Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(38)

“We are already running late as it is. I promised Mandy I’d be there to help set up the food tables for the bonfire.”

The wolves would have their annual bonfire to celebrate the lives of those lost? and the lives of those still with them. It had been three weeks since they’d seen or heard a guard. Ariel wasn’t sure what that meant, but it had kept everyone on edge. The consequences of Claire’s betrayal—as well as Holden’s and Ariel’s—would soon come to light. However, for that night, they would do their best to push that form their minds and be who they were.

Shifters.

She kissed him quickly then tried to make her way to the door, only to have Holden wrap his arms around her waist.

“Not so fast, siren.” He kissed her temple and she shivered. She turned in his arms and leaned into him, craving him more now than she had the first time he’d held her. “I love you, my Ariel, my mate. I should have said that before, but I didn’t. And for that, I am sorry. I love you so f*cking much. No matter what happens with the Pack and with the ones around us, I want you to know that you will always be in my heart and my soul.”

Tears filled her eyes and she lifted onto her toes to kiss him softly, her heart so full she could barely breathe. “I love you, too. You’re everything to me. You’re my mate, my Alpha, and my soul. I know we came together in the worst way possible, but I don’t regret my love for you and our chance at a future one bit. I know that the future won’t be easy, but I will never leave your side. You’re everything to me. You’re mine as I am yours.”

Holden growled and crushed his mouth to hers. She moaned into him, her wolf brushing along her skin, wanting contact as well. Holden backed her to the wall, his hard cock pressed against her belly. With a sigh, she pulled away from his mouth, trying to catch her breath.

“We can’t be late, Holden.”

He growled softly then pressed a kiss to her mouth once more. “Fine. But when we get back, I’m f*cking you hard into the bed. It's only fair.”

She snorted. “Okay, if that’s what you want.” She let out a put-on sigh. He slapped her ass and she jumped. “Dude.”

“Dude.” He wiggled his eyebrows, forcing a laugh from her. She loved when he showed his playful side. He didn’t let it out often, and she had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to that many more times in the near future, but she’d take what she could get now.

They tangled their fingers together and made their way to the den center. People gathered around, saying their greetings and working on setting up the event. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Claire lurking around.

In the end, the other woman’s fate had been on Ariel’s shoulders. While some might have killed her since it was the way of wolves, Ariel hadn’t been able to do it. Instead, she forced the woman to live in a world where she was part of the cause of what would come. She would be forced to watch the pain and death if that was what the humans decided. If the humans rebelled and found a way to use this newfound knowledge for their own gain, Claire’s fate would be worse than death.

As it was, the Pack had shunned her. Claire lost her rank as a dominant and now tried to be part of a Pack that didn’t want her.

Ariel didn’t envy her in the slightest, but she did pity her.

Holden let out a small grow. “Stop it. You made your choice, and so did she.”

“I understand that, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Seeing her reminds me of the role I played.”

“The role you played was to survive. What’s done is done. Now let’s celebrate with our Pack.” He kissed her once more, and she moaned. That man could make her drunk on his taste alone. He broke off the kiss and left her with Mandy while he went to help Soren prepare the bonfire.

As they set up the food area, Ariel and Mandy talked of trivial things, their focus on that night rather than the future. As the sun began to set, the hairs on the back of Ariel’s neck stood on end.

She lifted her head, her wolf on edge. Five guards strolled in, guns at the ready and their faces set. Ariel didn’t see the guard who had helped them before.

She quickly moved to Holden’s side. Her mate stood in front of her, but didn’t push her back. That he valued her presence spoke volumes of both of their dominances.

“Holden,” a new guard she hadn’t seen before called out. “We have a letter for you from the leader of the SAU.”

Ariel frowned as Holden moved forward and took the letter from the human.

“You’ll have a month to set up. Don’t waste time.” With that, the humans fell back, leaving the wolves alone and confused as ever.

“What does it say?” she asked as Holden ripped open the envelope.

He let out a curse, his hands fisting. “They found their punishment.”

“What?” Soren asked.

Holden met Soren’s gaze and Ariel saw a look pass over her mate’s face she didn’t understand. “They’re moving the Feline Pack into our compound. It seems we’re going to share the space.”

Soren paled, his hands fisted at his side.

Ariel blinked. “What does that mean?” she asked. She was still so new to the shifter world; she didn’t understand all the dynamics that came with it.

“It means the SAU changed the game. The Felines have never been our enemy, nor have they been our friends. They have an Alpha of their own, a culture of their own.” Holden took a breath, and Ariel put her hand on his hip, knowing he needed her touch to calm down. “There was a reason the SAU separated us in the first place. Felines and Canines together has never ended well.”