Chapter Nine

Emmaleigh

I can’t remember a single moment in my life where I have ever been this happy. My wolf has finally resurfaced and my fated mate has laid his claim on me. Lying with my head on Nico’s chest, I listen to the steady thump-thump of his heart. The night sounds of the forest around us coming alive filter through and a satisfied, happy sigh falls from my lips.

We haven’t returned to the compound or even gotten dressed, preferring to stay in the forest, enveloped by nature. Peace and calm flow through me and I hope this moment lasts forever.

“We need to talk,” Nico says softly, shattering the silence.

I don’t like the sound of this. “About?” I ask, not moving from my spot. Does he regret what we did? We are a mated couple now but he could still refuse me and end our newly forged bond.

“The men that held you captive.”

“Can we rather not and act like we did?” I mumble, sulking. “I really don’t want to relive that time. And you’re kind of ruining the moment.”

Sitting upright, Nico sits against the base of a tree, drawing my naked form between his spread thighs. He places a kiss on my mating mark before kissing my neck.

“I know you don’t but I don’t want any secrets between us,” he says against my skin. “And I didn’t mean to spoil your night but this is necessary.”

“Nico…”

“You don’t have to tell me anything about your time there or what happened to you, but I have things I need to tell you.”

“I’m confused.” What he can he have to tell me? None of this is making any sense.

“We are holding one of the men from the Hunters’ compound captive. We’re hoping to extract information from him,” he confesses.

“What?” I shout jumping up. “Are you insane? His people will come for him!”

I don’t wait to hear an explanation from him. I walk away, heading toward where I left my dress. I need to make my way to the pack compound so I can grab Rose and Thomas and haul ass out of here. I won’t end up in that hellhole again.

“Emmaleigh, just wait and let me explain,” he says behind me.

“There is nothing to explain,” I say while slipping the dress over my head. “You purposefully kept this from me until we were mated. You lied by omission, knowing I wouldn’t want to stay anywhere the Hunters could possibly attack.”

“Em, just listen to me,” Nico tries again but I don’t want to hear anything he has to say.

“No, Nico. You have two options now. You can come with me when I leave, and I am leaving,” I say angrily. “Or, you can stay with your pack and know that the mate you claimed is out there in the world somewhere, without you.”

“Fucking hell!” Nico grabs me just as I make it to the compound gate. “Will you give me a chance to get a word in edgewise?”

I glare at him but remain silent, giving him the chance he wants, not that my irrational anger thinks he deserves it.

“There isn’t any chance of the Hunters coming here,” he says. “Being in the Katu pack compound is the safest place for you, Rose, and Thomas.”

“How the hell can you say that?” I ask, throwing my hands into the air. “Do you really believe there won’t be any repercussions for what you did?”

“Oh, I am betting that somewhere, someone’s head wants to explode in pure blinding rage, that there will be hell to pay when they catch whoever brought down that Hunters’ compound. But we’ll be ready.”

“You seem so sure of yourself,” I hiss. “You don’t know the Hunters, what they are capable of.”

“I do,” a woman’s voice says behind me.

Spinning around, I face the woman. Short and curvy with black hair and grey eyes.

“Were you also saved from the Hunters?” I ask, not knowing who she is.

“In a manner of speaking,” she replies with a sad smile. “My name is Iris. My father leads the Hunters.”

My gaze turns sharp as I take her in. It only takes me a moment to see what I need.

“You’re related to Man Number One,” I say.

“What?” she asks softly.

“There were four men on rotation in the compound. You have the same eyes as Man Number One and you smell faintly like him.”

“Do you know the man’s name?” Nico asks beside me.

“No. I call him Number One because he was the first one I met.”

Iris wipes away a tear from her cheek. “He was my brother. My father would never stoop so low and actually get his hands dirty. He’s dead now.”

I want to feel sad for her, for the loss of her sibling. But he was a Hunter, one of many, and they wiped out my entire pack. I don’t have an ounce of sympathy for any of them.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“He’s been dead for over a year,” she replies.

“No, he hasn’t. He was in my cell the morning I was rescued.” All the color drains out of her face at my words.

****

Nico

What an epic clusterfuck this is turning into. Sitting in Caine’s house I stare at my mate while she fastidiously looks anywhere but at me. How the hell did I fuck this up so badly? I should have told her everything before I claimed her. She is right to be angry, and now the twins are glaring at me as well because Iris is crying.

“I didn’t know,” Iris sobs into Sayer’s chest. Her whole world just imploded for the second time in the last six months.

My heart goes out to her. Learning that everything you’ve known to be true is a lie can’t be easy by any means. Having it happen twice must be devastating.

Emmaleigh gazes at Iris, confusion painted across her features. There is so much she doesn’t know, things I never got the chance to explain, and now she is in the thick of it all.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” she says, talking to Caine while ignoring the rest of us. “But why is the heir to the Hunter faction currently in your kitchen?”

Caine rubs at his brow. “Iris is mated to Sayer and Raleigh. She’s been here for a few months, helping us fight the Hunters. She gave us the information we needed to rescue you and your friends.”

Emmaleigh raises a brow before turning back to Iris.

“Why would you turn against your own kind? Against your family?” She asks the questions calmly, trying to understand the logic behind these decisions. She is also looking for any sign of deception.

Raleigh steps in front of his mate, his hulking mass towering over Emmaleigh, ready to protect her. I don’t even know I’m standing before she turn her glare on me.

“Sit down, Nico,” she orders harshly, her glare fixed on Raleigh. “Do you think I’m afraid of you, boy?” Emmaleigh stands, leaning into his space, baring her teeth at him. ”I’ve survived things you couldn’t possibly imagine. Sit your ass the fuck down and let your mate speak.”

A hush falls over everyone and I hold my breath waiting to see what the former Shikari member will do. He is deadly and has a short temper to boot. Packmate or not, if he hurts her in any way, I will rip him limb from limb.

Iris laughs loudly. “I like her.”

Raleigh gives Emmaleigh a crooked smile before returning to his seat beside his mate.

“My entire life, I was raised to hate shifters,” Iris explains, her hands gripping a cup of coffee. “My father told me that shifters were dangerous man-eaters and that they killed my brother. He used my naivety against me.” She shakes her head sadly. “But now I know better. Everyone here has opened my eyes to the truth.”

“So you switched sides?” Emmaleigh asks.

“I found my family. I found the truth,” Iris replies. “I am helping to take the Hunters down from the inside while I keep my father chasing his own tail.”

Emmaleigh nods but I can see she isn’t completely convinced. “Which of the men do you have here? What does he look like?”

“He’s blonde,” I reply. “When I found you, he was choking the life out of you.”

“Number Two.”

“The second man you met,” I murmur.

“I know how to get the information,” Emmaleigh says. “You need to take me to him.”

“No!” I yell out. My chair falls on the ground with the speed I stand up. “I won’t allow it.”

Slowly, Emmaleigh pushes her chair back, stands, and walks right up to me. She stares up at me with anger I have never seen from her.

“You may be my mate, Nico,” she says in a deathly calm. “But let’s get something straight. You will never, and I mean never, control me. Don’t you think you already have enough problems?”

I stare at her in disbelief. This tiny woman, who was so withdrawn, now has my balls in a vice. Her confidence is growing by the minute, and I know it’s because her wolf has returned. I’m proud of her while fearing for her safety at the same time. I only want what’s best for her but she is going to follow her own path no matter what I say. I can either stand beside her or she will leave me behind.

“Em, please don’t do this,” I implore, trying one last time.

“You can either be by my side when I do, or you can sit here and wait for me.”