We’ve unofficially moved into the mansion haven’t we?” Elaine said.
I swept her damp hair over her shoulder and planted kisses on her back. I wasn’t joking about not showering less she was beside me.
“No, I can’t live with my brothers anymore. This is temporary.”
She adjusted the towel around her chest before resting on the pillow, staring up at me. She was the best thing to ever happen to me. I wouldn’t have said that a few months ago but she had grown on me a little. Okay, a lot. I was madly in love with her.
“I like your brothers. I don’t mind living here. It’s nice to be around a loving family.”
I stroked her hair and caressed her face.
“I forget how differently we grew up.”
She lifted a shoulder.
When I saw her I assumed she was a pampered princess, the apple of her Dad’s eye but then I heard Laiken made her live with the servants until she was a teenager and that she didn’t live with him when she was ripped from her Mother at birth. Elaine still doesn’t know where she ended up after that. She says it’s all a blur. I had a wonderful family even after my brother was killed. I couldn’t complain.
“I don’t mind it here. When’s your Mom coming back?”
“We’re fine with her staying with her sister for now. So not any time soon.”
She pouted. “I think I’m ready to meet her.”
“Richie’s not ready for her to meet Opal and I’m not ready to be questioned about children.”
Her cheeks turned pink. I nuzzled my nose into her neck and kissed her. The day I sensed my pup growing inside her would be one of the greatest days in my life. Elaine had dreams though and I wanted her to follow those dreams before we started having children.
“I’m sure she misses you guys.”
“Yeah, I kind of miss her. I have something for you.”
I needed to give Elaine her gift before I got lost in her scent. I climbed out of bed and missed her warmth instantly. I marched into the walk-in closet and felt her eyes hot on my ass.
“Enjoying the show?” I called.
She burst into laughter. “Always.”
I opened the long black velvet box to reveal the heart-shaped diamond necklace with the silver chain. I hoped she liked it. I didn’t ask Opal for advice I just went out and got it. While I was in the jewellery store I got sucked into wedding rings. I’ve never thought about that before but lately, I’d been thinking all sorts of shit like buying her a dog and building her a house.
“Did you lose it?” Elaine called.
“I have it.”
I marched back into the room. Before I said anything I closed my lips on hers and drank her in. Damn, she was so good.
“I hope you like it.”
She stared at me and then carefully took the box from me.
“When did you find the time?” She gasped when opened the box. She brushed her fingers along the thin chain and the diamond. “Is this real?”
“I would never get you a fake diamond of course it’s real.”
“It’s so beautiful! Did Opal help you? When did you guys find the time?”
I chuckled. “She didn’t help. I picked it out on my own.”
“I love it Azaire. I’ll never take it off.”
“Great. Now come here, mate.”
I took the chain from her, placing the diamond on her chest before clipping it in place behind her neck. I cupped her chin and kissed the base of her neck. My wolf clawed at me with desire for her. I wasn’t about to deny him the satisfaction of tasting our mate.
“Azaire,” she moaned.
Just as my hands travelled and explored her chest my phone blared on the bedside table. I grunted. Screw whoever it is. The phone didn’t stop though. When it went quiet it only started again.
“Just pick up,” Elaine said.
I groaned and painfully peeled away from her. When I saw the caller ID I was pissed.
“Blazer, what the hell do you want?” I barked.
Of all the people he had to call me now?
“Cool it. This is important.”
“Spit it out then!”
“Neel’s mobilizing his army. They left the house twenty minutes ago.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m on the road. They abandoned their cars on the border between our Packs.”
“Shit.” I hurried to find my pants.
“What’s going on?” Elaine asked, panic in her voice.
“I don’t know but I think their target is the Blood Moon Pack.”
“Of course it is.” I killed the call and tossed my phone on the bed.
“Azaire what’s going on?” Elaine asked as she searched for her clothes too.
“Neel and his troops are on their way. I don’t know how far they are.”
