by Aileen Erin
As they finished, I felt the oath tighten like a noose around my neck, binding me to them and them to me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t bear it—I just didn’t want it. I didn’t want the responsibility that came with it.
The magic snapped into place, and if I’d been bone tired before, now I felt half-dead.
The phone rang, and Adrian left to answer.
I made my escape to the bathroom. I needed to wash my face. To take a breath.
When I came out, Adrian was waiting for me. “St. Ailbe’s has been attacked again. We’ve got to get there. Can you get us back like you got here?”
I shook my head. “Not without making another bargain with a fey. I think one—”
“You made a bargain with a fey!” Raphael yelled from his bed. “You bonded with a wolf and made a bargain with a fey? What were you thinking? Why would you do this?”
Well, I guessed he was feeling a little better. “I did what I had to in order to get back here in time.”
Before he could speak up again, Lucas bent down and picked me up. “We need a place to shower and sleep, clothes, and food.”
Adrian grabbed a key. “Take my room. It’s next door. I’ll order you room service and then get to work on arranging flights for us all.”
“I’ll grab you some clothes.” Shane moved past us. “You’re bigger than me, but I’m the closest fit.” Shane was built thick and very tall. Adrian was cut and tallish, like all the wolves, but Lucas was at least a few inches taller and much more built.
“I’ll find some things for you, Claudia.” Beth hurried out of the room.
I rested my head on Lucas’ shoulder. I felt him walking, but my eyes were heavy. Everyone was safe and alive. It would take my brother a bit to recover, but he would. The oath was broken, and everyone was safe from Luciana for now. My job was done. I could finally rest.
And so I let the darkness take me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I woke to the sounds of people talking and the smell of food. My stomach rumbled and I sat up.
The talking stopped.
I rubbed my eyes and saw Lucas and Adrian staring at me over a pile of food. “What time is it?”
“Ten in the morning,” Adrian said.
“What time did we get here?”
“Two. You’ve been asleep for eight hours.”
I fell back against the pillows. “I could sleep for another twelve.”
Adrian snorted. “No kidding. How many days did you stay awake before you left for Peru?”
“Uhh.” I scratched my head as I thought. “I think I got two or three hours the first few nights at St. Ailbe’s. Then, I pretty much stayed awake for three days straight. Although I passed out in the infirmary for a couple hours. So…”
“And how did you sleep now?” Lucas asked.
I thought about it for a second. “Like the dead. It was amazing. Best night of sleep I’ve had in years.” I felt Lucas’ pleasure at that, and smiled. This whole thing was new, but it was nice knowing that my sleeping well made him happy.
I struggled to sit up again. “I’m going to shower. Save some food for me?” I didn’t wait for an answer. I went into the bathroom and started the water. Some of Beth’s clothes were sitting on the counter. In the rush to get here, I’d left my backpack in the forest. I guessed all those clothes were history. What a waste.
The water was perfectly steamy. I scrubbed myself from head to toe before getting out and brushing my teeth. It was a crappy hotel toothbrush, but I didn’t care. Running water was a treat I now appreciated in a whole new way.
I got dressed in the yoga pants and tank that Beth had loaned me. She was taller and thinner than me, but the clothes fit well enough. I finger-combed my hair and then left it. My body was still too tired to bother with a braid.
When I stepped outside, Adrian was gone. A new tray of food was in his place, with silver covers keeping it warm. I poured myself a cup of coffee, holding it with both hands as I settled into the chair. I pulled my feet up, and sighed. This was the life.
“Feeling better?” Lucas asked.
That was a giant understatement. “There’s not much that coffee and a hot shower can’t fix.” We were quiet for a second, and for the first time it was a little awkward. I wasn’t sure how to be his mate. Or what he expected. And I wasn’t sure what I wanted from him either.
“I didn’t know what you’d want for breakfast, so I got a bunch of things.”
I took a breath, letting go of all that worry.
This was Lucas. My Lucas. I knew him. He was kind and generous and thoughtful.
He still made me nervous, though. No one had right to be so handsome.
I set down my coffee and busied myself with uncovering the dishes. Eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes, roasted tomatoes, yogurt, granola, a bowl of fruit, and a basket of pastries. I laughed. “You really did get everything.”
He shrugged, and if I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought his cheeks had a little more color. But Lucas wouldn’t blush. Would he? “Better safe than sorry,” he said.
I met his gaze. Those twin dark pools. I bit my lip as I considered him. I hadn’t known him long—days really—but he’d hooked me from the beginning. “Thank you.” I took a bite of fruit. “So, what’s next? What did I miss?”
He crossed his arms over his chest, and I couldn’t help but stare at the shirt that was stretched so thin over his biceps, I was half-convinced it’d rip any second. “Your brother is doing better. Adrian has us all booked on an afternoon flight to Texas.”
“You’re coming?” I almost winced. That came out wrong. I wanted him to come, but I wasn’t sure if he wanted to. Or if he was even able to. He had a pack to take care of, and I… Well, I had at least one more fight ahead of me.
