Little ripples of pleasure echoed through my body as he gently cleaned my oversensitive folds. He tossed the towel aside and lifted me higher into the bed, tucking me under the covers and climbing in beside me.
He snuggled my back against his chest, kissing my shoulder before he rolled over to turn off the lights.
“I’ll always come back to you,” he whispered as I fell asleep.
54
Remy
It didn’t seem like this should be a day that would decide the fate of my pack and my friends.
Waking up with Skye wrapped around my body had felt nothing but right. It was hard not to be blissed out when I woke up with her at my side. Hell, even the day didn’t seem to get the memo about how serious today was.
We got out of the car and into the clearing the Windale pack used for challenges. The sun shone brightly in the sky, the cool air warming into what would be a picturesque spring day. Even freaking birds chased each other overhead.
I glanced around at the Norwood pack waiting for their Alpha across the clearing. Some of them openly glared back at us, but several just looked bored. I wondered how fast things would change when I beat Damien.
If I beat Damien.
Our people were on the other side, and a lot of the Windale pack had come to watch. Most of them stayed on our side, their allegiance openly showing.
Unease thrummed low in my gut and made my wolf anxious. The urge to start pacing was like a growing itch with no relief in sight.
Skye leaned against me, her arms wrapped around mine as our friends approached.
Katy broke away from them and ran up to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders. “You better win.”
I hugged her back as Skye let me go. “That’s the plan, Kit-Kat.”
Katy stepped back and blinked up at me with suspiciously wet eyelashes. “If I have to go home without you ... “ She swallowed roughly.
I nodded, knowing what she meant.
Tate was next, hugging me fast and hard.
“Remember what my dad taught you,” she whispered in my ear before moving back. “You’ve got this, Remy.”
Ryder pulled her back, his tattooed arms wrapping around her chest as he rested his chin on her shoulder and watched me. Dante filled Tate’s empty space and grabbed me in a one-armed hug before clapping my back.
“Whatever happens, it’s going to be okay,” he told me firmly. His gaze flicked to the side where Skye was standing. “You know we’ll protect her.”
“Thanks,” I replied, clearing my throat.
Larkin followed, standing solemnly in front of me.
“Hey, Lark,” I greeted gently.
Her lower lip trembled for a second. “You can’t lose.”
My heart twisted, and I pulled her in for a hug. “You’re not going anywhere except home with Rhodes. Trace won’t touch you.”
She sniffled and pulled away with a deep frown. “No, dumbass. You can’t lose because we need you. Fuck Trace. I’ll claw his eyes out myself.”
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. The tiny, soft-spoken kitten was rapidly evolving into a lioness. The change in the last few months had been massive, which was good since now she had to deal with Rhodes for the rest of her life.
“Got it,” I replied with a grin, shifting my attention to Rhodes as he stepped up beside her.
“This fucking sucks,” he said flatly.
I snorted and nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’m going to be pissed if I have to find a new best friend,” he added offhandedly, but I could see the open emotion simmering in his eyes. He was worried.
So was I.
I opted to play it off instead. “Yeah, well, when you put it that way, I guess I have to win.”
He grinned at me. “Exactly.”
After a second of watching me, he wrapped his arms around me in a bone-crushing hug. “I love you, bro.”
I returned the hug and shoved down the rising tide of emotion. “I love you, too, man.”
Sniffing, Rhodes moved away and pulled Larkin with him as a car drove towards the clearing. That would be Damien.
I reached for Skye and drew her away from the others.
“I’m scared,” she admitted, her fingers curling into the belt loops on my jeans.
“Me too,” I replied softly. I leaned in and kissed her forehead, letting myself take a second to inhale her sweet citrus scent.
“Whatever happens, stay by your dad, okay?” I asked as I looked down at her.
She nodded slowly. “I will.”
A car door closed behind me and I felt Skye tense, her eyes peeking over my shoulder.
“He’s here,” she murmured before sucking in a sharp breath and looking up at me.
“Okay,” I said softly, cupping her face in my hands and kissing her. I licked into her mouth slowly, taking the time to explore and memorize the way she felt. The way she tasted. The sound of her breath hitching as I deepened the kiss.
But I refused to believe this was the last time I would feel her lips under mine.
Reluctantly, I pulled away. “Go on, babe.”
She bit down on her lower lip. “I love you.”
“I love you.” My eyes tracked her as she headed back to where her father was waiting.
Nikolai gave me a grim nod as I turned to watch Damien approach with Trace and Griffin. Trace broke away to stand with his pack, a shit-eating grin on his face as he watched me.
“We all know how this works,” Griffin said loudly, standing between us. “Fight to submission or death.”
Damien smiled at me.
Death.
Neither of us would submit.
The realization rolled through me like a thunderstorm.
“Winner gets control of the packs,” Griffin finished. He exhaled heavily and looked at me. “May the best man win.”
He slowly back away to the Blackwater side, a move Damien didn’t miss.
“If you withdraw now,” Damien said quietly, “I’ll let you live. I’ll even let you keep your pretty little mate.”
My eyebrows rose. “Making deals? That seems a little … desperate.”
His eyes flashed. “Speaking of deals, where is my uncle?”
I glanced back at Dimitri and nodded. A second later, Elias was pulled forward. He looked old and pitiful, his head hanging.
“Maren,” I gritted out.
Damien waved his hand, and Maren appeared a second later between two huge guys. I heard Katy suck in a deep breath behind me.
Maren looked okay. A little dazed, which turned into panic as soon as she saw Katy and started to struggle in earnest.
“Tate, no,” Ryder hissed behind me, likely restraining her physically to get to her best friend.
“Let her go.” I didn’t hesitate to give Damien the command, but I knew it was likely useless.
His eyes locked with mine. He stripped his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. “No. If you want her, you’ll have to win.”
I started taking off my own clothes, readying to shift. Still, it was hard not to size up Damien.
He was in shape. His muscles moved fluidly as he took off his clothes. He might have had twenty years on me, but he was fit and ready for this fight.
I shoved away the last of my insecurities and worries, surrendering to the shift with a snarl that cracked through the air.