Chapter 49

We drive nonstop for the next two days, the guys switching out who’s driving and who’s…offering me comfort in the backseat in the form of naked, sweaty bodies. Of course, they’ve been making me keep my seatbelt on, so we’re forced to get creative.

Not that I mind.

When we finally stop at our destination, I gasp in wonderment, using Cain’s eyes to see our surroundings.

It appears to be a camp nestled deep in the woods of a sprawling mountain. In the distance, I can see rocky peaks cresting the clouds, highlighted by the golden-orange sun. Trees spread as far as the eye can see, their tapestries a shade of verdant green in the summer season. Interspersed throughout are log cabins. Some are small, appearing to be only a single room, while others are towering high above the tree line. Sandy pathways connect all of the cabins to each other before leading to another cluster of buildings. One restaurant and a few stores sit in a circle around a stone fountain of a wolf.

And speaking of wolves…

They’re everywhere.

Russet fur, black fur, white fur. Some look to reach only my knees, while others appear as if they’ll tower above my head. Their furry heads twist in our direction as we drive past in the van we stole.

Bronson, in the passenger seat, beams back at me.

“Welcome to my pack, Goddess.”

An older woman bearing a striking resemblance to Bronson stands in front of the fountain, a young girl on either side of her.

She’s beautiful. I notice that instantly. Her blonde hair, now peppered with silver from age, hangs in two loose braids over both of her shoulders. Her unbuttoned red flannel shirt reveals a black tank top underneath, and her jeans are covered in stylish holes. She looks younger than what I know her actual age to be, emanating an innocence at odds with the fierceness in her stare.

“Bronson,” I whisper, stunned. They’ve told me the plan numerous times since we left the motel two days ago, but I still can’t wrap my head around it. “Are you sure this is safe?” The last thing I want is for our presence to put his family at risk. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to them. He already lost his younger sister, Ali, and I know it will break him to lose anyone else in his family or pack.

“This is the safest place we can be,” Damien interjects from beside me. “Pack laws are different from those imposed on us by the Council. Nightmare Penitentiary would be required to procure a special warrant if they wish to search the premises.”

“And by then, we will have enough warning to hide,” Kai adds. A smile graces his handsome face as he stares out the windshield. It’s fleeting, there and gone in under a second, but my heart skips a beat at the sight. Because that smile…

It was laced with relief.

For the first time ever, we don’t have to constantly fight. Hide. Run.

Maybe, just maybe, we can settle down and live.

“There’s a system of caves in the mountains that no one but our pack members know about,” Bronson adds, pointing towards the mountain range in the distance. “If for some reason the pack gets searched by the supernatural police, we can hide there and no one will be the wiser.”

“There are also numerous spells surrounding the property that prohibit most people from entering.” Damien purses his lips as he stares disdainfully out the window. He looks out of place in his crisp black suit and tie when compared to the lumberjack type men ambling about, staring curiously at our vehicle.

“This community…they’ll die before they give us up,” Bronson whispers, reaching back to squeeze my hand. “I’d never ask them to do that, but I can’t deny the comfort and relief I feel to know that they’ll do everything within their power to protect you and our child. And speaking of our baby…he or she will be the happiest little bugger in the world. She’ll want for nothing.”

“So you think it’s a girl,” I tell him, shooting a smug smirk in Kai’s direction. He rolls his eyes good-naturedly.

“If it is a girl,” Bronson begins, his voice a growl, “she’ll never be allowed to date.”

“Never?” I cock an eyebrow.

“Well, maybe when she’s thirty.”

“Forty,” Cain interjects.

“Fifty,” Rion argues.

“Not even then,” Abel says solemnly. “She’ll be single for life. No guys will even be able to look at her.”

“What if she likes girls?” I counter. “Can she date then?”

“Well,” Rion pretends to think about it for a second, “girls aren’t as stinky as boys are.”

“Oh my god!” I laugh, swatting at his chest. “Is that how you’re going to decide who dates our daughter? If the person is stinky or not?”

“It’s a logical solution!” Rion protests, raising his hands in mock surrender.

“I still think it’s a boy. My little man,” Kai says as he slides out of the van and breathes in deeply. A few of the wolves growl at his presence, a dragon amongst wolves, but Kai stretches his taut muscles, seemingly unperturbed.

