Chapter 11
Reid
I close the basement door and lean against the wall, just next to the door.
I am very aware that there is still a party in full swing, a party for my mate.
Frustration burns through me at just how sideways the night has gone.
None of this was how tonight was supposed to go.
Slater comes in from outside and walks over to stand next to me. “You holding up the wall?”
“They’re having a family meeting,” I tell him, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.
He takes that in. He looks like he’s going to say something about it but thinks better of it. “Peter?”
“Dead.”
He looks at me in surprise, and I realize word hasn’t passed through the pack yet about what went down tonight.
I know Joe and a few of his enforcers already took care of the creature.
I didn’t see what they did, but I’m assuming they loaded it into the back of Joe’s truck to take home and burn. “Wow. You weren’t messing around.”
He was a skinwalker. I send the message directly to him through our pack link, so that no one will overhear and panic.
His eyes narrow. Really? How does this keep happening? How are they getting past our defenses? Half the pack was here tonight!
I know.
Did he want to hurt Riley?
Anger rushes through me swiftly. I didn’t stop to ask him after he transformed.
If Slate catches my sarcasm, he doesn’t say anything.
Tessa comes inside and walks over to us.
He wraps an arm around her, and she leans against him.
I look away, wondering if Riley and I are ever going to get to that stage.
I love what Zane and Slate have with their mates; I’m happy for them.
But I'll be the first to admit, it’s definitely made waiting for Riley harder.
But I know it will be worth it. “Hey, Reid,” Tessa says with a smile.
“Hey, Tessa,” I say in return.
I hear steps on the stairs and open the door. Riley comes running up the steps. “Riley.” She pushes past me. “Hey, wait.” I snag her arm before she can disappear.
“What?” she asks, and I suck in a breath when I see her eyes are wet. She pulls her arm from my grasp. I let her go, and she flees to her room.
Zane comes up next, and I spin around. “Riley,” he calls out and tries to follow her. I step into his path. I don’t know what he did, but Riley’s obviously upset. He cracks his neck. “Reid, I swear to—”
“Just let her be,” I say, not wanting to hear whatever he’s going to say.
“You’ve already gotten in my way once tonight when I was trying to get to my sister.”
Before I can say anything, Riley’s door opens. She steps out, looking perfect once again, not that she didn’t look perfect before. But her eyes are clear now. She looks between Zane and I. “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’ve got to get back to the party.”
“Riley,” Zane starts, but she puts her hand up.
“I have to get out there.” Her eyes meet mine. “I need to head back out there and announce that I found my mate. Do you want to go with me?”
Like I would turn that opportunity down.
She steps past Zane and moves over towards the back door.
I follow her, keeping an eye on the people around us.
When we get to the door, she stops and looks up at me.
I can see the uncertainty in her eyes, and it guts me.
I reach out and take her hand, wrapping my fingers around hers. “Let’s do this.”
As if the words give her confidence, she nods and steps outside with me right behind her.
I am very aware of the eyes on us and know immediately that word has spread through the pack that Riley and I are mates.
More and more people turn towards us. “Hey, everybody,” Riley calls out, and people immediately start to quiet down.
“Thank you so much for showing up for this special night. I’m so glad I was able to spend tonight with the people I love most, and that pack run was amazing.
” A few people whistle and cheer, and she continues.
“And as you might have guessed, Reid and I are mates.”
“Well, hallelujah!” My mom calls out, earning a laugh from everyone.
Riley shocks me by putting her arm around me and laying her head against my chest. Her scent wraps around me, and I have a hard time focusing.
I’ve wanted to be able to touch her for so long.
To have her wrapped around me is equal parts amazing and torture.
I slip an arm around her back, anchoring her soft body to mine.
“We’re so pleased that Reid is Riley’s mate,” Riley’s father says, stepping up beside us.
Her mom beams at us and then the crowd, but I don’t miss the tension in either of them.
My parents come to stand beside us as well, all smiles.
I know how much they love Riley; they probably love her more than they love me.
Riley disengages herself from me, and I miss her warmth immediately.
Thankfully, she stays close; and we greet all the well-wishers who want to pass on their congratulations to us.
My mom is the first to hug us. “Oh, Riley, Honey, I am so happy it’s you for our boy.
We couldn’t have picked a better mate for Reid.
We just love you so much.” She nearly crushes Riley in a hug.
“Okay, Mom. I think she gets it,” I say after a moment. Riley steps back and graciously smiles at my parents.
The night drags on until the party finally starts to die down. I glance over at Riley. We’d gotten separated over the last hour or so. While she still has a bright smile on her face, I can tell she’s dragging. I make my way over to her side and put my hand on her back.
“Thanks so much for coming out tonight,” I tell the rest of the people still gathered around her and then turn her away and start towards the back door.
“Reid,” she whisper hisses, but I urge her forward until we’re inside. “There are still people out there,” she says as soon as we’re inside.
“There are.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Reid.”
“Riley.”
“I need to be out there.” I study her beautiful but tired face.
“You’re tired,” I point out. She starts to argue, but I continue. “You looked like you were fading, so I gave you a way out. If you want to go back out, go for it. It's your party.”
She glances outside, and I can tell, she’s going to cave. “Thanks, Reid.” She makes her way into the kitchen, and I follow, knowing she’s probably going to help clean up. She throws her hair into a bun on top of her head and starts filling the sink with hot water.
