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A few weeks back I thought I’d have no chance at having kids, no chance of a kid being in the next council since I was considered a widower. I didn’t think I’d ever want to hold and kiss a woman let alone fuck her, give her my mark, knot her, and purr for her. And now the idea that I’ve got my woman and that we can look forward to a future together… if none of our children are part of the council, I’m okay with that.
39
Riley
Screaming jerks me out of a dead sleep and I half-shift before I realize it’s my mate that’s screaming and writhing in bed beside me.
I pull back. “Babe,” I shake her.
She whimpers and thrashes.
“Rikki?”
“Riley!” she cries and writhes some more. Panic and adrenaline dominate my blood. Because she’s screaming like she needs saving from someone or something and my instinct is to immediately spring into action.
“Erica!” I shout, pulling her into my embrace, holding her tight.
“Riley,” she whimpers, voice sounding garbled. She’s gasping for air. Gasping hard. Her heart is racing. Adrenaline surging.
I purr. I purr while holding her tight, rocking her, and she goes limp in my arms and then is weeping against my chest. That was my second time half-shifting. The first time when I was locked out and those fuckers threw the gas bomb through the window.
“What was the dream about?” I ask, stroking her hair.
“More… more purr,” she mumbles.
I purr harder and lay back down with her, holding her close. She clings to me, body trembling. Her teeth chatter so I will my body temperature to rise while I continue purring.
She falls asleep.
I don’t.
***
The sun has risen, and I know I’m late for the run. Her nightmare happened a few hours ago; I just wasn’t about to leave her afterwards. Couldn’t. And I couldn’t sleep afterwards, either. Because I’m angry. Stewing. Wanting answers from the assholes who put her through this, and even more – wanting a way to take away the fears that plague her sleep.
She stirs in my arms and looks up at me. Fuck, she’s pretty.
“Good morning.”
“Good?”
“Yeah. Waking up with you always is.” She snuggles in and kisses my throat.
“You gonna be okay if I go meet the council for a meeting? I’ll be quick.” I stroke her cheek.
“Go ahead. I’m gonna sleep a little more, I think. Weren’t you supposed to go when it was still dark?”
“Wasn’t gonna leave you alone after that nightmare. What was it about?”
“Drowning.” She nuzzles my throat with her forehead. “I often dream about the river swallowing me. Angry at me for my lies. Sorry you missed your run, snuggle bug. Sorry I woke you up.”
“Forget the meeting. I’ll see them tomorrow.” I hold her tighter.
“No, it’s okay. I dream it often, honeybear. I’ll be okay.”
“Honeybear?” I ask.
She scrunches up her nose. “Maybe not honeybear.”
“How’d the snuggle bug one feel?”
“Meh. Not it.”
I chuckle and drop a kiss on her forehead. “You sure you don’t need me to stay?”
“I’m sure.” She kisses my jaw. “This one had a better ending than any of the other ones.”
“Didn’t sound like a good ending from here,” I mutter.
“Waking up to you holding me, purring for me? That’s never happened before and that made it way better.”
I brush her hair out of her eyes with my fingertips. “Be back in an hour or two. Go back to sleep, little witch,” I kiss her shoulder and roll out of bed.
***
They’re all in the cave when I get there.
“Didn’t think you were gonna show,” Grey greets.
“Sorry, guys. She had a nightmare.”
Tyson looks me over. “Day seven. And you stayed to console her during a nightmare?”
“We’re good. We’re goin’ home as soon as I get back. Owe you a new couch, Tyson,” I add.
“Why?” he asks. “That thing is older than me. Can’t imagine you damaged it any worse than…” He stops and I know realization dawns as to why I’m saying that. He waves a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m the one that insisted you stay there. My Ivy’s already picked out all new furniture for it anyway. We just need to arrange delivery.”
“Right,” I say, smiling.
He flashes me a grin. “So, you’re good?” Ty checks.
“No. Not good. But not good not because of her, because of what was done to her.”
I proceed to fill them in on all the shit she’s been put through unnecessarily. How Mitch Blakely was part of the jury she had to stand trial in front of, telling them why there are supernatural council members coming the day after tomorrow. I also say their support in making sure the pack members treat her well is important to me. I don’t want them treating her like an outsider who wronged me. I don’t want her to feel anything but at home. They’ve already started spreading the word that she not only saved my life but also Mason’s and Lincoln’s. They assure me the pack is ready to embrace her.
