Chapter 46

46

SKYE

T he bump of the wheels touching down woke me up. My eyes blinked open sleepily and I found that I wasn’t in the seat I had started off in, but now in Remy’s lap with his arms serving as my seatbelt. Truthfully, his arms had less give than the federally approved belts did.

“Hey.” His warm voice rumbled out of him, creating a sweet vibration that echoed into me.

I snuggled deeper into his chest, my hands tucked under my chin.

“What time is it?” I murmured back. It was dark outside the windows and the cabin lights were still turned down low. We hadn’t left Long Mesa for hours after my little break down at the omega house.

Mom had finished separating the pack. Remy used his Alpha Command to compel them all to change. Lulu’s magic swept over them, the act silent and invisible. I hadn’t even realized she had used her magic until her legs gave out and she went down.

Dimitri had been waiting to catch her, and I heard him start cursing as a small dribble of blood seeped from her nose. She tried telling him, and all of us, that she was okay, but it was obvious the more magic she used, the more it wore on her body.

The now shifterless wolves ran out of town with one snarl from Remy. Quite a few people opted to stay in Long Mesa or go to family in nearby towns whose packs had joined Blackwater. Bria and a few others returned with us. Remy left half the men we’d brought to stay in Long Mesa just in case, and the next plane of people from Europe were being diverted to shore up the south west portion of our growing pack.

But now that Long Mesa had fallen, Blackwater controlled the western coast from California to the Arctic and as far inland as Texas. Norwood had more people still, but our numbers were steadily climbing.

I felt kind of shitty for taking a backseat for the rest of the trip. My mind was still trying to process everything that had happened.

Cassian, Allan, Marc, and Linden were all now officially a brutally distant memory. In a lot of ways, I was freer than I had ever been. But the threat of Norwood wasn’t going away. It was growing closer.

“It’s a little after midnight,” Remy told me, nuzzling the crown of my head. “How’d you sleep?”

“Good,” I admitted, still completely limp against him. For all his hard muscles, he made an excellent pillow. “Did you sleep?”

“A little,” he said, but the shadowing around his jaw and the tired look in his eyes made me think that little was basically nonexistent.

“Sorry for kind of shutting down back there,” I said, easing one hand from where I had bent it awkwardly between us. I flattened it on the hard plane of his chest. “I didn’t think it would hit me that hard.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” he replied, his brow furrowing. “Your Mom told me what that place was. The house, I mean. After you fell asleep.”

“Where is she?” I asked, lifting my head to look around. Remy had tucked us into the back corner of the airplane away from everyone, and from this angle, I couldn’t see over the seats.

“She’s here.”

I glanced across the aisle, my eyes focusing and then widening when I saw Nikolai sitting there with Mom curled against his side. His arm was wrapped around her, and she looked more peaceful than I’d seen in years as she slept soundly. Even the jolt of the plane touching down hadn’t woken her up.

I blinked slowly, almost expecting them to vanish like a mirage.

“Is she okay?” I finally asked.

Nikolai glanced down at her, his expression infinitely gentle in a way I had never seen. “She will be. I think the day was as exacting on her as it was on you. I was glad for you both to be rid of the place.”

Nikolai glared briefly at Remy, who snorted.

“Your dad thought we should just burn the whole place to the ground,” Remy explained.

“It made the most sense,” he insisted.

I smiled. “The place wasn’t the problem. The people were. And now those people are gone.”

“Too quickly,” Nikolai added bitterly. “I thought it would have been fun to round them up and take them to Russia. My guards could use the target practice.”

My jaw dropped a little. “Um. That sounds like a lot.”

“And I told him their punishment was enough,” Remy cut in firmly.

Nikolai’s gray eyes slid to me, but I could see the teasing glint. “I’m worried your mate may be a slightly too merciful, little wolf.”

I glanced up at Remy with a grin, my finger dragging along the slope of his jaw. Everything in me went liquid and warm as his soft gaze met mine. “I think he’s perfect.”

I could hear Nikolai start to chuckle as Remy dipped his head and kissed me gently, his lips barely tasting mine. The lights turned on as I started to open my eyes.

“Ouch,” I muttered, blinking rapidly against the sharp sting of the fluorescents. “Bright lights.”

Remy’s nose nudged my forehead as his arms tightened. “House or cabin? Your choice.”

“House,” I said immediately, needing the feeling of my pack around me. People started to get up and move around.

“Maybe Mom should crash with us tonight,” I added, looking at where she was still sleeping.

“I’ll take her home,” Nikolai said quietly, sweeping back a lock of blonde hair from her forehead. “Don’t worry.”

“Okay,” I sighed. After a second, my nose wrinkled and I looked up at Remy. “Actually, is just staying here an option? I’m comfortable. You make a good bed.” I yawned at the end of the sentence and cuddled against him more.

He snorted lightly. “Lucky for you, your bed is portable.”

“Huh?”

I squeaked as Remy stood up, still cradling me in his arms. He started walking down the aisle, and I caught the grins from my friends as we walked by.