Bronson exits the vehicle next, opens up the back door, and all but yanks me into his arms. I slide out of Cain’s head and into his. Still holding me, Bronson hurries towards the woman gaping at us.

“Momma.” Bronson finally places me on my feet. “I?—”

“My boy!” The woman throws herself into Bronson’s arms as she sobs. He pats her back soothingly as she clings to him. “When you said you made it out of there, I didn’t think… I mean, no one ever makes it out of Nightmare Penitentiary… I just…”

“What she means to say is that she’s happy you’re here, doofus,” one of the girls I noticed earlier interprets. This one has a pretty, oval face and unnaturally bright red hair.

“You dyed your hair.” Bronson’s voice is muffled from where he rests his lips against his mother’s head. “Again.”

“And she still has a boyfriend,” the younger one pipes in. Her light brown hair cascades around a cherubic, square face and draws attention to her bright green eyes—the exact same shade as Bronson’s.

Bronson stiffens at the girl’s words, pulling away from his mom and casting a fierce glare in the red-headed girl’s direction.

“Is that true?”

“Momma! Tell him to stop being a caveman,” she protests, stomping her foot.

“Bronson.” The beautiful woman captures his face between both of her palms. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to…” She trails off with a pointed look in my direction. Bronson’s face flushes red with shame and embarrassment. Both girls turn to stare at me eagerly, tiny smirks erupting on their faces.

“Is that…?”

“She’s gorgeous!”

“Why didn’t you tell us?!”

“Momma.” Bronson’s voice is heady with pride and warmth as he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into his side. “This is my mate, Nina. Nina, this is my mom, Gemma.”

“Hello.” I duck my head, suddenly unbearably shy. Through Bron’s eyes, I watch the woman’s face soften instantly.

“Hello, Nina.” She captures both of my hands in hers, and a startled squeal escapes me, one she graciously ignores. I’ve been doing much better with touch now that I have my men, but sometimes, I still feel antsy when strangers touch me without warning.

“Mom!” Bronson snaps, but she simply gives my hands a comforting squeeze, ignoring him.

“Thank you, Nina, for protecting and loving my son. He’s told me so much about you.”

“Almost too much,” the red-haired girl murmurs, and her sister giggles.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” I reply earnestly. And it is. To see the woman who gave life to one of the men I love above all else…

No words can express how much she means to me. I already love her just because of how much she loves her son.

“These are my girls, Bronson’s sisters. Marbella?—”

“Bella,” the redhead corrects.

“—and Lola.”

The youngest lifts her hand in an eager wave.

“You’re so much prettier than Bronson’s last girlfriend. I like you already. And what happened to your eyes? I’ve never seen white eyes before. Are they contacts or real? Bella tried contacts before and?—”

“Spitfire!” Bronson bellows, and she smiles sheepishly, suddenly looking embarrassed.

“We can talk once we settle in,” I assure her. “I really need to have some girl time.” Her face brightens instantly as she bounces from foot to foot. “And we can talk all about Bronson’s ex-girlfriends…as long as they don’t live here as well.”

Bronson groans as both Lola and Bella giggle.

“I hate you both.”

“You loveeee us,” Lola singsongs. “But not as much as you love her.” She points towards me, and this time, it’s my turn to blush crimson.

“Lola, don’t embarrass your sister-in-law,” Gemma chastises, and I swear my face turns into a sauna.

It takes me a moment to smother the flames of embarrassment and speak coherently.

“I can’t even begin to describe how grateful I am that you took us in,” I manage to say to the kind-eyed woman. “I don’t want to put you and your family at risk?—”

“You guys are my family,” she says automatically, squeezing my hands once more. “And the entire pack will agree.”

Almost as if they’ve been eavesdropping, a chorus of howls reverberate through the evening sky. It’s a beautiful, haunting sound, one that entices goosebumps to break out on my skin.

“Let me introduce you to the rest of Nina’s mates, Momma,” Bronson suggests, gesturing behind him towards where the other men stand. Bella narrows her eyes at them distastefully, while Lola blushes crimson, especially when her gaze lands on Damien. It seems as if the small girl finds my mage attractive.