My heart rate picks up when I take in her exposed, slender neck, and I turn away quickly. “I’ll start bringing you dishes.”
I head back outside and start consolidating food trays and dishes on the food tables. “Reid, are you starting to pick up?” Evie asks. At my nod, she starts gathering dishes as well.
“Riley’s in the kitchen,” I tell her, and she heads inside. Tessa joins us a minute later. I take several trips inside and then see Zane and Slate in deep discussion. I head over there, knowing they’re probably talking about all the events of the evening.
Zane gets quiet when I join them, and I decide to deal with him now.
I look him dead in the eye. “Your sister’s my mate.
I’ve known since the day I turned eighteen.
I didn’t tell you because she was fourteen, and I like having my head attached to my body.
My dad told me not to tell anybody, and I didn’t.
If anybody figured it out along the way, that was on them. I never told a soul except for my dad.”
“Dude, how did you not know?” Quint asks, joining our group and dropping an arm around Zane’s shoulder, that Zane promptly shrugs off. “He was so obvious about it.”
I scowl at Quint, but Slate nods. “It really was painfully obvious.”
“Yeah, well, she didn’t find out,” I point out and turn back to Zane. “You’re my friend, and I don’t want to lose you. But I will choose your sister every time.” I need him to know that.
He gives me a hard look and then finally caves. “I just wish you would have said something, so I wasn’t blindsided tonight.”
“I couldn’t. You would have told Riley.”
I can tell he wants to deny it, but we both know he would have, even if just under the guise of protecting her.
They’re close; they always have been. He finally puts his hand out, and I meet it with my own.
He pulls me in for a hug and slaps me on the back, much harder than it needs to be.
He pulls back with my hand still in his. “If you hurt her,” his eyes are fierce.
“I know.”
“So, what are we going to do about the skinwalkers?” he asks. And just like that, we’re back to where we were with our friendship.
“Why? What happened?” Quint asks.
Zane fills him in on what he missed, and I let him do the talking.
I reach out to see if I can feel anything from Riley, but there’s not much there.
I think, with time, I’ll be able to feel more, even before we complete the bond.
Zane and Slate both were able to, and their mates are human.
I go back to carrying dishes into the kitchen.
On one of my trips, Zane pulls me aside.
“Listen, Man, I just want to give you a heads up.” I stay silent.
“Riley’s hurt about you pulling away three years ago.
I think that’s why she turned to Peter.” I take in his words and try not to react.
“I think his death is going to bother her more than it’s going to bother any of us. ”
A heaviness settles in my gut. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Yeah.” He eyes me again. “I know I didn’t respond the way I should have, but if I could pick a mate for Riley, it would be you.” His words surprise me. “Just,” he pauses. “Be gentle with her. I know she’s your mate, but she’s my baby sister.”
“I know, Zane. I have nothing but respect for your sister. I’ll take good care of her.”
He nods. “I know you will.”
We go back to picking up. I carry in more dishes, but the kitchen is full with Evie and Tessa and Riley’s mom all in there now.
The guys and I end up cleaning up outside instead.
Finally, after midnight, things look like they’re back to normal.
“Thanks, everybody,” Alpha Blackwood says to all of us.
“Now get out of here, so we can sleep. Riley, a word please.” She turns to her father.
“I think you should sleep here,” he starts.
I watch the look come over her face, the look that means she’s digging in her heels and ready for a fight.
I don’t want that for her. None of this is her fault, and she shouldn’t have to pay the price for it.
“I’m planning on keeping watch tonight,” I tell him, inserting myself into the conversation.
Riley shoots me a look that I ignore. If she’s going to fight with me, she’ll end up spending the night here with her parents. Alpha Blackwood doesn’t look happy, but he finally caves. “You let me know if there are any problems.”
“I will.”
He walks over to Riley and pulls her into a hug. She's stiff at first, but then she caves and hugs him back. “I love you, Riley.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
I watch as Riley gathers her things, looking dead on her feet, as I wait for her at the front door. I open the door, and she steps out. “Can I drive you back to campus?” I ask as we walk down the front steps.
“I’m good. I’ve got my car.” She holds up her keys for me to see.
I know tonight is not the night to argue with her. “Okay. I’ll follow you.”
I have to walk a little bit to where I parked, but I walk quickly. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to leave me behind. When she drives past me, I pull out and follow her. After the noise of the night, it's nice to drive in quiet.
When we get back to campus, I pull in next to Riley and park.
I take her bag from her, and she doesn’t argue with me.
We head towards her dorm, and a sense of peace comes over me.
I’ve wanted to do this for so long—just be able to walk next to her, carry her bag, and see that she gets inside safely.
We’re quiet as we walk inside and up the stairs to her room.
She stops at her dorm room, and I hand her bag to her. “Thanks, Reid,” she whispers.
“You’re welcome. Get some rest, Riley.” Then I force myself to leave her behind. When I get back outside, I’m not surprised to see Zane.
“Did she already go in?”
I nod. Part of me wants to tell him to just let her be, let her sleep. The other part of me knows she might sleep better tonight if she patches things up with him. “Just don’t keep her up long; she’s tired. Don’t forget tonight was her first shift.”
“I know.” We both remember how exhausting the first few shifts are.