I look toward home.My first instinct is to protect her from this, to tuck her against my chest, tell her she’s safe, and never let the ugliness of the world touch her again.But I told her I wouldn’t keep things from her.
“Yeah,” I say roughly.“I’ll tell her.But I don’t want to scare her.”
“She’s already scared,” Russo says quietly.“Not knowing won’t make that better.”
I nod because he’s right again, damn him.
We finish the patrol because we have to.Every second of it is torture.My wolf snaps and growls at every sound, desperate to get back to Landry.By the time my shift ends, I’m barely holding him back.
The forest blurs around me as I sprint home.All I can hear is my heart hammering in my ears.
The house is dark when I reach it, except for the soft glow of the lamp in my bedroom window.I shift on the porch, unlock the door, and step inside, listening.It’s quiet, no strange scents, no unfamiliar sounds, no danger.
I relax, my shoulders dropping for the first time in hours.
I toe off my shoes and take a deep breath.I need to tell Landry about the increased movement over at the cult.I hate to worry her, but I can’t keep anything from her.She deserves to know.I’ll tell her and promise again to keep her safe.It will be okay.She’ll be okay.
I lock the door behind me and go upstairs, moving silently down the hall.She’s asleep in my bed again.Our bed.Curled on her side, one hand tucked beneath her cheek, wearing those little pajamas that make me want to forget every noble thought I’ve ever had.
My chest aches when I realize she left the lamp on for me.I brush her hair back from her face, turning the lamp off so she’s not disturbed.
I shower quickly, scrubbing the scent of the woods from my skin.Landry shifts when I reenter the bedroom but doesn’t wake.
Climbing in beside her, I finally relax as I spoon her.I press my face into her hair and breathe her in.My wolf settles for the first time since we left her.Our mate is in our arms, our house is locked, and our pack is watching.But to the north, the cult is moving, planning something, waiting for their opportunity.
I hold Landry tighter and press my lips against her hair because she’s here.She chose our bed, she kissed me before I left, and reached for me when I came back.
I stare into the dark, listening to her breathe, and make my wolf and myself another promise.
If the cult comes for her again, they won’t live long enough to regret it.
6
Landry
I wakeup in Cooper’s bed all alone the next morning.I’m surprised because, aside from work, this is the most we’ve been apart since we met.
What if something happened?
That thought has me shooting up in bed.I throw my feet over the edge of the mattress and rush out of the room.I can hear movement downstairs, so I make my way to the kitchen.
“Morning, mate.”
I stop walking because… wow.
Cooper is barefoot, wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt that stretches across his shoulders in a way that should be illegal.His dark brown hair is a little messy, like he’s been running his hands through it, and his green eyes lock onto me like I’m the only thing in the world worth looking at.
My stomach growls.
His grin widens.“Hungry?”
“For food?”I ask before I can stop myself.
His eyes flare.
My face catches fire.I’ve been feeling weird ever since I woke up, my body filled with a strange tension, my skin hypersensitive.
Tonight is the night of the full moon.
