Chapter 61

Sam

Austin Thornehill wasted no time, and immediately following dinner, he and Dad went out to chat with Jordan. I was invited, and while part of me wanted to go, my body was still recovering from the attack I'd led two days ago, and I was still reveling in the fact that Meg and I would be together. Forever—as long as that was.

With a promise that Dad would give me and Meg details later, he sent us on back to the cabin with a wink.

"Go enjoy yourmate," he'd said. And I planned to.

Megan and I both flopped down onto the bed once we reached the cabin. I grabbed her hand as we lay there, tired, happy, and content just to revel in her presence.

"What do you think Victor is planning?" Megan asked as we stared at the ceiling.

"I think he may be the one that Austin heard rumors about. I think he's probably after power. And a lot of it."

"Shelby?"

"Crazy."

She snorted. "Obviously." She rolled to face me. "I'm glad I'm here, and not her."

"Me, too. You're definitely better looking. And I'm certain you're a better cook," I teased. She smiled.

"What would you think if Rachel and I started a business together? Like a bakery-upon-request type thing we'd operate out of the kitchen?"

"I think we might want to consider making the kitchen bigger," I replied.

"We could make do." She squeezed my fingers.

"No, I'm serious. We could expand the kitchen. I think we ought to add an actual bedroom on, too. I mean, we're married. We're going to be living here together." I grinned at the thought. "I'd like to spend a significant amount of time with you. In our bedroom."

She laughed. "Are you being serious? About adding on to the cabin?"

"Yeah. Steve Rivers has his own construction company. I've got plenty in YouTube ad money stashed away for that."

"Let's do it."

"Let's do it. You and Rachel can hash out plans for your bake-on-demand business."

Her smile stretched all the way across her face. "Sam, I love you."

"I love you," I whispered back as the glow in my chest spread throughout the rest of me. The glow spread to her as our lips touched, igniting a fire that soon consumed us together.

****

Early the next morning my phone beeped. I scrubbed a hand across my face and glanced at the text. Megan stirred beside me.

"What is it?" she asked groggily.

"Dad and Austin are going to help Jordan initiate a break with Atwood. I think I should be there for this."

"Okay. I'll come, too." I kissed her on the forehead, and we threw on clothes and headed back down to Mom and Dad's house.

We got there right as gray dawn light was being pushed aside with the pink and yellow fingers of the sun.

A scream ripped through the air as we shut the car doors. Anxiety kicked through my veins, and Megan grabbed my hand as we hurried to the door.

Jordan was slumped on the carpet of the living room floor with Dad and Austin hovering on either side, and Mom standing in the back of the room. Jordan gripped his head, sobbing unabashedly. He groaned and leaned over so that his head rested on the floor. His back heaved with his erratic panting.

"Is he okay?" Megan asked cautiously as we stood inside the doorway, afraid to move farther into the room.

"It's done. He's Rogue," Austin answered.

"He's officially gone from Victor's pack," I explained quietly. Megan's lips thinned.

Jordan groaned as he tried to sit up. "He'll come, and he'll bring everything he has." Jordan gripped his head. Dad gripped his shoulder. I gripped Megan's hand.

War was coming to Rock Falls.