My stomach growled the entire time I fiddled through my clothes to find something to wear. It’s kind of sad to think that out of my thirty-five years in existence, it could all be piled into two suitcases. But, with having to move around all the time, Stark, Dany, and I really had no choice.
I settle on a pair of jeans and an oversized gray sweatshirt that I bought in Vermont many years ago while at a baseball game. We were just passing through the state, and there happened to be a game. While growing up, Stark and Dany used to go to baseball games with their parents. He wanted to feel that excitement again, but I knew it wasn’t the same. Sadly, he hasn’t been to another game since. Just like I haven’t listened to any of the oldies music my parents played when I was a kid. It brings back too many painful memories.
My phone beeps, and I grab it off the dresser to find a text from Dany.
Dany: Have fun with your mate today. Don’t do anything too scandalous.
Rolling my eyes, I text back.
Me: It’s too soon for that.
Dany: Not when it’s with your mate. It’s inevitable. Might as well jump right on it.
A laugh escapes my lips, and I shake my head, not even attempting to respond to that text. Do I want to jump right in? More than anything. It was hard keeping my sanity around Micah all those years ago. Now with him being my mate, it’s a million times harder.
Rummaging through my things, I pick out a pair of fluffy socks and slide them on before going downstairs. The smell of cinnamon and maple syrup fills the air, and my stomach growls even more.
“I am so freaking hungry,” I grumble, turning the corner into the kitchen. Micah doesn’t look at me, but he smirks as he scoops the last piece of French toast onto the pile of others. Then, in my mind, I can feel his presence. Sheepishly, I close my eyes. “You were in my head, weren’t you?”
When my eyelids lift, and I meet Micah’s gaze, he shrugs and widens his smile. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” He hands me a plate and steps out of the way so I can reach the food. “And don’t worry, I’ll move at your pace. The last thing I want to do is pressure you into anything you’re not ready for.”
My eyes rake down his body, all clad in his worn jeans and a tight, dark blue T-shirt. The first thought that comes to me is, I want to rip them off. I want to—
Jerking my head away, I clear my throat and my mind, trying desperately to think of the food. “Okay, I think it’s time to eat.” I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks, so I make sure to keep my face away from Micah while I pile my plate high with four pieces of French toast.
“I thought we could hang around here today,” Micah suggests. “Maybe talk and just be alone together. I want to hear everything.”
There are two empty glasses on the table with a selection of orange, apple, or cranberry juice. After setting my plate down, I grab the orange juice and fill my glass. “Well, as you know, the others and I moved from place to place.”
Micah brings over the syrup and hands it to me before sitting across from me.
“Thanks,” I say, pouring it all over my toast. “I haven’t had French toast in years. Dany was always a pancake girl, so that’s usually what we’d make.”
Smiling, Micah pours himself a glass of orange juice. “It was always French toast with Faith and me when she was little.”
“Yeah, I remember. Bailey and Faith always smelled like syrup on Saturdays. Their mother would make French toast for them.”
Micah’s grin saddens. “A lot changed that night seventeen years ago.”
I take a bite of my food. “Yes, it did.”
The cinnamon and sugar on the French toast burst in my mouth, making my stomach demand more. I eat another forkful and another until all four pieces are gone. After not eating for three days, I’ve become a ravenous beast. I could probably eat another ten slices.
Micah snorts under his breath. “There’s more. I can tell you’re still hungry.”
“Do you find it entertaining that you can hear my thoughts?” I ask, pursing my lips playfully. The mischievous twinkle in his eyes is my answer. I reach into his mind, and even though he isn’t thinking anything specific, I can feel his desire and happiness to be around me. It warms my heart.
Sliding out of my seat, I get up, walk over to the food, and snatch up another two pieces of French toast. “There is one thing I wish I’d done differently the night the Yukons attacked,” I confess, feeling the regret I kept buried inside of me.
When I sit down at the table, Micah’s brows furrow curiously at me. “And that would be?”
“I wanted to stay and fight for our pack. I was eighteen and strong. I could’ve done some damage.” My eyes shrink away from his piercing gaze.
