Preston immediately went to Zeppelin, who wrapped his arms around his mate and buried his face in Preston’s hair. Quinn did the same with Sasha, while Vaughn pulled Newt into a hug that looked like it might crack ribs. Jalen stood alone for a moment before Chase appeared and tugged him close.
Panahasi surveyed the destruction with an expression that might have been approval. “Jake’s going to bill me for this.”
“Send the bill my way,” Zeppelin replied, not loosening his grip on Preston.
Gathering his strength, Wade scooped Alex up despite his protesting injuries. His mate made a sound of alarm but didn’t fight it, just wrapped his arms around Wade’s neck and held on.
“Get us the hell out of here…please,” Wade said to Panahasi. He was already exhausted and hurting like hell.
But he had his honey bunny.
“The collar,” Vaughn said. “You didn’t get the key.”
Wade cursed.
Panahasi walked over to them, touched the slim collar, and the thin piece of metal loosened.
Alex reached up, yanked the collar off, and breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll take that.” Panahasi held out his hand, and Alex gave him the collar.
“Thank you,” Alex said to Panahasi. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I feel like I’m in the presence of a mega famous person. I’m a little awestruck.”
Panahasi smirked. “Take care, Alex. Stay out of trouble.”
The demon leader held out his hand, and a swirling vortex appeared.
Wade started to ask why in the hell Panahasi made them drop through darkness when he could’ve used his freaking power to create a vortex to the demon realm.
But he wasn’t suicidal, so he kept his gripe to himself.
Everyone walked through, their mates in their arms. Seeing the familiar walls of their home had never felt sweeter.
Chapter Ten
Freedom felt better than oxygen.
For the first time in what felt like years, Alex could actually shift again. The ability thrummed under his skin, begging to be used, like a muscle finally freed from a cast. Wade’s bedroom door clicked shut behind them, and before Alex could think about it too hard, he shifted.
One second he stood there in borrowed clothes that still smelled like coffee shop smoke. The next, soft fur covered his body and the world grew enormous around him.
Wade’s laugh rumbled through the room, warm and genuine. Giant hands scooped Alex up from the floor, cradling him against a broad chest that radiated heat through his fur.
“Look at you,” Wade murmured, fingers stroking along Alex’s back with surprising gentleness for someone who’d just demolished a coffee shop full of demons. “White as fresh snow. Softest thing I’ve ever touched.”
Alex’s nose twitched. Being a bunny came with certain indignities—the constant urge to thump his back foot, the way his ears swiveled toward every sound, how his whiskers picked up air currents like tiny antennae. But Wade’s hands felt incredible, working through his fur with careful attention.
“Those pink ears,” Wade continued, thumb brushing the delicate skin inside Alex’s left ear. “And these tiny paws. Christ, you’re perfect.”
Heat that had nothing to do with fur flooded through Alex. He shifted back, the change instant, leaving him bare-ass naked in Wade’s lap with those same careful hands now pressed against naked skin instead of fur.
“Hi,” Alex managed, supremely aware of every point of contact between them.
Wade’s pupils dilated, his grip tightening on Alex’s hips. “That never gets old.”
“The shifting or the nudity?” Alex let his weight settle more firmly against Wade’s thighs, feeling the immediate response through worn denim.
“Both.” Wade’s thumb traced the curve of Alex’s hipbone. “Though the nudity has certain advantages.”
