Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(78)

Markham instinctively stumbled backward, only to halt when he realized what he was doing. Then, clearly embarrassed by his revealing retreat, he grabbed the papers and ripped them in two.

“You can shove your threats up your ass,” he snapped, tossing the paper to the ground.

“Those are copies,” Jonah warned, his smile revealing his elongated fangs. “I have a hundred more all printed and ready to go by courier post at daybreak.”

The Director deliberately glanced toward the collar that encircled Jonah’s neck. A reminder that the government considered shifters second-class citizens.

“You don’t frighten me.”

“I should. You crossed a line.” Jonah pointed a finger in the man’s face. “You and the SAU will pay for that.”

“No. You’re the one who’ll pay.” The two men glared at one another, but in the end, it was the human who was forced to back down. Trying to pretend he hadn’t been neatly outwitted, the Director spun around and stomped back down the hill. “Come on,” he commanded his guards.

Watching the humans scramble back into their Hummers and speed away, Holden glanced at his companion.

“You think this is over?”

Jonah grimaced, rubbing a weary hand over the back of his neck.

“Nope. But I think they realize that we’re not going to be spineless victims forever,” he muttered.

Reaching out, Holden laid his hand on Jonah’s shoulder. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

****

A week later, Soren snuggled on the bed with his beautiful mate.

The trip back to the compound from the SAU headquarters had been a gut-wrenching effort. Even after they’d managed to slip out the back gate and disappear into the woods, he’d been terrified they were going to be tracked down before he could get Cora to safety. And if he’d hoped for more than the basic necessities from the Unseen bunker, he was destined to be disappointed.

Following the map, they’d come to a small cabin where they’d found a couple of pairs of sweats, some water, and the keys to a pickup that was older than Soren. He assumed that at least one or two of the elusive shifters were nearby, but they’d refused to show themselves.

With no choice, Soren had urged Cora into the truck, and they’d chugged their way through the thick forest, wincing as the stupid engine backfired loud enough to alert any human within a ten-mile radius.

Thankfully, no one had stopped them, and they’d eventually made their way back to the compound.

Over the past few days, they’d worked to put the past behind them, determinedly concentrating on building their future together. And the evening before, they’d formally celebrated their mating with a communal dinner followed by the mating marks.

Holden had insisted on personally doing Soren’s tattoo, adding an exquisite cat to the Pack symbol and blending it seamlessly with the mark he had done when he’d mated Leah. It’d been Cora who’d urged him not cover up his previous tattoo. She understood that the young female wolf had claimed a part of his past, and instead of trying to banish Leah from his memory, insisted that they celebrate her too-short life.

Jonah had done Cora’s tattooing, pretending to be horrified, even as he’d created a large wolf that stood guard next to a smaller tiger.

Soren knew exactly what her father was demanding of him.

Mate. Protector. And most importantly…partner.

Leaning his cheek against the top of Cora’s head, he watched as she lightly traced her new tattoo. The morning sunlight slanted through the window, warning that the day had already started, but he was in no hurry to move.

Not when Cora’s naked body was pressed tightly against him.

As far as he was concerned, this was where he intended to spend the next few hours.

“Well?” he murmured as she continued to stroke her fingers over the mating mark.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

He buried his nose in her reddish-gold curls, breathing deeply of her scent.

“Now the world knows that you belong to me,” he said, smug satisfaction laced through his tone.

She reached to touch his tattoo, her own smile filled with satisfaction.

“And you belong to me,” she said.

“Forever.”

“Forever,” she echoed.

A peaceful silence settled in the cozy room. A peace that Soren was reluctant to break. There was, after all, a hope that they could enjoy another bout of hot, sweaty sex within the next half hour.

But, dammit, after a week of waiting for Cora to take the initiative, he was tired of waiting. She was his mate, and it was time for her to take the final step.

Clearing his throat, he lifted his head so he could watch her reaction to his words.

“Now that we are officially mated, I think it’s time you move in with me.”

Her lips twitched. Was she laughing at his gruff tone, or the idea of living with him? Neither did anything for his male pride.

“Yes,” she at last murmured.

His wolf stirred with a restless annoyance. “You could be a little more enthusiastic,” he muttered.

Tilting back her head, she met his searching gaze. “We’re going to have to discuss some guidelines.”

Her teasing tone eased his wolf and allowed him to shake off his brief flare of nerves.

“Guidelines, hmm?” He leaned down to kiss the top of her nose. “Why do I think I’m about to be nagged by my wife?”