21. Danny

Chapter 21

Danny

" W hat happens now?"

We were still curled up on the bed. I didn't know what was running through his mind, but he felt calmer. More resolute.

About what, I had no idea. I hoped it was about me. That he was taking me at my word and believing what I told him.

Knowing Riley, that was doubtful. He was the kind of person who had to see action before he'd take something seriously. Talk meant little. Not after what he'd been through as a child.

No, Riley needed to see how serious I was. That'd take time though.

Fortunately, that was one thing we had plenty of.

Either way, it was better than the uncertainty that had been dogging him. I'd take this, even if it meant more hassle for me down the road.

I realised belatedly that I hadn't answered his question. "In what way?"

"Like, are we leaving for Scotland now, or do we have a few days? Or is it something we can put off until they find out?"

If only. "As much as I'd love to see how long we could eke out our normal life here, it's too risky. All it'd take would be for word to reach them, and we'd have two different factions attacking us. First, the ones who want my power for themselves, and second, those who'd kill me for breaking my word."

"Fun times."

"Exactly." I grimaced. "Besides, I don't break my word. You know that. I promised I'd return once I'd taken a mate, so that's what I'll do."

Guilt once again danced through the bond. "I'm sorry."

I growled, slipping my hand under his T-shirt to rest on his stomach. "Stop apologising, Ry. I told you, there's nothing to be sorry for. I don't regret saving you, even if it means going back there."

He put his hand on top of mine, the heat piercing my skin even through the cotton. "Will you tell me everything? Before we get there?"

I flinched, knowing exactly what he was referring to. "Everything?"

"I don't want to push," he whispered, his brown eyes sad as they searched mine. "But I assume they all know what happened?"

I nodded mutely.

"I thought so." He rubbed his hand over mine in comfort. "I know it's hard for you, but I don't want to walk into this situation unprepared."

"I can understand that," I rasped, my throat painfully dry. "It's not that I don't want you to know. It's just that talking about it's…"

"Painful," Riley finished. "I know. And I'm sorry. I really wouldn't have asked if this wasn't happening. But if there truly are people there who want to hurt you, I don't want me being in the dark to be used as a weapon."

"You're right," I said. I shouldn't kiss him, I knew that, but my wolf needed this comfort. I needed it. I pressed my lips against his forehead, letting the taste and feel of him ground me.

Riley didn't protest. He didn't move. He didn't acknowledge it. Why would he? I'd kissed him on the forehead hundreds of times before.

The difference now was that we both knew it meant more. That I wanted more.

But Riley didn't. At least, his brain didn't. His body was on board. At the touch of my lips, his heartbeat had quickened. His breath had hitched. Lust had fired down the bond.

And, as I pulled away, his pupils were completely blown.

"I'm not saying no," I said, not commenting on it. "But can I take a couple of days? What we've been through…it's been a lot. I kind of need to recover from that before ripping open old wounds."

"Of course," Riley said, grabbing my hand tighter. "Take as long as you need, Danny. We move at your pace."

I smiled. Funny how the tables had turned. "As for how long we've got, probably a few days. I need to make a call to find out exactly."

"A call? To who?"

"My beta." I cringed, the word feeling foreign in my mouth. "Finlay. He's been leading the clan in my absence…I'll need to warn him about my return."

"Are you close?"

"We were. We were as close as brothers before I left."

"Why'd you drift apart? Was it just the distance? Or does he hold you leaving against him?"

"Neither," I said. "At least, I hope he doesn't hold it against me. He was always more of a leader than me, even before everything happened. He should've been born the alpha, not me."

"So why'd you stop talking?"

"It was part of my agreement with the council elders. I had to cut all ties." I rubbed at my chest, remembering how much it had hurt to break contact with them. To not know how Finlay felt about becoming clan leader. If Calan, his brother, had stepped up to support him. If Logan, another beta I'd been close to, missed me as much as I missed them.

Riley frowned. "Hang on, didn't you go back there after Matty was taken? Didn't you see him then?"

"No, he was abroad at the time, dealing with an unruly shifter clan in Sicily." All of my betas had been. The one bright spot I'd hoped for in visiting, and it had been snuffed out almost immediately. "It was probably a good thing he was, considering the welcome I was given."

The taunts and threats were still fresh in my mind. Despite the wolves I'd put down, it had been evident there were many more praying for my demise.

I pushed it away. If I thought too much about the fact that I was taking Riley there, I might lose it. "That's why I need to speak to Finlay first. I won't return if he's not there, just in case there's trouble on my arrival."

"And you're certain he'll have your back?" Suspicion was rife, both in Riley's voice and in the bond. "You said he should've been alpha, and he's been leading since you left. How do you know he won't be part of the faction who wants you dead?"

Riley's concerns were valid, and if he'd been speaking about anyone else, I might have agreed with him. "Finn's…loyal. Perhaps the most loyal person I've ever met, supe or not."

Riley pursed his lips. "He might've changed. You've been gone a long time."

