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“That’s what mates do,” my dad murmurs, covering Mom’s hand with his own. “They help you become the best possible version of yourself.”
The two of them exchange a look- one that I’ve seen them share a million times, but never truly understood until now. It’s not just love, but something deeper, a connection forged by their bond with one another.
I feel it now, with Sloane. Every time I look at her, I’m so overwhelmed by love and pride and awe that it nearly takes me to my knees. I’ll be the first to admit that I was a skeptic, but this fated mates thing is no fucking joke. It’s the real deal.
“So when are you telling the pack?” Mom asks hopefully. “I mean, I think they figured it out last night, but you’re going to do a formal announcement, right?”
I shrug, glancing over at Sloane. “Maybe this afternoon?”
“Sure,” she agrees easily. “Just give me a chance to pull myself together a little bit.” She glances down at her clothes-myclothes- and her cheeks flush pink, like she’s just remembered what she’s wearing.
I give her a slow once-over, licking my lips. “I think you look great,” I drawl, eating her up with my eyes.
Goldie makes a mock gagging sound and Tristan barks out a laugh, shaking his head. “Keep saying gooey shit like that and Ares is gonna have a field day,” he remarks.
“If anybody needs a mate to tame him, it’s Ares Raines,” Avery groans.
“You volunteering for the job?” Sloane teases.
Avery pulls a face and we all laugh, tucking back into our food.
This is exactly what I didn’t know I needed. I always knew I needed Sloane, but being surrounded by our families like this, having them celebrate our union alongside us, is icing on the cake. I can’t remember the last time I ever felt this fulfilled; this carefree and fuckinghappy.
I slide Sloane a glance, and the way she throws her head back on a laugh in response to a comment my sister makes tells me that she’s feeling the same way right now- lighthearted and content, like this is exactly the way things were always supposed to be.
If you’d told me a month ago that I’d be here today, I would’ve called you a damn liar. But right now, I can’t imagine anything better.
Shit, I guess sometimes even assholes like me get happy endings.
39
My wolf wakes me out of a dead sleep, clawing at the inside of my chest in warning. The little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and the heavy feeling of being watched registers somewhere in my subconscious.
I blink my eyes open with a start, my heart thundering in my chest when they land on a dark figure standing beside my bed. No, not just one- there are several of them, shrouded in darkness, closing in on me. I throw out an arm, reaching for Madd, but the other side of the bed is cold. Gasping in alarm, I push myself up and turn to look for him, but he isn’t there.
Then the shadowed figures descend.
Hands grab for me, wrapping around my arms and legs, yanking me out of bed. Before I can make out the faces of my captors, a hood is shoved over my head, cutting off my vision and drowning me in darkness.
I scream.
The hands hold tighter to me, fingers digging bruises into my skin as I’m hauled across the room. I kick and flail, but my efforts are futile- there are too many of them, each of my limbs tightly restrained in their grip. My hands are wrenched in front of me and something is wound around my wrists, pulling tight to bind them together.
My instincts kick in and I descend into a state of sheer panic, screaming and flailing and fighting with all I have. My wolf pushes forward, my skin prickling with the urge to shift so she can defend me. Before I can, I’m yanked against something hard and warm, and though I’m still panicking in earnest, my wolf suddenly backs down, inexplicably calming.
“Shh, I’ve got you,” a deep, raspy voice whispers.
Madd.
My heart stutters a beat as I come back into my body, registering that he’s cradling me against his chest. Secure in Madd’s arms, the other hands relinquish their grip on my limbs. Then he starts walking. His footsteps are heavy on the floorboards of the hall, and I sag against him, the fight draining out of me as I realize he’s here and I’m safe.
This must be part of my initiation.
He said it’d be today, but I didn’t expect it to start now, before the sun has even risen. And I definitely didn’t anticipate that it’d begin like this, with them tearing me from bed and scaring the crap out of me.
A little warning might’ve been nice.
I’ll have to take that up with my mate later.
