Chapter Twenty
The next day…
“Can I get you another chocolate cookie?” Stef asked Krista. “I made them myself.”
“So you mentioned. Several times.” But Krista reached out and accepted another enormous, gooey cookie from the tin container Stef had brought with her when she pulled up in her van a few minutes earlier.
Blake and Krista were staying in a cabin owned by Floyd, which he insisted was the least that he could do. It was small and neat and right near the tiny downtown. The front porch had rocking chairs, which faced the porch swing Stef was sitting on.
Blake, who was inside making coffee, was mostly healed. He’d slept on the floor in wolf form all night long with Krista’s fox curled up next to him. He was limping a little bit in the morning, but other than that, he was back to his usual self. Stef had headed back to Crystal Bay to fill out massive piles of paperwork, and Mal and Dexter had spent the night in their animal forms on the front porch, healing in the moonlight, and checking in on their wounded compatriot from time to time.
Krista smiled to see that. They were his pack. They drew strength from each other.
She’d woken up with a lightness in her heart. The sun had risen on a different holler—a town that had hope for the first time in decades.
And she’d woken up next to the wolf she loved. The wolf who was a gift of fate. Mal had made them pancakes and sausages for breakfast, then he and Dexter had packed up to head back to Crystal Bay.
Krista had just been about to ask Blake exactly how the healing was going and whether he was up for any more plighting of troths when Stef pulled up to the cabin. Blake had gone inside, grumbling, to put on a pot of coffee.
“More?” Stef offered, as Krista finished chewing her cookie.
“No, thanks, ten is my limit. Is this your attempt to apologize for putting a bug in my purse?” The door swung open and Blake walked out, holding a tray with three cups of coffee. He gave one to Stef and one to Krista.
“Thank you, sir, you are a prince among men.” She took a sip as he settled down into the chair next to hers, wincing slightly.
“I aim to please,” he replied with a wink that left no doubt as to what he meant.
Stef smiled at Krista. “This is my thank you for helping us. I can’t say that I’m sorry about the bug, though. I did what I thought was necessary for the mission.” Stef stuffed a cookie in her mouth.
Blake scowled at her. “You put my mate at risk, Stef. She wouldn’t have run off on her own if you hadn’t put that bug in her purse.”
“No, honestly, it was my mistake,” Krista said to him. She put her hand on his arm and felt the throb of anger in his chest fade a bit. It was amazing how in tune she was with him now. “I let hurt feelings sway my judgment. I mean, I also knew that Gummi would go absolutely mad if he saw anyone that he didn’t know coming to the mine, but I should have consulted with you before I left. We could have figured something out.”
“What she said.” Stef nodded and stuffed two cookies into her mouth. “What?” she added. “Horse metabolism! I burn off calories like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Nowthat, I find unforgivable. I don’t know if we can ever get past that. Give me another damn cookie,” Krista said, reaching out and grabbing one. “How are Michael and Ethan?”
“Fine, and eternally grateful. Michael says that after the way the people of Flowering Dogwood stepped up to the plate and helped save his son, he’s definitely re-opening the mines.”
Blake helped himself to a couple of cookies. “There were some losses. We’ll have funerals to attend.” He glanced at Krista for confirmation, and she nodded gratefully. He’d be right there by her side; she didn’t even question it.
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Her mother had called Hattie repeatedly this morning, begging for Krista’s phone number. Krista only knew this because Hattie had called to tell her—and she’d also let her know that she’d threatened to whip the hide off Maybelline if she even set paw in Flowering Dogwood. And then she’d hung up on Maybelline.
Gummi was still missing. Krista fervently hoped that he’d be found, and he’d be all right.
Every single surviving shifter who’d been in Dawnie’s inner circle had high-tailed it out of the county, as far as could be told. Krista suspected they wouldn’t be seen here again. So much emotionally to process.
But she didn’t have to do it alone.
She opened her eyes and smiled at her handsome mate.
Sensing her needs, as always, he wrapped his hand around Krista’s. “I’m feeling much better, by the way.” His lips curled in a hot, possessive smile and his eyes flashed amber. A wave of arousal flowed through her veins like molten fire, and she squirmed in her seat. “Much, much better.” His voice lowered to a growl.
“Oh, God. You guys are eye-fucking each other right here on the porch.” Stef groaned. She stood up, leaving the tin. “I can tell when I’m not wanted.”
“And yet, you’re still here,” Blake grumbled, flicking her the briefest of annoyed scowls, and then his attention snapped back to Krista.
“Blake. She drove all this way,” Krista protested faintly, even though she was eager to be alone with her mate. “And she brought cookies.” And hopefully, she’d leave soon. But Krista didn’t want to be a bad hostess.
