While he knew there was no way he could keep the first one because he would always protect her, he could, at least, promise her that second one. “I promise I’ll come to see you. Tonight.”
That seemed to mollify her. “I didn’t go through all this to not be with you.”
“Cross!” A hand slapped him playfully on the head. “That’s for being an idiot and scaring me half to death.” Astrid exclaimed before she enveloped him in a hug. “And that’s because I missed you, and I’m so glad to see you.” Grabbing his wrist, she removed the bracelet. “Boy, am I glad to be taking this off you.” Her whiskey-brown eyes sparkled when they landed on Sabrina. “Hello! I’m Astrid, Cross’s favorite sister.”
“You’re my only sister,” he reminded her, but laughed anyway.
“I’m Sab—oh!” She had reached out her hand to Astrid, but his sister pulled her into a tight hug. “Uh, nice to meet you.”
“I’m so glad to meet you. You don’t know how happy I am to meet his mate.” She flashed him a dirty look as she released Sabrina from the bear hug. “I’m just so relieved I didn’t have to kick his ass for being on the mage’s side.”
Sabrina chuckled. “Me too.”
“We should get going, Cross,” Astrid said. “Lucas will want to get started as soon as possible.”
“I’ll follow along.”
“I can take her back,” Sofia said. “The driver’s outside, and we have two bodyguards.”
“I feel a lot better knowing she’s in your hands, Lupa,” Cross said.
“I’ll be right outside, Sabrina.” She turned and walked toward Lucas, who was chatting with Reed, Julianna, Duncan, and Elise.
“Cross—”
Unsure what else to say or do, he snaked a hand around her waist and pulled her close, as if trying to memorize the feel of her curves against him. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said before he lowered his head and kissed her, not caring they were surrounded by his family, the Alpha and Lupa, and everyone else. It had felt like a million years since he had tasted her lips, and he was reluctant to let her go.
When he finally released her, she sank against him, her hands gripping his shirt. “I swear, if I don’t see you tonight, I’m going to … to …”
“I know.” He kissed her forehead. “I promise, I’ll come to you tonight.” Those words made her shiver. And if he were honest, his heart raced with excitement. Hopefully, he could get through the day before he went crazy with thinking about her all day.
Chapter Eleven
Sabrina couldn’t quite believe she was back in New York, even as she watched the throng of tourists in Rockefeller Center as their town car crawled down Fifth Avenue.
Of course, she’d traveled to three states in the span of a morning, so it was understandable that her mind had not caught up with her body yet. Like jet lag.
So much had happened in the span of such a short time. She’d remembered so much, not to mention, heard it from Cross. It was a strange feeling, like being disembodied. Her brain remembered it all, but the information had come in at the same time, so it was still parsing through all the data.
“This must be such a shock to you,” Sofia said, reaching out to pat her knee. “I know it was for me, learning all about Lycans.”
She couldn’t help the shocked gasp that came out of her mouth. “You … you didn’t always know about Lycans?”
The other woman shook her head. “Not initially. I’m human, just like you.”
“But, you’re the Lupa.” Her driver and two bodyguards all acted in deference to Sofia and she heard them call her that more than once. “Like the leader, right?”
“Technically, I’m the mate of the Alpha, which is why I have that title,” Sofia explained. “But I didn’t know about Lycans until Lucas shifted in front of me to save my life. It turns out, we’re True Mates.”
“I still don’t know what that means, really,” Sabrina said. “It seems like an abstract concept right now.”
“I know what you mean. But, well, you see—oh, we’re here,” she announced as the vehicle stopped. “C’mon, let’s go up to our place. I’ll get you some food, and maybe some comfy clothes? You look like you’ve had a day.”
Running her hands through her ratty hair, she laughed. “That I have. After Cross got hurt last night, I didn’t want to leave him alone, so I slept in a chair next to his bed while he was recovering.” With a frown she sniffed at her shirt. “Ugh, sorry. There wasn’t any time for a shower or change of clothes.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Sofia exited as the driver opened the door, then led her through the elevator lobby of a large, stylish apartment building. “My sister-in-law might have something you can borrow. She lives right below us, though she should be in our apartment. She’s watching the kids today because it’s her day off from the restaurant.”
They took the elevator up to the top floor. When the doors opened, she followed Sofia into a luxurious and beautifully designed apartment. “Wow.”
“It’s one of the perks of being married to the Alpha,” Sofia said. “We have three spare bedrooms. I can show them to you, and you can choose whichever one you want; don’t think you’re a bother,” she added, as if sensing Sabrina’s hesitation. “Trust me, we have so much space, we might lose you in here. But before that, I hope you don’t mind, there’s someone I really need to see.”
Sabrina followed Sofia down a long hallway, then stopped outside the second to last door. Knocking softly, the other woman opened the door and stepped inside. “Isabelle?” She called. “Are you—oh you’re awake!”
The room they had entered was a spacious nursery, based on the pastel animal theme it was decorated in. There was a row of shelves filled with books and toys on one side, a changing station on the
