Kash shrugs. “Sure, why not?”
“Um, aren’t we a little busy?” I ask, motioning to where Talia and Lynch are passing the time sparring.
“Brody’s not going to attack during the daylight,” Kash says with certainty. “Not only would that put us at a higher risk of exposing ourselves to humans, but we’re at our strongest during a full moon. Since that happens to fall tonight, I’m willing to bet that’s when he’ll make his move. It will give him time to finalize his plans without giving us too much time to prepare. He won’t want to give us too long to pull our defenses together.”
I chew on my lip as I consider his words. If what Kash is saying is true, this might be my last day on earth. Rather than dwell on that thought, I nod. As much as I want to be ready for Brody, I also don’t want to waste a minute of my time being separated from the people I love.
“Can we bring Talia and Lynch?” I ask.
Kash grins and motions over my shoulder. “They’re already on their way.”
I turn in time to see Talia and Lynch marching toward us, hand in hand. Lynch whispers something in her ear, and Talia laughs before slapping him on the shoulder. Her eyes meet mine, and she rushes forward, pulling me into a hug.
“We’ll be ready,” she says, somehow knowing the turmoil raging inside me, before pulling back to look into my eyes. “Our guys have a backup plan for their backup plan. And we have plan D,” she says, wiggling her brows.
“Uh, we do?”
“Of course,” she says with a shrug. “You use your compulsion to make Brody stand perfectly still while I rip his dick off and feed it to him. Plan D.”
“The only Plan D you’re allowed to handle is mine, Trouble,” Lynch growls. “But only if you play nice.”
Talia rolls her eyes, shooting me a look that says Men, am I right?
I laugh before turning to Kash. Only Kash isn’t behind me anymore. My pulse races as panic grips me. My gaze rakes across the yard, trying frantically to spot him. Could Brody or one of his men have somehow gotten through the wards undetected?
“Are we ready to go?” Kash’s voice says from behind me.
I whip around and fling myself into his arms.
“What’s wrong?” Kash asks the others over my head. “Did something happen in the ten seconds I was gone?”
“No,” Lynch answers. “Trouble made a terrible Plan D, but I don’t think it was bad enough to frighten Red that much.”
“Shut up,” Talia growls, and Lynch lets out an oomph.
“I didn’t know where you were,” I whisper into his chest, ignoring Talia and Lynch’s banter.
He stills as he realizes why I’m upset. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you I was slipping away to get the keys.”
I shake my head and look up at him, my cheeks pink. “I’m sorry for overreacting. My nerves are just frazzled.”
“I think getting away for a few hours will be good for all of us,” Kash says, squeezing me one last time. “Let’s go. Birdie gave me a list of a couple of things she needs us to pick up while we’re out, too.”
“Are you sure leaving is a good idea?” I ask, glancing around. What if Brody decided to attack during the day to throw us off?
“Birdie laid a few magical tripwires as far as five miles out to warn us. We’ll know he’s coming, trust me. Besides, you’re too wound up. You need to relax. Focus on something other than this war for a while.”
I sigh. He’s right.
“Okay, but we need to hurry. I don’t want to be away from the pack for too long,” I say, slipping my hand into his.
He smiles, pride and appreciation lighting his features. “Spoken like a true alpha queen,” he says, and I soften underneath his praise. “I don’t want to be away either, but some things have to be done. And this is a task I only trust to us. Come on.”
The drive to Reverence passes slowly, so I open my phone to check out Instagram. I smile as I realize my numbers have grown even more, thanks to my post about Tom Hardy. I’m up another twenty thousand followers, well over the fifteen percent increase I need for my project.
I am officially the queen of multi-tasking.
I scroll through my notifications, making sure to like all of the new comments and reply to some of my long time supporters’ comments.
My gaze slides to Kash as I realize none of this may matter in just a few short hours, but I shake my head, refusing to put my fear and uncertainty out into the universe. Instead, I turn back to my phone and spend some time scheduling posts for the next couple of weeks like normal. When that’s done, I schedule my next werewolf “outing” for tonight.
