“Good morning,” Ryder chuckled. He kissed her neck then slid slowly out of her. “We need to shower if we’re going to make it to Brie and Gideon’s on time.”
As a former member of the Redwood Pack, Brie had been used to family dinners. The Brentwoods, it seemed, were now having weekly meals at their place. Ryder couldn’t find fault in the idea, other than the fact that it meant he had to get dressed and out of bed. But now that the others knew what he could do and what Leah would soon learn to do with her share of his craft, he didn’t want to hide from them anymore. Family meant getting the good and the bad, and he had to remember that. They had always been there for him, and he would always be there for them in turn.
Leah spooned back into him and grinned over her shoulder. “Brie is making a roast. Let’s get dressed.”
He smacked her ass then rubbed the sting. “You’re trading me in for a roast?”
She turned in his arms, gripped his dick and kissed his lips. “I need fuel so I can keep riding you long into the night. Roast first. Hot sex later.”
He laughed before kissing her again. “Deal.”
They showered quickly and made sure every inch of each other was clean before getting dressed and ready to head out. Leah grabbed the deviled eggs she’d made earlier and handed them over to him.
“You’re the big, strong wolf. You can carry these.”
He just shrugged and did as he was told like a good mate. It didn’t make much sense to argue.
Though they were still on the hunt for those who could hurt their Pack and worried about the repercussions of what Ryder had learned while in captivity, they couldn’t forget that their Pack and family needed emotional health, as well. The compound had been deserted when Kameron and Mitchell went back. The fact that it had emptied so quickly worried Ryder. That meant there was more than once place McMaster and his staff could hide.
That also meant that Shane was nowhere to be found.
The man had saved Ryder’s life and the lives of his mate and Packmates. Without Shane, the others would have had to fight to get inside the compound and back out again. He hoped Shane was alive somewhere, but he couldn’t be sure. Not anymore.
The witches were quiet, but ready to keep their side of the treaty intact. He would be forever grateful for Leah and the way she worked with Amelia. The witches and wolves were out in the public eye now. And, like they had said before, they were the ones who needed to keep the narrative threaded with truth. Ryder just hoped it was still an option.
They were fighting an unseen enemy from so many sides, it made Ryder’s head ache. But as long as he remembered that he wasn’t alone anymore, he could do it.
You’re alone, boy. You just keep forgetting it.
He didn’t wince at his uncle’s words. Didn’t acknowledge them.
Leah, however, narrowed her eyes and flicked her hand in the air. Mist surrounded them, and his uncle’s voice faded away.
Ryder just smiled at his mate; relieved that she was learning how to deal with her new powers. She couldn’t control the spirits, nor could Ryder. But they were working together to not be afraid of them. As for his uncle, well, they were learning to make the asshole go away so he wouldn’t torture Ryder anymore. Maybe one day soon they’d learn to get rid of him in truth, but first, they had a family dinner to attend.
One thing at a time, he reminded himself. One day at a time.
As they made their way to Gideon’s house, Ryder’s phone chirped. Leah gave him a questioning glance and he checked the screen, only to frown.
“I need to go to the front gates,” he said slowly. “There’s someone there who is asking for me.”
Leah’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”
He nodded. It was unusual, as humans couldn’t actually see the wards nor the den, though they tried. That meant whoever it was had to be at least part supernatural. Maybe. Things were changing daily so he really didn’t know anymore.
“Do you want to go on to the house?” he asked, knowing the answer before he’d even asked the question.
She just raised her brow and took the eggs from him. “Keep your claws ready, wolf boy.”
With that, he kissed her forehead and they made their way to the gates. As soon as he caught sight of who stood there, he broke out into a run. He heard Leah set the eggs down on the ground and follow him, her legs pumping as fast as she could.
“Shane?” he called out.
The human stood—barely—and raised his chin. Sweat poured down his face and he looked as if he’d been through hell and back.
“I need your help, Ryder,” the human panted. With that, Shane fell to the ground, his head slamming into the dirt.
Ryder cursed and pushed through the wards, going to his knees to check Shane’s pulse. It beat rapidly, and the man’s skin was cool and clammy. There was a gunshot wound on his side, but from the scent, someone had patched him up.
However, that wasn’t the only thing in the man’s scent. A tang he couldn’t quite place was mixed with the human scent Shane had held before. Something had happened to him, something bad.