Filed to story: The Wolf Prince’s Fated Love
“Where are we going?”
Brielle asked once the plane had leveled off to cruising altitude.
“Away from there, mostly,” Gael said, sarcasm heavy as he tiredly pulled on a pair of gray sweats kept stashed in the plane. Shifters tended to have stashes of clothes everywhere. It was well past midnight, closer to dawn than dusk, but still it felt like the day that just wouldn’t end.
“We should stay on the move for a while, until we figure out a course of action,” Kane said, stroking his mate’s dark hair.
Brielle nodded, guilt painting her expression as she turned to gaze at her two best friends. “Are you sure you two don’t want to go back? It’s me they’re after-we’ve got that confirmed now.”
“I’d love it if we could stop flying,” Leigh said, already looking pale and queasy, “but how many times are we going to have to tell you that you’re stuck with us?”
“At least one more,” Brielle said with a watery smile.
Shay was quiet at my side, half-burrowed into my shoulder as her friends bantered quietly. When she spoke up, all eyes turned to her, and I could feel her flinch into my chest as if she could disappear there.
“Any word back from your Aunt Kari on when she can meet?”
Brielle dug her phone from her pocket-luckily, she’d grabbed it on the way out of the caves, because we’d been forced to leave our luggage behind. “No signal yet. But that’s a good point. Should we head to Texas? That’s where she asked to meet me?-“
“Is it safe to sit in one place? They sensed your powers,” Gael interrupted, arms crossed over his chest and wearing a disgruntled expression. “We got lucky this time, but we don’t know how long the bears will keep them occupied, or if they’ll figure out we were the ones who triggered their wards. We should find a safe house, somewhere remote where we can see them coming. Then we can wait it out and see if they’re able to track you or if it was just the ceremony.”
“They’ve never been able to track her before, so I think it’s a fairly safe assumption that the presence of the Goddess’s magic was the key difference,” Reed said.
“You want to park ourselves in Johnson City like sitting ducks on a fairly safe? Bad idea.”
Reed scowled at Gael’s haughty tone. “Just because you’re head enforcer doesn’t make the decision yours. It’s up to Kane.”
“The Alpha?-“
“Can speak for himself,” Kane interrupted the brewing argument. “Right now, we need rest and a moment to get our bearings. We’re not making any decisions yet. The plane is fully fueled, and we’re all going to try to get some sleep. They can’t attack us in the air.”
I nodded, appreciating his level head. Shay sighed against my arm, clearly relieved at the diffusion of the testosterone spike. It seemed like she was uncomfortable any time alpha energy ramped up, which was something I should ask her about when we had some time alone.
Like when we’d had that very delicious interlude that had been so rudely interrupted. Best not to think about that, though, or I’d have an awkward boner for the whole damn flight.
But when Shay sighed again, I settled my arm over her so she could get comfortable against my chest. And somehow, with her safe and snug against me, the rest of the world and all its problems faded away. I soaked in her scent, reveling in her perfect softness and warmth, and let my eyes drift shut.
We’d figure out the rest in a few hours.
FORTY
Shay
The solid jolt of the plane’s wheels touching down woke me sometime around midday. My neck was a little stiff, but I’d slept surprisingly well, cuddled up to Dirge’s side. Though when I looked up at his face, I was fairly certain he hadn’t slept all that much.
“Everything okay?” I whispered the question, not wanting to disturb anyone else. The plane was quiet, nothing but the steady hum of its propellers and the rush of wind outside as we rolled to a stop to break the steady white noise.
“Yes, everything’s fine. We’re just stopping for fuel, as far as I know.” He stroked my back, smiling softly down at me.
It hit me in that moment, that steady reassurance, his solid calm, the tender touch, and how long I’d been thirsting for the security that I felt. It wasn’t the least bit logical; we were on the run, in the ODL’s sights, while there was so much still unknown about our future.
They could catch up to us tomorrow, or in five years. But somehow, I felt safe. Grounded.
Loved.
That internal whisper knocked the breath right out of my lungs. Was this what it was like for all fated mates? I didn’t think so. Because something about Dirge called to me, healed me, on a level nothing and no one else ever had. I didn’t need children if I got to keep him. And I would make him understand that in time. We just needed to figure out a solid plan for now until we figured out the mess with the Fetya.
His thumb stroked lazily over my cheek, but still left a trail of fire in its wake. I felt it everywhere, straight down to my bones. He lit me up with even that small contact, and I was pretty damn sure I’d never get enough. Even if I lived forever.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He asked the question a low rumble in his chest meant only for my ears.
Sometimes I hated how bad I was with words. I wished I could tell him everything, how it felt to be in his arms, safe for the first time in my life. How he made me feel like a new person, a better person. How exciting it was to know we had our whole lives ahead of us, to learn and explore each other. It was poetry, and I was no poet.
Those were words I didn’t possess. The reason I composed music.
“I think I love you,” I whispered. But when I tried to duck my face against his chest, hide away from the aftermath of my confession, he caught my chin with his fingertips. Dirge’s touch was gentle even as his grin was wild, half-cocked up on one side, his eyes were crinkled at the corners with joy.
“You think so, huh?” His voice grew husky, the evidence of his arousal making my own blood sing with answering need.
I nodded, suddenly speechless for a different reason.
He kissed me like someone was going to snatch me away from him, hands tangled in my curls so he could angle me to better plunder my lips. After a few moments, I pulled back, but I didn’t let go. If he kept kissing me like he was a drowning man and I was his last hope for salvation, I’d be a puddle of need with no way to do a thing about it. There was no way we were joining the mile-high club two feet from our pack mates.
The plane had stopped, and people were stirring, so it was no time to be getting hot and bothered.
Unfortunately, that ship had sailed. The molten heat at my core demanded I find a quiet spot and do something about it.
Kane stood at the front of the plane. “We’re just making a quick stop here for fuel. If you’d like to get out and stretch, use the restroom, or get a drink, there’s an open hangar right over there.”
He pointed out the window to where a bay door stood open on a very large hangar.
It must have been evidence of how small-or maybe just how broke-the Johnson City pack was, but I had no idea so many wolf packs were out there with private jets and hangars that rivaled small airports.