Sometimes even us #bookboos need a reminder that #HEAs are for real. If @elsapatakyofficial can snag herself the #bookboyfriendmaterial that is @chrishemsworth, then so can we! So this is your daily reminder to forget the haters. Marry a werewolf. #DEFawolf #WerewolfInAustralia #AussieWolfs #YoureNotEvenSurprisedAreYou #TheGirlWhoCriedWerewolf
I add the caption and repost the photo that Chris posted of him and his wife lying on a hillside in Australia, before scheduling it to post this evening. If it’s the last werewolf outing I ever post, I want the world to see the happily ever after my family and I are fighting for. I sigh in contentment and settle back in my seat for the rest of the ride.
The shop Birdie sends us to is called Witchy Woman and is located in the same area of Bricktown as Valkyrie. Since it’s the middle of the day, Kash is able to park directly in front of the shop.
“Why don’t you guys just wait in here?” Kash asks as he puts the car in park. “I’ll only be a minute. Then I need to make one more stop before we go home.”
Kash leans over to kiss my cheek before sliding out of the car. Nerves flutter in my stomach as I watch him disappear inside.
“He’ll be fine.”
Lynch’s deep voice makes me jump.
“Holy shit,” I say with a laugh. “I forgot you guys were in the car with us for a second.”
“I’d pretend to be offended, but we weren’t too worried about you guys being in the car either,” Talia quips.
“It’s true,” Lynch agrees. “You missed some pretty serious mind sex.”
Talia snorts. “I think normal people just call it eye-fucking.”
“It was so much more than a simple eye fuck, Trouble. Do you need me to remind you just how much more?”
“Ew, gross. I know we’re close, but there is such a thing as TMI,” I tell them, covering my ears and humming Gangsta’s Paradise loudly before they can get any more graphic.
“Do I even want to know what I missed?” Kash asks as he slides back into the car.
“Talia and Lynch were just trying to scar me for life with far too much detail about their sexual exploits,” I tell him, and he laughs as I take the black bag he’s holding out for me. “What the hell is in here? Rocks?” I ask, surprised by the weight of the small bag.
Kash chuckles as he pulls out of the parking space. “Pretty much. Birdie needed some more crystals.”
In the distance, I spot the wooden sign that marks the entrance to Valkyrie. I smile as we near the bar that changed my life forever.
“Ooo, it’s five o’clock somewhere. Nice,” Lynch says as Kash slows and pulls into a space a few feet from the bar.
My gaze darts to Kash, and my brows wrinkle in confusion.
“Care to take a walk down memory alley with me, Pepper?” he asks, reaching over to take my hand.
I laugh, nodding my consent. Kash leans forward, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before getting out and walking around to open my door.
We walk hand in hand toward the alley where I first saw Kash, Talia and Lynch trailing quietly behind us. I think back to that first moment I saw Kash. In the light of day, and with Kash by my side, the space has lost all of the menace of that night. I walk a few steps ahead, letting my gaze trail over the surprisingly clean alley. A small part of me is sad to find no trace of that night, especially considering how much it changed me forever.
“Too bad my shoes aren’t still here,” I joke. “Those heels were my favorite.”
“These heels?” Kash asks, and I look over as he produces the exact shoes that I broke and then lost trying to get away from him that night.
“Oh-em-gee! Seriously–” My words break off as I realize he hasn’t found my broken shoe. Instead, Kash stands at the mouth of the alley, a sparkly pair of brand new gold shoes in his hands. An exact replica of the ones I lost.
“How on earth did you find my favorite shoes?” I ask incredulously. “I got them at a vintage store in California. They don’t even make them anymore.”
Kash shrugs. “I had them made,” he says, kneeling down in front of me.
I laugh, using his shoulder as support as he helps me take off my flats and replaces them with the sparkly gold heels. Thank goodness Anna painted my toenails recently!
“They’re beautiful!” I beam at him. “Thank you.” I reach a hand down to help him stand, but he shakes his head.
“I’ve got one more thing to do while I’m down here,” he says.
