Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(103)
Holding Shaya to him, Nick approached. “Thank you for coming to our aid, Devereaux.”
Vinnie looked at him. “Didn’t do it for you. Did it for Maddie.”
Nick shrugged. “Madisyn’s one of mine. I’ll always be grateful to anyone who gives her any help, whether the rest of us benefit from that help or not.”
Vinnie stared at him, studying him hard, and then gave a nod. “She’s one of mine too. Not officially. She would never have joined our pride. But she’s under our protection.”
Bracken heard what Vinnie didn’t say: And we’ll protect her from you, if need be.
Nick must have heard that warning too because he nodded. “I get it. But that goes both ways.”
Mouth curving, Vinnie tilted his head. “I think I could like you, Axton.”
Nick’s lips pursed. “I can’t say the same, but all right.”
That just made Vinnie laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Later that night, long after the cats had left and everyone had retired for the night, Bracken sat on the top step of their back porch with his mate—who was dressed in only his shirt—between his legs. His face tucked into the crook of her neck, his chest bare, he kept his arms wrapped tightly around her. As they sat there, enjoying the peace that had settled over them, Bracken pressed the occasional kiss to her throat, cheek, temple, and hair. Her fingers doodled patterns on his jean-clad thighs, sometimes tracing her name there.
His wolf was resting, utterly relaxed, just breathing her in; Bracken and his wolf filled their senses with her.
He was pretty sure all the mated couples were doing exactly what they were doing just then. Holding each other, touching, kissing, and reminding themselves that they were alive.
It might have seemed strange for them to be relaxed, considering they’d been caught up in a battle not so long ago. But when you came close to losing the person you loved most and then had the pleasure of holding them, assured that they were now safe and well, there wasn’t anything more calming than that.
Of course, they probably wouldn’t have been so peaceful if they had lost any of the pack in the battle. Although many wolves and cats had been seriously wounded, Ally, Taryn, and two pallas healers had worked fast to heal them all.
Sensing that his mate was deep in thought, Bracken asked, “What are you thinking?” He idly slipped his hand down the front of the shirt and lightly cupped her breast, feeling her nipple pebble against his palm. She playfully bit his arm, and he snatched back his hand to tug on her hair. “That wasn’t nice.”
Madisyn chuckled, feeling more serene than she had in a long time. Her cat was lazing, tail curled around her, completely content. “Yeah, well, you already fucked me on this porch once tonight—and most vigorously.” Her back was killing her. “Next time, I want a bed.” She felt his mouth curve against her neck.
“I like fucking you on a hard surface. It means there’s no give, and I can pound my cock deep inside you.”
“How romantic.”
He snorted. “Now tell me what you were thinking.”
“I was wondering if we’ll face any shit from the rest of the Tundra Pack, given that their Alpha’s now dead,” she replied. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” He traced over a faint line on the back of her hand—it was all that was left of a vicious claw mark. Their wounds were all virtually healed now, and the pain was gone. “They accepted Nick’s account of what happened when they came for the bodies, didn’t seem in the least bit surprised, so they must have known about Shaw’s deal with Archer. They didn’t make any threats.”
“Yeah, but Claudia wasn’t one of the people who came. We have no idea how she’s taken this.”
Bracken suspected Claudia’s mother and security team had recommended that she remain behind when the others arrived to collect the bodies, considering she was the reason that Shaw came at them in the first place.
“She already hates us, so I doubt she’d have any problem causing problems for us,” Madisyn added.
“Still, I think it’s unlikely that the rest of her pack will want to. Their number has just undergone a dramatic loss, so that leaves them vulnerable. They could cause a storm if they want, but there would be little point in retaliating. The others fought us and lost—it’s as simple as that. That’s the risk you take when you challenge another pack. Everyone knows that.” He smoothed his hand over her thigh. “It didn’t occur to me that Brookson was supposed to serve as a distraction. Not until it was too late.”
Sensing his frustration at himself, Madisyn lightly grazed the side of his face with her fingers. “Everyone’s okay, although it was a close call for some—especially Marcus, who I’ll adore forever simply for helping Dawn get out of the creek when Charity came lumbering at me. My heart stopped when I saw her tumble into the water, but I couldn’t get to her.”
Bracken pressed a comforting kiss to her neck. “She’s fine now. Ally healed her. Honestly, I think Dawn’s pride was hurt more than anything else.”
“Yeah. She’s an alpha. Logically, she knows that she couldn’t have fought her way out of that situation with the bears, but that hasn’t stopped her from seething at herself about it. Still, she got to spit on Archer’s body, so that cheered her.”