Chapter 19

There were things that Thyme was looking forward to as she pushed the mop over the kitchen floor of the home she and Remy had chosen in Copper Creek. One of those things was going out to hunt with the pride tonight. Most of the pride, anyway. There were still two dozen pride members who were actively boycotting the move from Marin to Copper Creek, and no amount of discussion on her and Remy’s part was changing their minds.

She was sure it wasn’t just about them believing Leif was the better choice for alpha, because it seemed like something else was going on. Something worth keeping the pride in Marin and taking her and Remy out of the running for alpha.

Despite the weird goings-on from some of the pride, she was also looking forward to finishing up the cleaning in the house so they could begin moving in their things. Remy had divided his time between the house and the abandoned garage on Main Street. Several pride members had asked to join the crew so he wasn’t working alone, and once the shop was ready, there were people who could fix vehicles. Marty and Mila were working on cleaning the diner and a home, and an entire family—grandparents, parents, and a few teenagers—were handling the market. Soon enough the town would be functioning again.

She was sincerely grateful that Alpha Jason had given them the list of towns that were open to having shifters move in.

As she pressed the foot pedal to spin the water out of the mop, she heard Remy come in the front door, her cat attuned to him through their connection as mates.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said as he walked into the kitchen and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

He always made her heart pound. Such a sexy male.

“Hey. How’s it going at the garage?”

“Great. We’ve got a fuel delivery set up for next week so we can get the gas pumps working, and once the stockroom is cataloged and supplies are ordered, we can open for business in a few weeks. Probably just oil changes to start, though.”

“Once the house is finished, I can help out. There are offices to clean.”

“Yep, and a bookkeeper to hire,” he said, giving her a heated look. “I’ve got some thoughts on the interview process.”

With a laugh, she elbowed him and lifted the mop. “I’m almost done here.”

“Good. The pride’s supposed to be here in ten minutes, some have started to gather already so I’m going to circulate.”

“I’ll be out in a few.”

With a kiss he headed outside and left her in the kitchen. She was excited to have a chance to shift and hunt with Remy. She’d been so stressed out on the last full moon when she was being chased that she hadn’t really gotten a good look at him in his shift.

Now they’d get to shift together and hunt along with the pride as interim alphas.

She finished mopping the linoleum floor in the kitchen, rinsed out the mop and bucket, and stored them in the laundry room. Heading out of the sliding door to the back patio, she found Remy talking to the three males he was going to work with at the garage—George, Alan, and Hank.

Liam stopped her as she made her way to her mate.

“How’s it going, Alpha?” he asked with a smile.

“So far so good, the house is coming along. Freaking dust everywhere. How’s your house coming?”

“Great. We found one with an in-law suite so Dana is going to stay with us.”

“Only until I find a mate, then I’m out of there!” Dana shouted from the other side of the yard.

Liam leaned in conspiratorially and said, “She likes her mom’s cooking.”

“We all do,” Thyme said with a smile.

His smile slipped. “Jacob isn’t here. Neither are Leif, Brilla, or the others who have sided with them. All told, twenty-five are missing, even though this is an official hunt for the pride.” He rocked back on his heels. “I don’t have to tell you how disrespectful this all is.”

She let out a low growl. “I just don’t understand it. I mean, I could understand if Brilla wanted to fight to take over the pride as the former alpha female, but she acquiesced leadership to the elders without a peep when Dad died.” She blew out a breath and rubbed her chest with her fingertips as her heart panged. “I really miss my dad.”

“We all do, but you and Remy are going to be excellent alphas. Your dad taught you well and your mate is fierce and protective. It’s a new chapter for the pride.”

“Thanks, Liam.”

“You bet. I’m going to find my mate.”

“It’s time to get ready anyway.”

She made her way to Remy and gave him a hug.

“Are you ready, sweetheart?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She and Remy excused themselves, and as they walked to the patio, she told him about Liam’s news.

“Fuckers.”

“Yeah,” she said with a chuckle. “I kind of don’t hate that they’re not here, because at least we don’t have to worry about them trying to undermine us.”

“Good point.”

Thyme clapped her hands loudly and called the pride over. Once everyone was gathered, she raised her voice so everyone could hear. “Welcome to the first pride hunt in Copper Creek. The territory has been marked with orange ribbons on the trees, so don’t stray past them. And thanks to Marty and Mila for handling that.”

The couple nodded with a smile.

Thyme glanced at Remy, and he said, “Stay together, don’t hunt alone. If you see anything suspicious, find me, Thyme, or Liam. Tomorrow, we’re going to have a pride meeting at our house in Marin at noon. Anyone who’d like to be part of a security team, be sure to come.”

“Have fun everyone,” Thyme said.

The pride dispersed into the woods to shift and hunt.

Thyme turned to Remy and he lowered his head to brush his lips against hers.

“I can’t wait to see you shift, alpha,” he said with a low voice.

“I can’t wait for that, either.”

Her hands were shaking as she tugged off her jeans and shirt and laid them on a glass patio table. Her cat was prowling in her head, anxious to see Remy’s wolf and hunt together.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

She turned to him and watched as he shed his jeans and straightened, his muscular body on display.

“I’m nervous, but I don’t know why.”

“Because it’s all new. You and me hunting, the pride in Copper Creek.”

“Maybe that’s what it is.”

He leaned over and kissed her. She appreciated his confidence, but she wasn’t really feeling much herself. She wasn’t sure what was bothering her, or where the nerves were coming from, so she decided to push them to the back of her mind. There wasn’t any use in just generally worrying about everything when it seemed like things were going off without a hitch.

She laid her undergarments on the table with her clothes, next to Remy’s, and stepped into the grass with him. “Let’s do this.”

“Can’t wait to see your beautiful cat,” Remy said with a rumbling growl.

She inhaled deeply and let herself go into her shift. It didn’t take long for her cat to come out, her body shifting and reforming as soft, gray fur sprouted and her whole body compacted into her sleek cat form.

Letting out a yowl as she stretched, she got to watch Remy as he finished shifting into his big wolf, with amber eyes and pretty gray fur. They took time to scent each other. He sat perfectly still while she pressed her nose to his neck and inhaled the woodsy scent of his wolf and then licked his cheek. He chuffed at her as she purred while he pressed his nose along her neck and shoulder, then gave her a little nip on the back of her neck.

She could hear the pride as they shifted and went on the hunt, the yowls and caterwauling of their wildcats letting the wildlife know that there were new predators in town and they were on the hunt.

She and Remy padded into the woods until they were completely enveloped by them. They paused briefly to scent the air and listen. They both heard the sounds of rustling nearby and, after meeting each other’s gazes, they raced off, the cool night air whipping around them.

The night was theirs, and she couldn’t wait to see what happened.