I lightly slapped at his shoulder, embarrassed. “Put me down. I can walk.”

“I like carrying you,” he said simply, stepping through the open side door and slowly going down the stairs.

“Being carried around doesn’t exactly scream, ‘badass Alpha female,’” I pointed out.

“No,” he agreed, grinning, “but it does scream princess .”

I groaned, letting my eyes fall shut as I buried my head against his chest. “I’m the farthest thing from a princess.”

He laughed as he walked towards the waiting car. “On that, we can agree.”

Someone opened the passenger door and he settled me into the seat, stepping back and staring at me with unflinching intensity. “You are no princess, Skye Markham.” He leaned into the car and kissed my forehead. “You are my queen.”

I hid a smile as he closed the door and headed for the driver’s side. The butterflies in my stomach were still rioting as he climbed inside and started the car.

Clearly I wasn’t the only sleepy one I realized as we waited for our friends to appear so we could drive home together.

Rhodes stopped halfway to the car to carry Larkin the rest of the way when her tired feet stumbled. Ryder was propped up between Tate and Dante, his head lolling sleepily on the latter’s shoulder. Katy was the only one who seemed remotely awake, but even she looked tired.

Tate got into the backseat, awkwardly catching Ryder as Dante passed him to her before climbing into the back bench with them. Rhodes wound up in the middle seat between Katy and Larkin, who each promptly turned his shoulders into pillows.

Yeah. We were all drained.

“Wait,” I said, dropping my hand on Remy’s arm as he started to turn the steering wheel.

I lowered the window and leaned out, watching worriedly as Dimitri carried an unconscious Lulu towards a different car.

“Is she okay?” I called, my throat sort of scratchy from all the crying earlier.

Dimitri gave me a tense nod. “She will be. She’s going to need to rest for a few days.”

I bit my lip, wondering if this was my fault. It had been my idea.

“Skye, don’t,” Dimitri said, shaking his head. “She would’ve done it with or without you. It’s who she is.”

I exhaled, still not happy with it. “But she’ll be okay?”

He nodded as Alexei came up on his other side.

Alexei nodded to me with a smile. “ Printsessa .”

“Queen,” Remy muttered under his breath.

My lips curved into a grin as my fingers twined around his. “We’ll regroup tomorrow and figure out our next move. If you need anything—”

“—we’ll call,” Dimitri promised. “See you tomorrow.”

I rolled up the window and looked over at Remy. “Take me home, please.”

With a wink, Remy turned the wheel and drove us back towards the Alpha house. At some point I drifted off again to the quiet sounds of Remy, Rhodes, and Dante talking. Occasionally Katy would add in something, her dulcet tone blending into a hypnotic cocktail with their deeper tones until I was sliding in and out of sleep.

I missed our arrival back home, only waking up when the passenger door was opened and the cool night air snuck in to caress my body.

“I’m up,” I mumbled, starting to kick my feet out.

Remy laughed and picked me up again like my weight was nothing for him to bear. His breath ruffled my hair as he situated me in his arms. “Whatever you say, baby.”

“I can walk,” I added, even as I found the perfect spot to lay my head on his shoulder.

“I can see that,” he agreed, walking up the front steps.

I could hear Rhodes laughing behind us as the front door opened.

“Is she okay?” Sam or Dax whispered.

“Tired,” Remy answered.

“I can talk.” Except that sounded kind of slurred.

The twins laughed. “Need anything?”

“No, we’re good,” Remy told them. His voice raised slightly to address everyone. “We’ll meet down here after we’ve all slept to discuss our next steps.”

“Actually, Michael asked if you could call him when you got in. He needed to talk to you.” That sounded like Sam. Or Dax.

Crap, I was tired.

“Shit, my phone died on the plane,” Remy cursed. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. It sounded like good news.” Okay, that was totally Dax.

“That’d be nice for a change,” Remy muttered. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

I managed to waggle my fingers as he carried us upstairs and into his room, kicking the door shut before he deposited me on the bed.

I looked around as he turned on the light in the bathroom, casting a dim glow over the room. “I don’t have any clothes here.”

The corner of his mouth hooked up as he went to the dresser and pulled out a t-shirt. He tossed it onto the bed next to me.

I picked it up and practically smashed my face into it, inhaling deeply. “You smell good.”

His half-smile turned into a full-blown grin. “You smell good, too.”

I picked at the edge of my shirt with a sniff. “I smell like dirt and dust. I smell like Long Mesa.”

He came back to stand in front of me. I had to drop my head back to look up into his eyes.

“You smell like you,” he said gently, tapping the tip of my nose.

I scrunched it in response. “I need a shower.”

“Are you sure you can stand upright long enough to shower?” He laughed even as he pulled me to my feet.

“Ha ha,” I deadpanned, walking away from him. I was dead on my feet, but I was craving more than sleep as I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it into the corner. I glanced back over my bare shoulder, hiding a smile when I saw his gaze narrow.

“You’re probably right. Maybe you should join me. You know. For safety reasons.”