“You can take Neel. He’s nothing but a drunk.”
“He’s still got one of the strongest armies for miles. I need you to stay here where you’ll be safe.”
“You expect me to leave you?” she frowned.
“I love you. You’re more important to me than anything. I need you to be safe.”
She opened her mouth to respond but a distress call followed by the alarm we had installed in city hall. Shit. Neel’s army was in the Pack where all the civilians were.
***
“This was messed up,” I spat.
“Calm down, they showed up looking for a fight and we gave it to them,” Ross threw me a bottle of bear but I couldn’t drink right now.
We had busted buildings and destroyed businesses and Uncle Damien was in the hospital. He was a stubborn old man who thought he could help get others to safety but he ended up getting hurt instead. Elaine drove Francine to the hospital so she could be with her Dad.
“Screw them all,” Richie spat. He grabbed the bottle of beer from me. “This is an act of war! We’re going to strike back.”
“Have you forgotten where your girlfriend is?” Lucas being the voice of reason was strange.
Richie grumbled and slammed the bottle on the coffee table. “I’ll get her out.”
Laiken’s such a coward he didn’t want to get his hands dirty so he sent his allies, but not a single wolf from the Black Claw Pack. Richie was right though. If we didn’t strike back it would send a bad message to the shifter community. My wolf told me it would hurt Elaine but that Pack had hurt her enough.
“Francine stayed at the hospital,” Elaine announced as she entered the living room.
I opened my arm and she nestled into my side.
“What did they say?” Richie asked.
Elaine nervously rubbed my torso. “Uhm… they’re not sure if they’ll make a full recovery. They need to observe him tonight.”
“What are you talking about? Uncle Damien’s a powerful wolf. Everyone knows that.”
Elaine chewed on her bottom lip. “The injury is really bad guys.”
“Fuck, this keeps getting worse,” Richie mumbled.
I pulled Elaine into my arms. She was my only safe spot, the only place that cancelled the noise.
“We’ve got to be positive,” Elaine whispered.
“I don’t want to be positive. I want to kill something,” I grumbled.
“Hey, that won’t help,” she scolded.
Killing Neel might help. I still had a bone to pick with him for the way he treated my mate.
“Let’s go upstairs and relax for a while,” she said.
“Fine. We’ve got a lot to do and I need a level head.”
She smiled. I swear it was like sunshine. I draped an arm over her shoulder but before I could lead her away Ross rushed into the living room.
“The enemy is on our soil again. It’s Laiken himself.”
“What?” Elaine gasped.
“Damn him. Wait here, Elaine.”
She grabbed my arm. “No, you don’t.”
I couldn’t stop her. I marched out with my mate by my side and my brothers with me. Richie might have come undone when he saw his girlfriend sandwiched between two bodyguards.
“Let me go!” Opal cried.
“Hey! I’ll rip your arms off!” Lucas grabbed our brother before he sparked a fight we weren’t quite ready for.
Laiken and his creepy witch didn’t come with an army. Instead, they arrived with Opal’s parents, the high beta and his wife. Nik was the ever-present lap dog but Blazer wasn’t among the crew which meant they might not trust the younger brother.
“We’re not here to fight. We’re simply here for what belongs to us,” Laiken said.
“There’s nothing here that belongs to you. You’ve done enough. I’d leave before our tempers flared and blood is shed.”
Laiken chuckled. “I have no intention to fight with boys. Not today. I’m here for my daughter. Elaine, it’s time to go.”
She stiffened at my side.
“No, no. You’re not laying a hand on her,” I barked.
“I didn’t say anything about laying a hand on her. Elaine’s going to come willingly.”
There was something in Laiken’s eyes. He was calm like he knew something we didn’t. Whatever the case was he was insane if he thought he was taking my mate.
“Elaine, we’re going home,” Laiken said.
“No! she’s not going anywhere.”
“Yes,” Elaine’s voice cracked. “I’m going home.”