In my mind, I can see my father. His eyes glowed like burning flames when he demanded I leave with Stark and Dany. He said I had to live, that if the Yukons took me, I’d wish I were dead. I let Micah see it all in my mind.
His voice is a low growl when he speaks, “They would’ve mated you off to one of them and used you as a baby maker to make more royals.”
The thought makes me tremble. “I try not to think about that, but I know it’s the truth. It killed me having to leave.” I lift my eyes to his. “A part of me wanted to leave with you and Faith, but Stark was my protector, and you were Faith’s. I had to go where Stark thought was best.”
Micah nods. “My brothers and I knew that separating was our best chance of survival. We already saw what happened with our parents.”
I’ll never forget the night of the war for as long as I live. Hopefully, I’ve made my parents proud of who I’ve become. A small smile spreads across Micah’s face as he finishes his food. I know he heard my thoughts. In all honesty, I like him in my head. There’s nothing in my mind I want to hide.
“The same goes for me,” Micah murmurs in my head. “I like having you close.”
I finish off the two pieces of toast on my plate and smile. “You know, traveling around to all the states was kind of fun. We never stayed in one place long, and we did our best to avoid other wolves. I’ve seen so much it’s insane.”
Micah leans back in his chair. “I haven’t been able to see the world until a few months ago when I went on the search for you.”
“Sounds kind of lonely,” I say sadly.
He tips his chin in agreement. “It was.”
“I thought that way as well. Even with Stark and Dany around, I felt alone at times. I missed having a pack around.” I let him see the images in my head. Some are playing board games with Bailey, Faith, and Dany, while the others are of him. We’d steal glances at each other, and every time I’d feel the butterflies in my stomach.
Micah smiles and opens his mind to me with visions of his own. I could see myself through his eyes and feel what was in his soul every time he looked at me.
“I always thought you were beautiful,” Micah murmurs in my head.
“We had a good life back then, but it was taken away along with everyone I loved. For years, I was angry. The Yukons took Bailey, and all we could do was run away. I hated that we weren’t strong enough.”
Micah’s eyes blaze for a split second before turning back to a calming blue. “Oh, we were strong. Don’t ever doubt that. It just wasn’t the right time. My brothers and I, and Stark, all had you and the others to keep safe. It took many years, but the Yukons paid for what they did to us.”
I finish off the last of my orange juice. “And I wish I was there. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a royal, but it’s honestly sucked until now. I know I don’t have to run anymore.” Taking my plate and glass, I place them in the sink and rinse them.
Micah gets up and does the same, his body next to mine. “No, you don’t have to run anymore. You have me to protect you.” He slides in behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
I lean into him, loving the feel of his warmth all around me. “I wonder how long it would’ve taken for the mating signs to appear if I’d left with you and Faith. We could’ve protected her together.”
His body shakes with laughter. “Life would’ve been a lot easier if that was the case. Faith was a handful. Now that she’s mated and off living in Montana, I find that I miss her. She was such a huge part of my life.”
Turning around in his arms, I wrap my arms around his neck. Being this close to him again is such a comfort. I feel at home, at peace. “I can’t wait to see her tonight.”
His hands caress my back, and I shiver in response. Then, ever so gently, he leans down and presses his lips to mine. I open up to him, and he tastes me, making my body tingle with desire. I crave more. More of his touch, more of his lips. Just … more. Micah moans into my mouth and steps back.
“Being around you is dangerous.”
I can feel his wants and needs, the hunger he has for me. It fuels my yearning for him and multiplies it tenfold.
Exhaling slow, Micah takes my hand and leads me into the living room. I know I told Dany it was too soon, but I’m starting to think otherwise. “Dammit, Raelynn.” Micah laughs. “When you think things like that, it makes me want to tell everyone not to come over tonight.” He pulls me over to the couch and rests his arm behind me as I sit down.
“I’m sorry.” I giggle, leaning into his side. “It’s hard not to have those thoughts after you kiss me.”
Micah waves a hand in the air. “Think of something else so it distracts me.”
