Chapter 16

Thyme and Remy made their way to the backyard, checking on every pride family along the way. She ensured that every single person was accounted for, save for Brentiss who was being attended to by the pride healers, females who had medical training.

She bypassed the backyard and took Remy to the side of the house where she turned on the spigot and washed her face and hands. Remy splashed water on his face and rubbed his hands, then they both dried off as best they could with their shirt hems.

“Do I look like a depressed clown?” she asked, smoothing her hands over her hair. She was trying to lighten the mood and not panic, but she’d nearly been shoved into the bonfire.

She could have died tonight.

The sudden realization that her half-brother really did want her dead made a wild tide of emotions rise in her. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the sob that was about to break free, because she didn’t want to look weak in front of the pride.

Remy pulled her close and held her tightly. She buried her face in his chest and tried to rein her emotions in.

“It’s okay to cry,” he whispered. “Crying doesn’t make you weak, I promise.”

She choked on her sobs, her hands curled into his shirt. She felt like she cried for a long time, but she knew only a few minutes had passed. When she felt like she could talk without hiccupping, she whispered, “I knew he hated me, I never really knew why though. But he tried to get one of his guys to push me into the bonfire.”

“I know,” Remy said, his voice low and dangerous. “He’s going to be held accountable for his part.”

“I understand you’re angry,” Liam said.

She gasped as Remy spun and tucked her behind his back. He relaxed fractionally when he realized who it was.

“You’re fucking right I’m angry,” Remy snarled. “Brentiss tried, at the very least, to gravely injure Thyme, let alone the fact that he could have killed her, and you as well if you’d gotten caught in the push. I don’t believe for a moment that Leif is innocent, and neither is her stepmom nor her family.”

Liam stared at Remy and Thyme couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

“You’re not alphas yet, not until the ascension ceremony. If you were alphas, you would have the right to deal with this in any way you see fit and I wouldn’t stop you. But you’re not the alphas, and Jacob would fight me every step of the way. Brentiss will be punished for his actions, but unless he pins things directly on Leif, I can’t link them to it, so I’m asking you to stand down.”

“Stand down from what?” Thyme asked.

“From confronting Leif.”

Remy gnashed his teeth with a deep growl. “He’s been dogging us since I came to town. I don’t believe he’ll stop unless someone stops him.”

“Be that as it may, tonight I’m one of two elders, and while I have authority in the pride, it doesn’t extend to this. No one can punish Leif for something Brentiss did, not without corroboration.”

Thyme put her hand on Remy’s shoulder, and he stopped growling and scrubbed a hand over his face.

“Fine. But he’s on his last chance and he better watch his step.”

Liam nodded sharply. “Let’s table the joining until tomorrow night after the clearing is cleaned up.”

“Absolutely not,” Thyme said. “Tonight is our joining night, and tomorrow we’re going to Copper Creek with the heads of the families. We were nearly done with the ceremony, so let’s pick up where we left off.”

His gaze was intense, and she thought he might tell her no, but instead he nodded and turned on his heels. As he rounded the corner of the house, she heard him call for the pride to gather in the backyard for the continuation of the ceremony.

Putting her hands on her hips, she looked up at her mate and snorted. “Fucking hell, he’s stubborn. I think he’s afraid of Jacob.”

Remy nodded, pulling her close. “I think he is as well, and I don’t disagree that Liam is no match for Jacob, but things almost went to hell tonight.” He gripped her waist solidly, his fingers digging into her skin lightly. “I want to exile them as soon as we’re alphas.”

“I was thinking the same thing, that I didn’t want to wait for them to decide to choose exile. Assuming they don’t bail between now and the full moon.”

Remy said nothing for a long moment, then he said, “I doubt that he’s going to give up after tonight. We need to be extra cautious until we’re alphas, then we can move the pride to Copper Creek and leave those who are against us here to rot in Marin.”

“It’s you and me against the world,” she said.

He kissed her forehead. “We’ve got this, sweetheart. It’s only a few weeks until the full moon. Now let’s go finish our joining ceremony, and then you and I have a date with a bed.”

There was nothing she wanted more than to snuggle up with her sexy mate after nearly losing everything tonight.

“Best idea I’ve heard all night.”

Hand in hand they walked around the corner of the house and nearly ran into Dana, Mila, and Marty.

Dana hugged her tightly. “Holy crap are you okay? I was so freaking scared in all that smoke.”

“I’m okay, thanks.” She stepped away and hugged Mila.

“We can’t prove it, but your half-brother was definitely in on this,” Marty said with a low voice. “I told Liam that he was up to no good but he won’t put a stop to it. You know, I always thought the elders had equal power over the pride, but it’s clear that Jacob has more authority and is willing to let Leif do whatever he wants to try to take over.”

“It’s only a few weeks until the ceremony,” Thyme pointed out. “Remy stopped him tonight, and we’ll keep each other safe. Leif might have cronies but I have a mate.”

Mila smiled. “And you have friends. The pride is with you, I think you know that. Except for the ones standing with Jacob.”

“They’re assholes,” Dana said. “You can kick them out when you’re alphas, right?”

“One-hundred-percent,” Thyme said.

“We’re going to stand near them and make sure they don’t try anything funny,” Marty said. “Good luck.”

The trio left and she and Remy followed them into the backyard. She and Remy headed to the porch where Liam was standing, and they joined hands as they had back in the clearing by the bonfire.

At least this time she wasn’t getting roasted by the flames because the bonfire had been so large.

Glancing at the crowd of pride families, she saw smiling faces. Completing the joining ceremony was the very best thing she and Remy could do. It showed the pride that they weren’t so easily cowed.

In her wildest dreams she hadn’t imagined taking over the pride would be so dangerous. She was damn thankful to have Remy on her side.

Finding her half-brother, stepmom, and Jacob in the crowd, she gave them a smug look, then grinned inwardly as Mila, Marty, and Dana stood by them. They were definitely not getting away with anything else tonight.

Eat a dick, Leif .

Satisfied that they could tell she knew what they’d been up to, she turned her attention to her sexy mate.

He’d saved her life tonight, so not only was he the best-looking male she’d ever seen in her life, he was also strong and protective, and she couldn’t imagine a better male to lead with.

She was falling for him.

Her wolfy truemate.