body captive releases like a dam bursting. I rest my head against his chest and listen to the beat of his steady heart. By the time he settles me into our bed, I can’t stop yawning.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him with a frown.
His fingers brush back my hair. “As long as I wake with you by my side in the morning, you sleep all you want, my love.”
Gods, he really is the best.
Not only for the way he treats me, but for the way he’s stepped up with our pack and taken his role as the alpha’s mate above and beyond what I expected.
Cillian not only takes care of me in his many ways, but he checks on the elder members of our pack, he teaches our kids to be strong and capable, he shows up even when nobody asks for his help. He’s just always there.
I’ve taken his strength for granted lately, but tomorrow will be a new day. Tomorrow, everything will be better. Showing my mate how much he means to me and always will is at the top of my to-do list.
Right after a few hours of sleep.
We waketo two teenagers screaming at each other and all we can do is shake our heads. We might be supernatural, but things like a big brother using all of his sister’s fancy conditioner don’t go unnoticed by anyone in the pack house.
I’m up first, but Cillian grabs my wrist. “I have this. Why don’t you go shower and I’ll meet you there?”
“Hmm, that sounds like heaven.” I push up onto my toes, give him a kiss, then smack his ass. “Put our pups in their place and hurry back to me.”
“Yes, Alpha.” He winks on his way out the door, and I’m practically skipping to our bathroom. Yes, this is going to be a better day than we’ve had in a long time. Nothing—not even shouting children—will ruin my reunion with my best friend and the start of being me again, not a stressed-out alpha.
I’m undressed and in the shower just as soon as the water is steaming. As I stand under the spray, I close my eyes and let the scalding water take away any lingering tension.
My pack is safe, my best friend is here, my family is happy and healthy. There’s not much more I could wish for.
Well, maybe a month’s vacation, but that’s not in the cards for an alpha. Some days I resent that, but most days, I love what I do. Being in East Texas, taking care of our people and protecting those who need it, there’s a sense of pride that nothing could ever replace.
Cillian finally joins me, stepping through the glass door of our shower, but before it’s even closed, I leap for him. My legs wrap around his waist, and I hold his face. “Love me.”
“Now and forever,” he whispers as he captures my mouth and presses my back against the tile wall.
Gods, I don’t think I could get any luckier than I feel right now.