Mated in Mist (Talon Pack #3)(52)

Roland was gone, but his legacy, the idea of a life not on the run, would not fade. She would live that for him because he never had the chance. She would fight for her people, witches and wolves.

She’d been given this gift and she wouldn’t lose it.

Once the meeting ended, the tired group of wolves headed out to their vehicles. They’d made plans for speeches, and how they would continue to try and define their narrative, but in reality, it was only the first step. If the government or Humans First came at them, they would have to be prepared to fight. They’d done their best to not kill anyone who tried to hurt them outside of their circles, but soon that might have to change.

They could only protect their families so much without resorting to a result that would end in blood and tears. That result could hurt their images, but as of now, their image was murky anyway.

Politics and media streams hurt her head, and she wanted to go back to the Pack and worry about something a little more insular than the end of the world as she knew it.

Ryder’s arm went around her shoulders as they made their way to their SUV. She leaned in to his hold and inhaled his scent. She couldn’t use her nose the way wolves could, but she still loved the smell of him. He settled her in a way she hadn’t thought possible before.

Brandon moved past them and shook his head. “Next time I’m bringing Kameron and Mitchell. You two and your mating heat are just about killing me.”

Leah bit her lip to keep from laughing, but Ryder had no qualms about chuckling. “You’d rather deal with their icy emotions than our mating?”

Brandon met Ryder’s eyes, and Leah had to hold her breath. “Their pain and ice soothes the heat at times.” With that, the Omega got into the back of the SUV, and Leah leaned in to her mate.

“Maybe we can tone it down for him.”

Ryder kissed her softly then moved back. “Maybe. It’s all so new, though, that I don’t even realize I’m doing it.” He looked over her shoulder and frowned. “Did I give you my tablet?”

She checked her bag and shook her head. “No. Did you leave it in the room?”

Ryder cursed. “Yeah. Fuck. Okay, I’ll be right back. Stay in the car.” He kissed her once more and jogged back to the building.

Leah let out a breath and got into the passenger seat of the SUV, her eyes on the building.

“You don’t have to keep your emotions tamped down around me,” Brandon said from behind her. “I’m the Omega, I feel everything. My brother deserves this happiness far more than I can even contemplate. I’d known something was wrong with him, or rather that something was hurting him for years, but I couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t help. The fact that your bond seems to have settled him just a little bit makes any oddness I feel worth it and more.”

Leah turned in her seat to look at Brandon. She didn’t know what she would do if she had to feel every single emotion of the Pack. She could feel the souls of the Pack in her heart as it was, but it was almost muted, as if the goddess were giving her time to figure out how she would help the Talons in the future. However, Brandon, and Gideon for that matter, seemed to have it at full force.

“You’re not to blame for Ryder keeping his gift a secret.” Ryder had told his family that morning what he’d been hiding all those years. They weren’t happy with him, but they’d banded together to make sure he was cared for. For that matter, Leah didn’t know how she would help him if the spirits got to be too much, but she’d damn well try. He wasn’t alone anymore, and neither was she.

“I wish he’d have told us earlier, but I understand he thought we all needed to have one good memory about our uncles. As well as the fact that he hadn’t wanted to bother anyone with his pain. We’re all idiots when it comes to protecting one another from our faults.” Brandon snorted then stared off into the distance.

She didn’t know his secrets, and it wasn’t her place to ask him about them, but she’d learn one day what it meant to be part of a family. She was a Talon now—a far greater network than merely her mother and brother.

Brandon stiffened then jumped out of the SUV. She followed him, her body on alert.

“What is it?” she asked quietly.

“I thought I heard a crash.” He met Leah’s gaze. “And Ryder should have been back by now.”

She tripped over a rock and righted herself. Goddess, no. She tried to feel the bond and came up short. She still didn’t know how to work with it. It was still so new that sometimes she couldn’t find it. It was there, she knew that at least because she hadn’t felt it break, but she couldn’t find him.

She ran after Brandon, the Redwoods on their tails since they hadn’t left yet. If the witches had hurt her mate…she balled her hands into fists, trying to keep her magic under control. They ran into the conference room and came up short.

“He’s not here,” she whispered.

Ryder’s tablet lay on the table, untouched. No one else was in the room; the witches had left the room the same time the wolves had.

“I don’t scent anyone,” Brandon growled out.

“I don’t either,” Finn added. “Fuck. Who the hell took Ryder?”

Her body shook and she reached out to grab the tablet. The metal was cold. No one had touched it since they’d left.