“Of course I’m coming.” He frowned. “Do you not want me to come?”
“No. I want you to come, I just thought—you have a pack and responsibilities and I know we’re mated—”
“I was wondering if you caught that.” He grinned, and my cheeks caught fire.
“I did catch that.” I cleared my throat. “But I don’t really know what it is that it means… What you want and everything. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or what’s expected of me.”
His shoulders relaxed, and I felt his relief through the bond. “Don’t worry. There’s nothing expected except for you to just be you. We jumped into the deep end, and it’s going to take time for us to settle into who we are as a couple.” He grinned and I couldn’t help the blush that spread across my face. “I know I said it before, but we were rushed and I want you to know that I wasn’t planning on doing it this way. I wanted to get to know you. For you to get to know me. To consider your options. But…” He shrugged. “So, now, where you go, I go. We’ll take this as fast or as slow as you want, but as for what I want—I want to be with you.”
Now it was my turn to be relieved. “I want you to be with me, too.”
“Okay, then. So we go to Texas and deal with this lady. And then, we can travel a bit.”
Travel? I had a million questions, starting with where? But I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Not yet. “What about your pack?”
“The pack is fine.”
“But what about those mages?”
“The pack is taking care of it. Don’t worry.”
But I was worrying. I’d done so many things wrong, and I wanted to make sure that I got this right. “But you have—”
“I’d give the pack up if I thought it was a problem.”
I snapped my mouth shut. He would?
“I’ve been the Alpha there for a very, very long time. I’ve got a good second, and he’ll keep things going. I haven’t had time for myself in… Well, let’s just say it’s due. So, I’m taking time with my new mate. Honeymoons are traditional for humans. We’ll just take a long one. Maybe a few years. Okay?”
Years? That sounded crazy, but also pretty amazing. “Okay. But what about work?”
I started fidgeting with my napkin. “Not me. You. Don’t you have a job, or…?”
His smile was back. “Haven’t for a very long time. I don’t need to work. I have lots of sound investments.”
I opened and closed my mouth a few times, unsure of what to say to that. “So, we travel?”
He tilted his head to the side as he stared at me. “Where do you want to go?”
Everywhere. Anywhere. I didn’t really care. “I don’t know. I never thought I’d be able to.”
“Well think about it. But breakfast first.” He pointed to my plate.
I played with my food for a second before looking back at him.
“What?” He drew out the word with a smirk.
“I was just thinking…” I shook my head. “No. It’s embarrassing.”
“You don’t have to be embarrassed. Just ask.”
I knew how I felt about him. I’d been attracted to him at first. And then he was nice. And fun. I loved his laugh and his smile. I liked how polite he was to everyone. Well, except Gobble. But he was kind. Warm. And his aura… It was so him. Warm like sunlight. Being around him was like spending the day tanning by the pool. But did he love me? No one had ever said that to me. Raphael wasn’t much for those kinds of words, and my parents… Well, they weren’t the best at being parents. “I was just wondering—”
All of a sudden the bond opened, and I could feel everything Lucas was feeling. Everything he was thinking. I knew it all. Could feel it all as if his emotions were my own.
It was so powerful, what he felt. So…
So much. It was like wrapping myself in a warm blanket.
It was love.
Oh my God. He wasn’t just saying that. He really loved me.
“You thought I didn’t? That I’d want to mate with the first witch I came across?”
It seemed ridiculous when he put it that way. “No. I just… I don’t know what I thought.”
“I waited a long time for you. Many, many decades. Longer than that.”
I laughed. “How old are you?” I stuck my fork in a hunk of melon.
“I’ll wait until you’re not so young before I tell you. I don’t want you to get spooked.”
“Are you as old as Donovan?” I asked as I waved the fruit in the air, and then took a bite.
He settled back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Older.”
That didn’t make sense. “But you look younger?”
He laughed. “I can’t wait to tell him you said so.”
I paused. “But then why aren’t you one of the Seven?”
Lucas gave me the most wicked look. “I don’t like to play by the rules.”
Holy moly. How did I not know he was a bad boy at heart?
No. I must’ve misunderstood.
Lucas motioned to the food. “Eat. And then you can take a nap before the flight. I didn’t realize how exhausted you were. You didn’t move the entire time you slept.”
I rubbed my eyes. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to actually sleep without the fear of Luciana draining me. I did okay in Peru—I was far enough away—but I was—”
“Restless. I thought it was because I was with you.”
I shook my head. “Not at all. I was just afraid to close my eyes.”
“Ah. I see.” Lucas stood up, and walked to my chair, reaching a hand for me. It seemed natural to reach back to him.
He pulled me down on the bed and tucked me against him so I could rest my head on his chest. Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Sleep. I’ll watch over you.”
I got comfortable, resting half on him, my arm across his stomach. He ran his fingers up and down my arm. For the first time in longer than I could remember, I felt safe. Comfortable. Not panicked.
Complete.
