Buried and Shadowed (Branded Packs #3)(68)

She didn’t know why fate had been kind enough to offer her a male like Sinclair, but she wasn’t going to risk losing him. Not again.

This time, she intended to snatch happiness with both hands.

Just as soon as they saved the world.

Clearly agreeing that they needed to concentrate on the precious opportunity to expose the SAU as liars, Sinclair glanced toward the laptop.

“How long before the video is loaded?”

“It’s loaded,” she told him, glad that Donaldson was willing to spend government dollars on a top-of-the-line computer. It worked at lightning-speed. “Give me five minutes to make sure it’s streaming to every station.”

Sinclair pulled out his phone, waiting for the bluetooth to sync before calling his Pack.

“Rios,” he said when a male answered. “I’ve got what we need,” he said, a tense satisfaction edging his voice. “Warn Bree that the party starts in five minutes.”

****

Sinclair had just bathed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt when he caught the scent of the approaching jaguar.

With a glance at the naked woman who was tangled in the sheets of his bed, he reluctantly headed toward the mouth of the cave that served as his private lair.

It’d been almost twenty-four hours since the video had hit the television stations.

The reaction had been as cataclysmic as they had hoped.

It wasn’t just the videos that had been incontrovertible proof that the head of the SAU was responsible for the Verona Virus. Or the knowledge that it was the shifters that had provided the necessary blood to create a vaccine to save the human race.

It was also Bree’s press conference where she’d answered a seemingly endless barrage of questions with a calm composure that soon had even the most rabid journalist satisfied that they were telling the truth.

Once it had ended, they’d joined together as a Pack and celebrated for hours, singing and dancing with a joy that they hadn’t experienced in far too long.

None of them were foolish enough to think it was all over. Although the shifters were leaving the compounds, they all understood that the prejudices against them wouldn’t vanish overnight. And, certainly, the bitterness the shifters felt towards humans wouldn’t instantly disappear.

It would take time and effort to heal the wounds and come together to build a new future.

But for now, it was enough to know that they were free.

And for Sinclair, the night of celebration was even more life altering.

Mira had not only agreed to become his mate, but she’d requested that they exchange their vows in a human wedding. It had been her way of offering her love and commitment for the rest of her life.

It was a gift he deeply cherished.

Now he leaned against the chilled stone of his cave, watching as Rios appeared out of the early morning mist.

“Hey, sorry to bother you,” the younger man said, his jaw recently shaven and wearing a pair of black slacks and a crisp white shirt.

Clearly, he was prepared for the day.

Sinclair shrugged. “That’s okay. Mira’s asleep.” His lips twisted in a rueful smile. The poor woman had passed out a few hours ago. He hoped she spent most of the day sleeping; otherwise, she was going to be very sorry she’d drunk that last bottle of wine. “She’s not used to shifter parties.”

Rios flashed a smile. “We’ve had a lot to celebrate. The freedom of our people. The end of the SAU.” His smile widened. “The upcoming wedding of our Alpha.”

Mira was nothing short of a hero after she’d managed to upload Lowman’s video to every network and thus transmit it to every TV across the world.

“The SAU isn’t ended yet,” Sinclair warned. He didn’t want them to forget that there was still danger.

Rios reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. Then sliding his finger over the screen, he turned the phone toward Sinclair.

“Take a look at the morning paper,” he said.

Sinclair leaned forward, reading the headline out loud.

“Colonel Ranney to be publically tried for treason.” His breath hissed through his teeth, a savage flare of satisfaction racing through him. When he was young, he’d had a picture of the bastard taped to the wall. He’d intended to rip out his throat with his fangs. Strangely, however, he had to admit that the thought of the pompous ass suffering a public humiliation was even better. “I’ve waited twenty-five years for revenge,” he said with a low growl. “It’s as sweet as I anticipated.”

Rios nodded. “And now that you have your revenge, what are your plans?”

Sinclair didn’t hesitate. “Now I intend to concentrate on pleasing my new mate,” he said. “What about you?”

Something that might have been a blush stained the younger man’s cheeks.

“I’m leaving with Bree.”

Sinclair arched a brow, pretending to be surprised. Did Rios think that the entire Pack hadn’t noticed when the two had snuck away from the party long before it was over?

“Really?”

“She’s going in search of her parents,” Rios explained. “I intend to help.”

Sinclair nodded. There would be a lot of families eager to reunite.

“Does she know about your intentions?” he asked.

“I thought I would let it be a surprise,” Rios said with a soft chuckle.