I snicker. A dirty sex joke forms on my tongue, but I hold it back as I realize he’s not joking. Nor is he getting up.
This is for real.
A gasp draws my attention away. Behind him, Talia stands in Lynch’s embrace, a hand covering her mouth. When I look back, Kash has taken his jacket off. He’s wearing only a t-shirt underneath. The words “Bad Dog” are written across the front in a bold font. The sight of those words I hurled at him all those nights ago has me laughing, but it quickly dissolves into a sob as he pulls a tiny black box from his pocket.
“Pepper, the first time I saw you, my need for vengeance wouldn’t let me see what was right in front of me. I tried to scare you away. To sink further into the darkness I’d fallen into when my father died. Instead of being frightened of me, you called me a bad dog and threw those damn shoes at me. From that moment on, you called to my soul. Nothing you did made sense to me, and yet, I found myself determined to figure you out.”
He pauses, a chuckle escaping his lips. “I’m pretty sure that will never actually happen, but damn if I don’t want to keep trying. So even though you’re kind of already stuck with me, would you do me the honor of choosing me like I chose you all those nights ago?”
He holds up the sparkling ring in the tiny black box. “Will you marry me, Pepper?”
I tackle him, uncaring about the cold or possible grime of the brick, and pepper his face with kisses, the salt of my tears mixing with the taste that’s all Kash.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he says, his body shaking underneath me and sending tendrils of desire through me.
I sit up, straddling his legs, and look down into his eyes as I answer. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
A smile breaks across his face as Kash sits up and kisses my nose before placing a delicate gold band on my finger. A beautiful uncut diamond sits in the center.
“It’s perfect,” I breathe.
“I still think you should have put it inside a book,” Lynch says, squatting down to help me up before giving Kash a hand.
“What?” I gasp. “If you would’ve defiled a book for a proposal, it would’ve been a hell no,” I quip. “People who cut books deserve to be cut.”
Chapter 15
By the time we make it back to the house, Lynch and I have almost planned my entire wedding, including the bridal shower. Lynch has even started a private Pinterest board with visuals for all of our ideas.
“Oh, and we can have little wolf POP figurines like you use in some of your bookstagram pictures, custom made as favors for everyone at the end of the night,” Lynch says as we pull up in front of the house.
Talia groans. “That’s it, you’re out of control.”
“I’m planning the wedding of a lifetime, Trouble. No detail is too small,” Lynch tells her.
Talia arches a brow. “Really? Romy’s wedding is the wedding of your lifetime?” she asks.
Lynch flushes and Talia huffs as they both get out.
“Whatever. You can be extra all over that reception, but I get the bachelorette party,” Talia says and looks pointedly at me.
“Of course, you do,” I tell her.
“Who’s havin’ a bachelorette party?” Anna walks up, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my tired face as I hold up my ring.
Anna’s eyes widen. “Holy mother of pearl,” she breathes, looking from it to Kash and back to me. “You’re gettin’ married!”
She squeals and grabs me in a hug that leaves us both breathless.
“Don’t you even think about lettin’ someone else cater. Oh Lordy, we have so much to plan,” Anna says, eyes sparkling with the prospect. “Cakes and truffles and appetizers and–”
“Sorry to interrupt y’all, but Xan asked me to find you.” His deep southern drawl has Anna’s eyes widening.
We all turn to look at the stranger. One of the huntsmen Xan brought. A wavy-haired, brown-eyed, handsome stranger at that. He’s glancing at us all, but his eyes linger on Anna’s until Kash prompts him.
“Everything okay?” Kash asks.
“Huh? Oh, yeah.” The hunter’s face flushes, and he forces his attention to Kash. “One of the outer alarms we set just got tripped.”
We all stiffen. The smile drops from my face. Anna’s hand in mine tightens.
“How far out?” I ask.
“About three miles,” he says.
“How many vehicles?” Lynch asks.
“None.” The hunter’s mouth tightens. “They’re all on foot. Four feet to be exact. And there’s at least sixty of them, but Xan suspects there may be more that are being cloaked by magic.”