"You'll understand when you meet him," I said. "I think it's difficult to explain, but once you know Finlay, you'll understand we don't have anything to fear. Not from him, at least."

"Hmph. We'll see."

Riley would see I was right in the end. For now, it was best just to move on. "Is there anything you want to do before we leave? We'll need to box up whatever stuff we're taking, obviously, and get it shipped, but is there anything else?"

"I want to visit Mum," he said before frowning. "She doesn't know about the accident, right?"

"She doesn't," I confirmed. "I thought it best to leave the decision about whether to tell her up to you. If there'd been any doubt about whether you'd survive, then obviously I would've spoken to her."

"Good." Riley exhaled. "I wouldn't want her worrying."

Privately, I thought Joanna had earned a bit of worrying, given the shit she'd put her son through during his childhood. It was evident that she did love and care for Riley though, even if she'd put her love life above him.

"Let me call Finn and then we can head over there. You'll have to come up with a reason for why you're leaving."

"I'll come up with something," Riley looked at the phone that was now in my hand. "How'd you get Finlay's number if you haven't spoken to him in a century?"

"How d'you think?"

Riley thought about it for barely a second. "Ah, Sebastian. You must be racking up quite the debt with him given the favours he's done you recently."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, scrolling through until I found the right number. "It's a good thing Matty loves both of us and that Sebastian does anything he wants."

Riley laughed. "Sebastian sure is whipped. It's hilarious, really. Did you know Matty's convinced him to take him to Disneyland? And not Paris either; the Californian one. He's got them matching shirts and everything."

"I'd pay good money to see that."

Winking at Riley, I hit call and put the phone to my ear. It wouldn't be long before Riley clocked that I was just as whipped as Sebastian.

That was going to be fun.

The call was answered. "Hello?"

Fuck. It had been over a hundred years since I'd heard his voice. Suddenly I was assaulted with countless memories. Tussling with Finlay as pups. Training in the rain. Hunting in the woods that surrounded our home. Him at my side as I took my oath as alpha.

Then again at the altar as I married Sarah.

He'd been away when she and Maria had been murdered. By the time he'd returned, I was several continents away.

A long-suffering sigh sounded. "Listen, if this is another spam call, I'm going to personally track you down and tie you to a tree."

A chuckle slipped free. "Is that what passes for a threat these days? Gotta say, Finn, I'm disappointed."

Now the silence was on his end of the line.

"Finn? You still there?"

"Danny?" His voice wavered. "Shit, man. Is it really you?"

God, it was so weird to be talking to him. Riley nuzzled into my side, probably in response to the storm rushing through me. "Last I checked."

There was a shuffling noise followed by the sound of a closing door. "You can't be calling me, Danny. You know that."

I looped an arm around Riley. "I can now."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "You've taken a mate?"

"I have." I smiled down at him as I spoke. "His name's Riley. I can't wait for you to meet him."

"Oh my god." Finlay sounded dazed. "I never thought you'd do it."

"Me either."

"He must be pretty special."

I stroked Riley's side. "He is."

"Fuck, Danny, this really isn't what I was expecting. I mean, congratulations and everything but…"

"But it's a lot, I know." I closed my eyes. "Are you going to be okay with me coming back?"

"Well I won't lie, things are tense with the clan at the moment. As you know, there's quite a few shifters who'll be looking for any opportunity to catch you off guard. We'll have to assign some wolves to guard your Riley too?—"

I cut him off. "No, Finn, that's not what I meant. Fuck everyone else for a minute. Are you going to be okay with me coming back?"

An undercurrent of confusion wound through his words. "Why wouldn't I be? Sure, it'll be a readjustment, but I'll have you back. That's got to be worth it."

I relaxed. Thank fuck Finlay hadn't undergone a personality transplant while I'd been gone. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I swear, I'm not trying to step on your toes or anything like that. You know leading the clan isn't something I actually want to do."

"I know. But you'll have me. Between us it'll be a piece of cake. Assuming we can keep you and Riley alive, of course."

"You just let me worry about that," I said darkly. "If any of those fuckers even look sideways at Riley they'll find themselves minus their large intestines."

"You're right, I do need to work on my threats." Finlay laughed before the sound trailed off. "I'm sorry about…them. Your family. I mourned them for a very long time."

I swallowed, my vision blurring. "Me too."

As well as being best man at our wedding, Finlay had also been Maria's godfather. He'd doted on her as though she was his own. I'd never minded it; I'd been happy that she was growing up surrounded by so much love.

I'd just never expected there to be so much hate hiding in amongst that.

Riley shifted suddenly, swinging his leg over my lap. He straddled me before flattening himself against my chest. Tucking his face into my neck, he held me tight.

I breathed him in a few times, letting my pulse settle. My vision cleared and I was able to speak again. "Anyway, I was mainly calling to see if you're in the clan lands right now. We don't want to hang out here for too long in case word makes its way back and the fuckers start hunting."

"Shit, I'm not." Finlay sighed. "I'm in Michigan."

"Michigan as in the United States?"

"That's the one," he said. "The Kane and McMahon tribes are at war. I've been called in to try and solve matters diplomatically."