I snicker thinking about Bronson’s reaction to that.

“Damien, Kai, Logan, Cain, Abel, Rion, and Nick,” Bronson introduces, pointing down the line.

“Thank you for opening up your home,” Kai says sincerely, moving to step forward and shake her hand.

“You’re our family now,” Gemma replies without preamble. “And we protect our family. We already have a cabin ready for all of you—the biggest one available.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I protest meekly, but she waves my words away.

“Nonsense! We’ll never separate a family, and that’s what you guys are now. A family.”

My hands drop to my stomach as something rushes through me. An emotion I can’t quite remember experiencing before.

Hope.

“Especially with this little one on the way,” I say softly.

And…

And I allow myself to picture a future. One where we’re not prisoners. One where we’re not leaders of a vicious, deadly gang. One where we don’t have assassins gunning for us and evil Compounds lurking over our heads.

One where we’re all…happy. Or as happy as we can be.

Where we’re safe and protected, surrounded by family and the people we love. Where our baby can not only survive, but flourish.

A wistful smile tugs at my lips.

“A baby!” Gemma’s mouth pops open comically as Lola and Bella both squeal. “Why didn’t you…?” She begins whacking Bronson on the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that I wasgoing to be a grandma?”

“Because our phone call last night had to be quick so it didn’t get traced,” Bronson protests. “And I didn’t know Nina was pregnant when you last visited me in pris?—”

“That’s no excuse!” Her voice turns shrill as she pierces her daughters with desperate, wild eyes. “Tell Tom down at the hardware store to start putting things together for a nursery. And inform Doctor Everett that we’re taking Nina in for an appointment as soon as they’re settled. And…”

I tune them out as I leave Bronson’s eyes and go into Rion’s. As expected, my eccentric shifter is whipping his head from side to side, attempting to stare at everything at once. When I focus on him, I can hear him mumble, “That tree is good for climbing. And that one will make a nice sleeping tree. And that one is good for fucking my buttercup. And that one—” His eyes move to a lone figure standing beside the van, his brown trench coat flapping around him in the evening breeze.

Nick.

My heart aches at the lonely look in his amber eyes, the way he glances in our direction before immediately looking away. I thought our conversation two days ago would’ve alleviated some of the tension in his shoulders, but I guessed wrong.

Using Rion’s eyes as guidance, I move away from my men and towards Nick.

He glances up when I’m directly in front of him, a soft smile playing on his thick, pouty lips.

“Hello, little one.” His deep, baritone voice rumbles through me, and I shiver. I’ve never been one to get turned on by voices, but maybe I just haven’t found the right one. I definitely feel something I’ve never felt before when he speaks to me.

His body hovering over mine, his husky voice curling around me as he screams my name…

I blush at the direction of my thoughts and ask, “What are you doing all the way over here by yourself?”

He hesitates, a wrinkle appearing between his brows, before confessing, “I was not sure if I would be welcomed.”

My mouth drops open. “Why would you think that?”

“Because I have not known you and the others that long. At least, you all have not known me. Even Logan is better suited for this family than I am.” There’s no reproach in his voice, no anger. Just grim acceptance that steals the breath from my lungs.

“Nick, you know that’s not true. We talked about it.”

His face creases. “Yes, you said you would be willing to give me a try as a mate. But I believe we are still in the—how do I say this—trial period? Yes, we are still in the trial period. I do not know if that constitutes me being a member of this family.”

A bark of laughter escapes me as I grip both of his hands and squeeze them. “Nick, there is no trial period. I want to date you, yes, but you’re still my mate. That’s never going to change. You’re a part of this family, a part of me, and I’m sorry I didn’t make that clearer to you.”

He swallows heavily, his hands shaking when he brings them up to cup my face. “Can I…? Can I kiss you?”

In answer, I push up onto my tiptoes and press my lips to his. It’s a chaste kiss, softer than what I’m used to.

Fireworks explode behind my eyelids as I lose myself in Nick, in my final mate. A giddy part of me relishes being his first kiss. His first everything.

And hopefully, his last as well.

I don’t know what the future will hold for me and my men, but I know that with them by my side, I can face anything.