“That’s more than his entire frat house,” Lynch grumbles.
“Shit,” Talia says, and Anna pales.
I remember Kash’s warning about underestimating their numbers.
“How long until they get here?” Kash asks.
“Well, it’s the darndest thing. Xan’s radar shows them at a standstill, so he had Birdie double-check with her magic. But they aren’t movin’.”
Lynch frowns.
“They’re waiting for nightfall,” I say, and Kash nods.
“Okay, so we know when. And we know where.” Talia squares her shoulders. “Now we just need to know exactly how many.”
“Birdie and Xan are workin’ on it,” the huntsman says.
When he turns to leave, I stop him, still fully aware of his attention aimed at Anna. By now, she’s aware of it too, and her face blushes prettily as she looks shyly back at him.
“Hey, what’s your name?” I ask when it’s clear neither of them is going to make a move.
“Beau, ma’am.” He offers his hand, and I shake it.
“Nice to meet you, Beau. I’m Romy. This is my friend Anna. She’s the one responsible for the coffee cake we passed around earlier.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet y’all. The coffee cake was delicious.” Beau takes Anna’s hand, but instead of shaking it, he lifts it to his lips and brushes a kiss across her knuckles.
Anna’s free hand flutters to her heart. “Oh. Well, I never… It’s nice to meet you too.”
He lingers a second longer and then reluctantly drops her hand. “I’ll let y’all know when we have an update,” he says to Kash and me; and then to Anna, “Stay safe.”
She smiles at him, lashes fluttering, and he walks off, headed for where Xan and Birdie are huddled together talking.
Lynch clears his throat. “Well, that was . . .”
“Hot,” Talia finishes for him. She looks at Anna. “Damn, a hot huntsman and a southern gentleman to boot. If that isn’t the perfect recipe for disappearing Anna-Banana’s panties, I don’t know what is.”
“Talia, you’re terrible,” Anna scolds, but she flushes, and Talia and I share a knowing look.
The moment ends too soon though as Beau’s words sink in.
“We need to get moving,” I say.<
br />
Lynch holds up the bag of crystals we got for Birdie.
“I’ll deliver these,” he says. “Maybe it’ll give Birdie the boost she needs to get an accurate headcount.”
“I’ll go with,” Talia says. “You okay here?” She eyes Anna and then me, and we nod.
“I’ll catch up with you,” I tell her.
When they’re gone, Kash and I turn back to Anna. “So, how’d it go with the council?”
“Hard to say,” Anna says, assessing me shrewdly. “Come on, I’ll tell y’all all about it while you eat. You both look half-starved and exhausted, and the fight hasn’t even begun.”
Kash and I follow her, my stomach growling too loudly to protest.
Inside, Anna goes to work pouring coffee and re-heating a breakfast casserole. From the looks of it, she’s been back long enough to restock our reserves. Baking dishes and chopped veggie remains are scattered across the counter.
My stomach growls again as Anna slides a plate in front of me.
“I could kiss you right now,” I tell her, grabbing the fork.
“Save your kisses for your fiancé,” she tells me, and Kash smirks.
My belly gives a jump at the word. Fiancé. Crazy.
I glance down at my ring and then up at Kash. He winks knowingly, and I shake my head before shoveling in a giant scoop of eggs, potatoes, and baked peppers.
“Ohmygod, Anna. This is the best thing I’ve had in my mouth since--”
I break off, and Kash laughs.
Anna turns bright red.
“I was going to say since Anna’s macaroons,” I protest.
“Sure you were, Pepper,” Kash grins around a mouthful of food.
“Okay, no more foodgasms until we hear what happened,” I say, pointing my fork at Anna. “Spill.”
“Well, I don’t have much in the way of answers. What I can tell you is that Lina Montgomery is a force to be reckoned with. She stormed in there all hellfire and damnation and gave those council leaders a what-for that would make a southern preacher proud.”
The look in her eyes suggests the council members weren’t too happy about it either.
The Girl Who Cried War Page 14