The glint in his eye was undeniable. “I probably should. Wouldn’t want you to slip or something.”

I reached behind my back and unhooked my bra. “Absolutely not. Apparently, I’m royalty.”

His head fell back with a groan, his throat working as he laughed. “Yeah. Apparently you are.”

“Call Michael,” I said, “then come join me.” It took me longer to shower anyways with as long as my hair was.

“Deal,” he agreed, moving to plug in his cell phone so he could call his dad’s beta.

I finished stripping, not bothering to shut the door. I heard Remy’s voice as I turned on the shower and stepped into the warm spray, letting the water rain down and wash the day away. I glanced down, watching the water swirl through the drain. It was clear, but I could feel the past shedding and washing away.

I’d finished with my hair when Remy joined me, his hands sliding around my hips and pulling me back.

I grinned, grinding my ass back into his erection as his mouth kissed the side of my neck up to my jaw.

“Was it good news?” I asked, my breath catching on the sharp spike of pleasure that rocketed through me when his thumb brushed across my nipple.

“Yeah,” he answered, moving to the other side of my throat. His hips thrust lightly against me making his intent clear.

“And?”

“Word’s gotten out about the bonding wave,” he said, the hand not teasing my breast slipping between my thighs. He slowly pumped a finger into me.

I squeezed my eyes shut against the onslaught of sensations as I clenched around his finger. It wasn’t enough.

Reading my mind, he eased a second finger into me, taking the time to grind the heel of his hand against my clit.

I groaned and slapped a hand against the wall in an attempt to keep my balance.

“More packs want to join us.” He nibbled around the claiming mark, as he tucked a third finger into my body, stretching me until I whimpered. My hips rocked against his, silently begging for more.

“That’s—” I gasped sharply, arching as he pinched my nipple. “That’s great.”

“It is,” he agreed, his low voice practically purring as he played my body to perfection.

The orgasm crashed over me slowly, like a rising tide that dragged me out to sea. I moaned, the sound echoing off the tile of the shower.

Remy spun me around, lifting me so my back was pressed against the tiles as he drove into me in a single thrust. My soft moans turned into a guttural cry as he pressed me against the wall, finding a steady pace that lit up all the right places.

A second later his mouth crashed against mine, his tongue thrusting in rhythm with his dick as he worked me up again. The next wave was higher and the crash harder as I fell apart again, clenching around him until he came with a satisfied grunt.

He slowly slipped from my body, the slide of him against me sending ripples of aftershocks through my system. I was barely aware of my feet touching the floor, and Remy only let me go when he knew I was steady-ish.

Quietly, he finished washing my body, being infinitely gentle. Even through my exhaustion, I felt my body react to his touch as he cleaned me up. It took him less than two minutes to wash his hair and body and then pull us out of the shower in a cloud of steam.

Wrapped in a fluffy towel, he perched me on the edge of the counter and dried himself off. I leaned back against the mirror, enjoying the show. He had a body that would make a sculptor drool. His muscles flexed and moved as he ran the towel over his body, finally knotting it low on his hips.

To hell with the sculptor; I was the one drooling.

He grabbed another towel and started working it through my hair. By the time he started running a comb through my tangled strands, I was well on my way to the land of dreams.

I loved showering with him.

“Me, too,” he said with a grin, pecking my lips quickly.

I laughed. “I don’t think I meant to say that out loud.”

He braced his hands on either side of my legs on the counter so we were eye level. “So, you didn’t mean to tell me that a sculptor would love to use me as a model?”

I groaned and covered my eyes. “Clearly my brain and mouth have communication issues when I’m tired.”

He grabbed the shirt next to me and worked it over my head. “Then I guess we better get you to bed.”

I watched him for a moment. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?”

“Not in the last hour,” he admitted, pressing his lips together. He pushed off the counter and grabbed a pair of shorts.

“I’m slacking.”

“You’ve had a long day,” he answered with a chuckle, but his expression sobered quickly after. “How are you dealing with all of this?”

“I’m good,” I said slowly, meaning it. “It was a rough day, but we got through it. And I guess I can finally stop looking over my shoulder.”

“Good. I’m glad. All I want is you to be safe.” He tossed our dirty towels into the hamper.

“All I want is us safe,” I corrected. “You, me, and our people. I think when this is all over, we should do what Katy suggested. Let’s plan on building our own house and more space for the pack. I want our family around us.”

“Yeah?” He helped me slide off the counter, but kept me trapped between it and his body.

I sniffed, inhaling his scent like a junkie looking for a fix. “Yeah. Seeing Bria today... I felt her baby kick. And I want that.”

His brows shot up.

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Not now . But one day. I like planning for a future with you in it. I want... kids and for our kids to be surrounded by people they love. I want all of that. But I only want that with you.”

Remy rested his forehead against mine and exhaled. “We’ll have that future, babe.”

“I know,” I answered. “But today feels like the first day I can actually believe that, you know?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I get that.”

I sighed dramatically, waving my hand with a flourish. “Now take me to bed.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Whatever my queen wants.”