***
We met in the lobby a few hours later. Adrian was already there, chatting with Shane and Beth. We were just waiting on Raphael and the wolf I still hadn’t met yet.
After the nap, Lucas got me more food, and I felt infinitely better. As I sat down, I was glad we hadn’t stayed here longer. The couch was a fuzzy zebra print with hot pink and neon green pillows. The coffee table was chrome and glass. Actually everything was either black and white, neon colored, or chrome. There were so many shiny surfaces, the hotel must spend a fortune on cleaners.
What I didn’t understand at all was the hot pink deer head hanging over the mantel.
It’s a little much, don’t you think?
Lucas nodded. It’s hideous.
Right?
We both started laughing, and Adrian moaned. “Not you, too.”
“Sorry,” I said.
I felt Raphael coming down the hall before I saw him. Twindar was back. I stood up. “Hey,” I said as I gave him a hug. His skin tone was still a little off, but he looked like himself now. “You look better.”
“Feel much better. Thank you.”
“Anything for you.”
Raphael turned to Lucas, sizing him up. “I hear you’re mated to my sister now.”
Lucas stood tall, meeting Raphael’s stare-down head on. “I would’ve liked to have met you before we bonded, but we found ourselves in a bit of situation and Claudia needed the added power boost.” He held out his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I hope you know that I’ll do everything I can to make sure your sister is happy and well taken care of.”
“Are you going to make her change?”
I choked on air at the blunt question. Before I could say it was none of his business, Lucas spoke up. “Never. If she wants to change, that’s up to her. She’s my mate either way.” He didn’t even bristle at my brother’s sharp tone.
Raphael crossed his arms. “None of this forced biting like the guy my cousin hooked up with.”
“Absolutely not.” Lucas looked to me. “What Dastien did was wrong. He knows it. He was young and couldn’t control the urge. But I’m not young. Okay?”
I nodded. My life was complicated enough without being a wolf, and for once I wanted to think things through before jumping in. For the time being, it was enough to just be me.
“Let’s go,” Adrian said. “Don’t want to miss the flight. Tessa is freaking out. She thinks Luciana is up to something.”
I sighed. “She’s always up to something.”
“Well, this time it’s extra bad.”
When it came to Luciana, it was always bad. “You got the stuff?”
Raphael held up a small gym bag. “Although how we’re going to get a hand past security…”
I winced. “We’ll figure it out.” Lucas ran his fingers down my arm, until he reached my hand, twining our fingers together. “Let’s get this over with,” I said.
“And then on to the next chapter,” Lucas said. “Maybe we can pick up a travel book in the airport?”
I grinned up at him. “That would be amazing.”
As we left, I knew that we had some big things to do before we got to have our time together, but I was aiming for the stars. And I’d be more than happy with the moon. It was fitting, too. I’d have the moon and the wolf.
As we got in the taxi, I leaned against Lucas.
“Everything okay?”
I looked up at him. “Everything’s just fine.”
He pressed his lips against mine, and I melted. When he pulled away, I leaned against him again. “Yup. Everything’s just fine.”
The Alpha Girls series continues with Tessa and Dastien in Alpha Unleashed.
Out September 29, 2015. Click here to order now.
For more information and updates about the series, go to: http://inkmonster.net/books/alpha-girl-series
Also by Aileen Erin, Cipher, Book One in The Shadow Ravens Series.
Click here to order now.
For more information and updates about the series, go to: http://inkmonster.net/books/shadow-ravens
Also from Ink Monster, The Angelbound
Series, by Christina Bauer.
Click here to order Angelbound, the first book in the series.
Also available in The Angelbound Series: Scala, Armageddon, and Maxon.
For more information and updates about the series, go to: http://inkmonster.net/books/angelbound-series
Acknowledgments
To all my readers, you asked for Claudia’s story and you got it! I’m hoping to expand to other characters, too. Anyone want a Meredith book? ;)
Thank you to everyone who read this book. I wrote it during a particularly difficult time in my life. For a while, I wasn’t sure if I’d get it done in time, but somehow I did.
I needed some cheerleaders to get through it.
Lola Dodge: I wouldn’t have finished if it wasn’t for you believing in me. Thank you for all the random Skype sessions and speedy edits. I’m always so thankful that we got paired together all those years ago. Best crit partner ever If it wasn’t official before, it surely is now. You’re stuck with me forever.
Christina: My fellow Ink Monster in crime, thank you for being my partner in this crazy business. Having you by my side makes everything easier and much, Much, MUCH more fun! We’re rocking it, sistah!
To all of the lovely ladies at INscribe: Thank you for everything that you do. Christina and I wouldn’t be as far as we are today without you! <3
To the lovely Kristi Latcham: Thank you for all of your support and proofing! You’re the best mother-in-law a girl could ask for. We’ve been through the wringer the last six months, but the light is ahead.
To my Halcyon Bastards: You three are a constant inspiration to me. Thank you for being such great friends. Can’t wait ‘till I see you all again.