Rafe felt the viscous crimson fluid all over him, his clothes in tatters as he snarled at the body. Rage rampaging through him at how close his mate came to danger. His head spun around looking for something else to tear apart, eyes wild and feral, his blood rushing through his system like a tsunami, blocking out all other sounds.
Soft fingers ran through fur on his half-formed torso causing him to jerk around, Tasha’s pale grey eyes peered up at him. “It’s all right, Rafe. We’re safe now. Come back to me, please.”
Her gentle tone soothed his beast and his soul. His Wolf retreating to leave him standing in his tattered clothes and Paulo’s blood. “Are you okay? Fuck! Tasha, I was so scared he’d hurt you.”
“I know but you stopped him,” she paused, blushing, “my mate. Thank you.”
He crushed her to his chest, the mere thought of her being injured taking his breath away. Then he remembered the state he was in and quickly stepped back. “Sorry, I’m a bit of a mess.”
“I don’t care.” She returned to his embrace. “Now can we go home and finish what we started?”
Her words had his heart thudding in his chest, his soul soaring high as he nodded. His voice suddenly thick with emotion as he answered, “I’d love nothing more, sweetheart.”
Rafe changed clothes as soon as they got back to their vehicle, glad they’d brought backpacks in case they were away for longer than a day. Pity he’d have to wait until they got home to get the stench of blood off him.
At least their return journey was faster, Jacy using the on-board GPS to reach the nearest highway then flooring it to speed along the almost empty road. Tasha’s head resting on Rafe’s shoulder in the darkness, his arm around her shoulders, holding her securely against him. He could sense the change inside her. She was still shrouded in grief but there was a sense of peace that now settled inside her that relaxed his Wolf.
She was on the road to recovery, a long road no doubt, but she was now going forward, and he’d be with her every hard step of the way.
Jacy glanced over his shoulder from time to time but when he saw Tasha dozing he remained silent. Rafe wasn’t sure he’d ever known his Beta to keep quiet for so long before. It must be some kind of record. Whatever it was Rafe was grateful, it allowed him to reflect on his mate and the changes it would bring not just to him personally but how it would enhance the Pack.
A mated Alpha was more stable, not prone to outbursts, violent or otherwise, which was always beneficial for a Pack. It also meant, usually, that pups would soon follow and cement the Alpha lineage. Another plus for the stability of the Pack.
All of that mattered, of course it did, but truth was, all he cared about right now was how she made him feel. Complete. Loved. His heart speeding up to thunder in his chest whenever he caught sight of her, when her scent wafted over him. When she spoke and her words made his skin goosebump with anticipation and desire. The thought of that first time she shuddered beneath him as she fell apart in his arms. Those were the most important things to him right now, nothing else.
“How long?” he whispered.
“Soon,” Jacy replied, turning off the main road.
Rafe looking out the window and seeing his own land in the darkness. The glow of the clock on the dash showing it was almost four in the morning. Not long now until he held her naked body against his.
“Shit.” He swore, pushing those thoughts away as his cock sprang to life.
“What’s up?” Jacy stage-whispered over his shoulder.
“Nothing.” He snapped before gently waking Tasha. “We’re almost home.”
“Are we? Jeez, I slept most of the way again. Didn’t I?”
“Yes,” he laughed. “It’s okay, it’s been a long day.”
“I need a shower.” She yawned, stretching her arms and pulling her top tight across her chest.
Damn! His cock twitched again. “Down boy.” He told it firmly.
“What?” she asked, frowning.
“What?” he asked back, feigning ignorance.
“I can’t believe the Pack is taken care of. That Zohar guy certainly knows how to get things done.”
Rafe growled, hating the sound of the Enforcer’s name on Tasha’s lips. “He has a lot of men at his disposal.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She conceded. “I liked Sherman, he’s nice and funny.”
“Me too.” Rafe agreed. “I wonder if Myrtle would like to train with him?”
Tasha shook her head. “No, don’t push her into that. She’s not that comfortable with her magical side. If she wants to pursue it then she’ll do it on her own. If you ask her she might think it’s because you want her to and do it because her Alpha wants it.”
Rafe didn’t answer right away, letting Tasha’s words sink in and also thinking of Myrtle. The girl was definitely a “pleaser”. He could see her agreeing to do something if he asked her to, even if it was something she didn’t want to. What he was surprised at was that Tasha had figured that out so quickly.
“You’re right,” he finally said. “I know that about Myrtle, but I’m not sure how you realized that so quickly.”
“I can read people well, it’s just something I do.” Tasha shrugged. “I can usually size people up pretty dang fast and Myrtle was easy. She’s someone who doesn’t like to say no and she’d do anything for her Alpha. But that’s not always a good thing. Like this magic stuff. It’s not something she really wants to do and there’s no point in making someone unhappy. Is there?”
Again she’d surprised him with her insight. Not only was she sexy as hell