The first thing that comes to mind is Faith. He hasn’t told me much about his time with her over the years. “Okay. Where did you go after you ran away with Faith?”
He blows out a sigh. “Well, after the attack, we fled to California. Not long after that, I started up a landscaping business. Faith helped and acquired quite a talent for landscape design. I homeschooled her, and we laid low until we moved here.”
“Landscaping, huh? Guess that means I’ll never have to cut the grass.”
Micah squeezes his arms playfully around me. “Hell no. I don’t want you touching my expensive lawnmower.”
I smack his leg. “Hey, I’m fine with that. Although, it might be kind of fun to plant some flowers one day. I never got the chance because we moved around all the time.”
He kisses the side of my head. “I’d love for you to plant some here. This is your home.”
I sit up so I can look around at his cabin. “It’s a beautiful home.”
Micah beams. “Zayne was my architect,” he says, waving a hand about the room. “He did all of this for me.”
“He did a fantastic job. Colin told us about his and Zayne’s architectural firm. Their business is booming.” I love Colin like a brother, but he does like to boast at times. For example, he enjoys telling people of the many celebrities he’s designed houses for.
“Yes, it is,” Micah agrees, glowing with pride for his brother.
“Tell me about what you did when you joined the pack here?” I ask. It used to be the Teton pack, but now since there are so many mated royals in it, it’s evolved to the new Royal pack.
Micah shrugs. “There’s not much to tell. When I moved here, I was still watching over Faith. Amelie and Laila joined the pack shortly after, and I spent my time training them. Then, Amelie ended up being Zayne’s true mate, and as you know, Laila is my niece.” He shakes his head and laughs. “There are so many stories to tell. It’ll take a month to explain it all to you.”
“Don’t worry,” I cut in. “Colin kept us informed. I know everything that happened with the other royal wolves, mainly Bailey and Faith. But Colin did tell us a little about Tyla, Amelie, and Laila. Now my story can be added into the mix.”
“You’ll get to meet them all tonight. They’re your family now.”
Hearing the word family makes me smile. “Family,” I murmur low, feeling my heart swell. “I like the sound of that.”
Micah glances down at my hand and traces a finger over my knuckles. “How is it being a private investigator? What do you do?”
Excitement bubbles in my chest, and so many things come to mind. “Oh, wow, where do I start? I love being able to find things. I’ve helped solve numerous cases where people went missing. However, none of them were alive when they were found. Still, it gave those searching for them the closure they needed.” I recall all of the missing people we found in my head, and it flashes in my brain like a slide show. Most of them were just heaps of bones, but then I remember seeing pictures of them when they were whole. What rips at my heart is when there’s a child involved. I had to distance myself from those cases after I found the bones of a little girl who had been abducted fifteen years ago.
A pained expression passes across Micah’s face, but I can also feel his rage. “I can’t imagine seeing that. Did they ever find the killer?”
If they hadn’t, I would’ve used all the resources I had and hunted him down myself. “Oh yeah, they did. He was convicted of several other murders and given the death penalty. The little girl I found was his first victim; only no one had been able to find her body.” Silence fills the air, and I know Micah can feel the turmoil inside of me. I love what I do, but it comes at a price sometimes. I can’t distance myself personally. Therefore, I let the feelings get to me. When there’s a missing child, it makes me sad. When there’s a cheating spouse, I get angry.
Micah squeezes my hand. “You have a big heart, Raelynn. I’d be concerned if you didn’t feel anything while working those cases.”
“My job isn’t all heart-wrenching and dark. There is also a level of satisfaction I feel when I bust worthless ass husbands cheating on their wives.”
Micah’s gaze narrows, and he smirks. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t get men trying to nail their cheating wives?”
It happens, but it’s rare. “Out of the hundreds of cases I’ve taken, only one was like that. One, Micah. Human men are terrible.” My thoughts drift to the women who have been scorned. “I envy humans in some ways, but not when it comes to love. They don’t know what it’s like to have a true mate that’ll always be faithful and love unconditionally.”
Micah’s grin broadens. “We are lucky.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds, and I love how lost I get when I look into his eyes. “Yes, we are.”