The explosion rattled the large SUV, and Dominick slammed them to a stop. “Fuck!”
Something inside had ignited, and the result? Flames licked at a tree, one of hundreds, thousands. Tinder waiting for just a spark to ignite.
And what did she decide to do?
“I’m going to find them.” Nimway spilled out of the truck, ready to hunt, and she wasn’t alone.
The Hubbards flanked her, dazed but determined.
“Which way?” Dominick asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s split up; we’ll cover more ground.”
The siblings went off, Maeve charging ahead first, the brothers spreading out from her. They concentrated on the area around the building where the heat proved most intense. Survival would send the smart ones fleeing to safety, away from the fire.
It took two sweeps before Nimway picked up Stefan’s scent. After that, she tracked him easily enough, even in her human shape. He’d shifted.
She could smell the feline, musky and familiar. She’d know her husband’s scent anywhere. The trail led her through the trees away from the smoke. Away from everyone.
When the scent stopped dead, so did her feet. She didn’t need to look up to know where he’d gone.
“You going to pounce me, husband?” She glanced overhead as she said it. Saw him perched in the tree, a beautiful creature, his colors vivid, his lines lean and impressive. She might be wolf and him a cat, making him her opposite, yet there was no denying the powerful grace of the feline who leapt from the bough of the tree and landed before her.
She started to reach out a hand and paused. Hadn’t he claimed, when he shifted, he lacked control? That he became a blood-crazed beast?
She stared at him.
He stared back.
“Is that you in there?” she asked.
He cocked his head.
“Guess you can’t answer. Can you shift?”
She’d swear he rolled his shoulders.
“How did you shift in the first place?”
He made a rawring sound. A low rumbly complaint.
“You have no idea, eh?” she mused aloud. Then she smiled at her tiger of a husband. “Better figure out how to shift if we’re going to have that honeymoon.”
Ever seen a tiger with a dropped jaw?
Epic.
But she enjoyed even more the sight of him changing suddenly, his body going from fur to flesh.
He gasped as if sucking in air after drowning and then croaked, “Holy fuck.”
“Look at you, shifting like a pro.”
He glared. “Ha. Ha. What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Saving you.”
That brought a low growl to his lips. “Idiot. Why would you do that? You could have been captured.”
Nimway arched a brow. “You mean like you?”
He offered a lopsided grin. “I escaped.”
“And made sure others did too, I see.”
“Not everyone.” His lips turned down. “Things got chaotic once the fire started.”
“Your brother?”
“First one I shoved out the door. I was following his trail in the woods when you started following me.”
“We should find him.”
“In a second.” He drew her close and hugged her.
She hugged him back.
Maybe this marriage thing could work after all.
22
Stefan wanted to do more than hold his wife, but he remained conscious of the danger. The distant fire would grow all too quickly. He didn’t want them trapped by it.
He tried to not be self-conscious about his nakedness. It helped his wife held his hand.
Hell, she’d fucking come looking for him.
And this time he hadn’t failed.
He’d rescued his brother, and now he’d find him. An easier task than expected. The kid stumbled around the woods like he wanted to attract predators.
“Tyson!” He bellowed his brother’s name and then had to suffer a hug, followed by a rapid, “Ew, dude, you’re naked!” Whereas his brother had managed to steal some clothes on his way out.
“Give me your shirt.”
“How’s that gonna help?” the kid asked even as he stripped it off.
A few rips and Stefan wore it around his waist. Not the most epic garment, but he didn’t feel as exposed as they ran back through the woods, the smoke tickling as they neared the spot Nimway insisted held their ticket out.
They didn’t see anyone else in the woods, but he couldn’t avoid hearing the occasional howls and yips or scenting the tracks of those escaping.
They made it to the truck, spotting his siblings on the way. Luckily Dominick had brought spare clothes, so Stefan didn’t remain in his T-shirt skirt. He didn’t have identification to get on a plane, though, so after assuring his mom he and Tyson were okay—and then reassuring Gwayne they hadn’t spilled the pack’s secret—Stefan and his wife decided they would drive back home. They saw his family off at the airport before starting a three-day trip that turned into a seven-day honeymoon. A few hours of driving and sightseeing, followed by fucking. So much fucking.
That turned into lovemaking somewhere just inside the Ontario border. Yes, lovemaking because it occurred to Stefan that he adored his wife.
Shocking, almost as much as finally arriving at the farmhouse and seeing it empty. Every trace of them was gone. The walls were even repainted. Despite them being safe, Mom was taking no chances. She’d moved the younger kids into town.
Which was where they drove next, white-knuckled all the way.
Nimway put her hand on his arm. “It will be okay.”
“Like fuck it will. Not when she finds out what we did.” Because Stefan still had yet to tell her. But Gwayne knew about the wedding, and Stefan had it on good authority Gwayne had blabbed.
“I’m sure it will be fine. So what if we got married?”
“Don’t ever say that in front of her.” Stefan worried it might be enough to make him a widower.
As they pulled into the house a street over from Gwayne’s, he swallowed. “Maybe I should go in alone.”
“Stop being a pussy.” Nimway swung out of the car.
He caught up to her on the front steps. “If she grabs a knife, get behind me.”
The door swung open before he reached it, and his mother beamed. “Thank God you’re all right.” Tears of joy brimmed.
He’d not expected that.
Stefan hugged his mother, glad to be home even if that home wasn’t the house with the slanted floors that required tables to have custom-sized legs.
The warm and mushy moment didn’t last.
“Ungrateful brat! Getting married without telling anyone!” she lamented.
He squirmed. “It was spur of the moment.”
“We’re your family.”
“I—Uh—”
“I made him do it. I was worried he’d change his mind, so I dragged him in front of a judge.” Nimway stepped in, and he waited for Mom to lash out.
Instead, she nodded. “That I can understand. He can be slippery, my Stefan. But he’s a good boy. I’m glad he’s found a partner who sees his worth.”
Nimway smiled at Stefan. “Funny, because I would have said he sees me.”