"I thought they were on good terms?"

"They used to be," he said grimly. "But ever since their new alphas have come to power, they've been at each other's throats. It's been a nightmare."

My heart sank at the reminder of the clan politics it would now be my job to sort out. "Joy."

"Indeed," Finlay sighed. "Part of me is tempted to lock both alphas in a room to either fight or fuck it out."

My eyebrows raised. "Is fucking it out an option?"

"There's enough tension for it to be. Not that either of them would admit it, naturally."

I snorted. No, wolves were stubborn shits at the best of times, alphas especially. "When will you be back?"

"About ten days, but I'll keep you updated." He paused before continuing. "You're right though, you can't stay in one spot. I'd suggest you start making your way up to Scotland, but zig zag across the country. Don't stay in any place for longer than a night."

"Will do," I said shortly. "My friends have a number of safe houses across the country. We'll have places to stay. Riley and I have got some loose ends to tie up, but then we'll be on our way."

There was a short pause. "I'm sorry, Danny. It sounds like you've built quite the life for yourself there. I hate that you're being forced into this."

I rubbed Riley's back. "It's okay. Riley's worth it. Having him as my mate is my story. Everything else is just a footnote."

I t wasn't until we walked outside to get into my car that I realised Riley might find this difficult. "You going to be okay?"

He shot me an odd look as I opened his door for him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh, I dunno, maybe because you were in an accident recently that almost killed you?"

Riley huffed, sliding into his seat. "I'm fine. I'm not even driving. Plus, now that I'm tied to you, I plan on becoming a passenger princess. There should be some benefits to this whole mating thing."

I waited until we pulled away before speaking again. "It's alright if you're a little messed up over it, Ry."

"I know. To be honest, if we weren't mated, I'd probably be having difficulties. But like you said, I could drive into a wall at a hundred miles per hour and walk away without a scratch." He shrugged. "It's a little difficult to feel scared knowing I'm immortal."

My chest tightened. " Almost immortal, Ry. Don't forget that. You'll survive what'll take out a normal human, but against a suitably motivated supe? You wouldn't stand a chance."

"Are you trying to scare me?"

"Of course not." I reached over to rub his knee. "I just need you to understand the risks. We're facing a tricky few months with the clan, and I don't want you letting your guard down. Not even for a second."

"I won't," he said softly. "I know my death would mean yours too. I wouldn't do anything to risk you."

"That's not why I'm saying this," I said roughly, flicking on the indicator as we drew level with Joanna's house. "You're what I care about, Riley. I don't want you hurt because I need you safe. It has nothing to do with me."

Riley opened his mouth to say something, but his eyes slid past me to his mum's house. "Uh-oh, incoming."

If I didn't know better, I'd have laid money on Joanna having supe blood. We rarely gave her a heads up about our visits, yet somehow, she was always at the door as we arrived. She didn't wait there either, bustling down the path before I'd even turned off the engine.

"There's my boys," she cried, yanking my door open. "Come here and give me a hug."

Despite my frustration over how she'd treated Riley as a child, I liked Joanna. She was a kind, thoughtful woman who'd been dealt a shit hand by life. Hugging her, I dropped a kiss on her silver streaked hair. "Hey, Joanna."

Riley nudged me out of his mum's arms impatiently, pulling her in close. She barely came up to his shoulder, her wiry frame making her appear even smaller than she was. "Missed you, Mum."

"I only saw you last week." Joanna frowned, pulling back to study her son's face. "What's wrong? Has something happened?"

Riley looked at me helplessly. He didn't want to tell her the full truth, but he hadn't come up with a convincing story.

Looked like it was going to be up to me. That wasn't unusual—I'd talked Riley out of trouble with his mum many times before. Most notably when, after getting plastered at his graduation, he'd decided to nick a trolley from Waitrose. He'd been living with his mum at the time, between flats after moving out of the place he'd shared with Ethan. He'd been so drunk that I'd offered to carry him home, but he hadn't wanted to leave the trolley behind.

After an incredibly amusing argument, during which he'd insisted said trolley was his best friend, I'd given in. I'd wheeled him home in the main compartment of the trolley, an orange traffic cone sitting proudly atop his head.

He'd been warbling his way through "Bohemian Rhapsody" when we got back to his mum's. I probably should've made him quiet down, but he'd been so happy. I hadn't wanted to spoil his fun.

It hadn't occurred to me that his mum would be sleeping. Or that she might be less than amused at being woken up by her drunk son serenading a trolley at four a.m.

But, like I said, I'd talked her out of being mad at Riley. The next morning, I'd made a massive fry up—both as an apology and to try and help Riley recover from the hangover from hell.

It had worked with his mum. Riley? Not so much.

Finding a story that'd satisfy her this time would be a piece of cake. I winked at Riley, reassuring him that I had everything under control. His relieved smile had my wolf purring, delighted at having pleased our mate.

"How about we put the kettle on?" I suggested to Joanna with a wide smile. "It's a bit of a long story."