The two weeks they had given themselves at the resort in order to get to know each other passed both quickly and slowly. They spent a lot of time on the beach, talking and sharing their lives. He was such a strong male, full of loyalty to his family and pack, concerned that everyone was being taken care of. By the time their stay on the island drew to a close, she’d never felt closer to anyone in her life. He didn’t just turn her on with his sexy smile, he obliterated her senses with his passion, making sure that she was taken care of first. It hadn’t taken long for her mate to claim her heart. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of in the lonely nights of her youth. Somehow, they’d both gone to the island for the first time and found each other.
Mack zipped up his suitcase and turned to face her. “What are you thinking about so seriously?”
“That fate is a funny thing.”
“Oh?”
“Well, we’re from two different states, and our shifter groups couldn’t be more different. And we both happened to come to Florida for a singles’ gathering.”
“I’m thankful for fate.”
“Me too,” she said.
“Are you ready?”
She looked at her bags and glanced around the room. “Yep. Are you sure we got enough souvenirs for Whisper? I still have room in my carry-on.”
He laughed as he shouldered his bag and grasped the handle of one of her rolling suitcases. “I’m positive.”
“It’s nice to be part of a big family. It’s felt like just me and my parents for such a long time. And Tonya. She’s kind of like a crazy sister.”
“Well, now she’s my crazy sister too. And my big family is yours.”
They checked out of the resort and took a cab to the airport. Mack had changed their flights, and they sat together in first class on their way to the airport nearest her clan’s mountains. The three-hour flight was just long enough for her to take a nap, leaning against his strong shoulder. When they picked up their bags from baggage claim, she dialed Tonya’s cell. She had promised to pick them up and was expecting Miracle’s call.
“That’s weird. It went right to voicemail,” she said.
“What color car does she drive? Maybe she’s here and her phone is dead.”
Miracle followed him out of the airport. They stood on the sidewalk and looked up and down the street, but there were just a few shuttles and several cabs. She didn’t see Tonya’s white sedan.
She dialed her friend’s number several more times. Then she tried her mom’s cell phone.
“I was wondering when you would call,” Tais said.
A chill ran down her spine. “What are you doing with my mom’s phone?”
Mack put his hand on her shoulder, and she moved the phone from her ear and pressed the speaker button.
“Oh, I was just visiting my in-laws. They’re getting up in age, you know. It’s a shame that you’re such a selfish bitch who went off to go fuck random shifters, and left them all alone.”
“They’re not your in-laws anymore, Tais. Our mating was dissolved by the council, with your uncle’s approval. I want to talk to my parents. Put them on the phone, now.”
“Aw,” he said, tsking. “You’re not even going to ask me where that ice bitch friend of yours is?”
Dread pooled in her stomach. “Tonya? Where is she? What have you done?”
“Nothing much, really.” His voice drawled a little, and she could imagine the smarmy smile on his face as he toyed with her. “I followed you when you got your tattoo. I didn’t know that dragon tears were so valuable. After you left the shop, I talked to the owner. Did you know he’s a wizard? They’re crazy into buying valuable potions. I offered to get him some dragon tears, fresh from the source, and let’s just say he was very happy to partner with me.”
She imagined her mom, with her silver-white hair and crinkly blue eyes, being forced into her shift and then made to cry. She was shaking so hard that Mack took the phone from her and pressed the button to take it off speaker.
“What do you want?” Mack demanded. Miracle could hear Tais screaming through the phone, but couldn’t make out his words. “I’m her mate, that’s who, chosen by her dragon. You’ll release her family or I’ll take you apart piece by piece.”
She could hear the venom in Mack’s voice, and was very certain in that moment that he would absolutely kill to save her family.
Mack pulled the phone from his ear as Tais went on another screaming bender, and Miracle pushed the speaker button again.
“She took everything from me! If she doesn’t dismiss the dissolution and come back to me as my mate, I’ll take everything from her, starting with her precious mother.”
“You took it all yourself,” Miracle said. “You never once treated me well in twenty years! I won’t come back to you.”