"They're telling you the truth," Nana said without hesitation. "I didn't know who was responsible for poisoning my son, but if Kansas and Riley believe it is Delia's butler, then I believe them. Delia Walker's greatest love is power. There isn't anything she wouldn't do to get control of this pack."
Councilman Knoakes sighed and rubbed his face with his palm, from forehead to chin. "Very well. Which of you claims to be able to get a confession?" he asked.
Riley stepped forward. "Me."
Chapter Twenty-one
Wyatt
Watching my home through the bars of my old room wasn't how I'd thought I'd spend my day when I woke up that morning. Wasn't it just this morning that my sweet mate had been worried that our sex lives were becoming boring? I'd convinced him otherwise, but if I'd known that was going to be the last time we lay together for a while, I would've held him longer. Kissed him harder.
The lights in the house across the bay were out. Where was everyone? After I didn't go back, I was pretty sure the others would've had the sense to send Kansas with the nomads. Guys like that had to know a few shifter doctors they could turn to while on the road.
I pushed away from the window and turned back to my room. I'd already paced the carpet bare. I'd lived in this room for eighteen years, and now I couldn't handle a few hours. I thrummed with energy. My hands clenched into fists.
My room, in the exact same state as when I'd left it, was now trashed. I'd slipped into a fit of rage when Delia had told me Kansas's uncle was coming. I just had to hope Kansas got off the island before that happened. He had to. But what if the place the nomads took him didn't have a kind doctor? Or one who hadn't helped deliver as many babies as Dr. Tiff? What if he got scared or lonely? I didn't imagine they'd let him bring Mr. Boots. He was alone out there. I'd sent my mate alone into the world.
And I hadn't even had the decency to tell him he was my mate. He knew, right? Even though I hadn't said as much, he had to know.
But that wasn't good enough. I couldn't rely on him knowing—I had to tell him. I lunged for the bars again, gripping two in my hands and pulling. Nothing happened, not at first. Then, I pictured Kansas in a dark room, tears running down his face, fear making him shake. Dark figures lurked behind him, some of them nothing but shadow, others with faces similar to the man I'd knocked out in that bar so long ago.
The metal groaned, but it didn't bend. Wood splintered, and I stumbled back, pulling the entire window with me. The wooden window frame crumbled, clearly having been a meal for some pest recently. That was lucky. Now I could jump out the window.
I leapt, the wind whistled. As I fell, I looked up and saw Kansas marching toward me, and he wasn't alone.
I Landed. Hard.
I didn't give myself time to catch my breath before I was on my feet, looking for that same face. Had I imagined seeing him? Some kind of fear response to leaping from the third floor of a building?
No, I hadn't imagined Kansas. Nor had I imagined the parade of people coming down the road on either side of him. Nana was there. So was Aver and Riley. I frowned, running forward. My steps were wobbly at first, but I gained speed.
Kansas broke from the crowd, running for me at the same time. We met in the middle, and I slipped my arms around him, swinging him in a full circle.
"Babe, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be with the nomads!"
It took me a second to realize that Kansas wasn't beating me with his happiness. His adorable fists struck my chest. "You left me! Don't you ever do that again, Wyatt Walker! I swear to God if I have to come and save you—"
I kissed him, not because I didn't want to continue hearing him yell at me. I loved it. He could yell at me for the next seventy-two hours straight, as long as he did it from my side.
"I was trying to protect you. Delia was just going to get worse."
"Well, next time, we do it as a family. Okay? You don't get to run off and save everyone, not if I can't."
I'd have to find out exactly what Kansas had done to get us to this point, but I'd do that later. Now, I just wanted to hold him, feel his heat and softness. I pressed my palm against his stomach. "God, I didn't think I'd ever get to do this again." I breathed, holding him close. He felt better than he'd ever felt, smelled sweeter. Touching him now, after convincing myself that there was a chance I never would, was like being given a second life. One that I would not waste. Not a single moment.
Movement from behind him caught my attention. Oh yeah, the crowd. I found Nash. "Everything good?"
He grunted. "It's good."
"Then excuse me."
Lifting Kansas, I carried him into the forest. This wasn't great timing, but I didn't care about timing. And I didn't think Kansas did either. He wasn't passive in my arms. He kissed me, his lips latching onto whatever part was closest as he kissed my face, lips, nibbled my neck. "I was so scared for you," he moaned.
"I know. I'm sorry. I was trying to protect you."
Kansas bucked in my arms, but I couldn't put him down. Not yet. "Well don't! Never again!" He reached for my pants.
"Babe, I have to protect you! It's my job," I growled without anger. This growl was a promise. "What do you expect me to do?"
Kansas grabbed my face with both of his hands and stared into my eyes without blinking. "I expect you to fuck me."
His wish was my command. I had to release him long enough to put his hands against the tree, facing away from him. I lifted his leg and slid into him. We loved foreplay. Sometimes, we just did foreplay for hours until we were both sweaty and trembling. But that wasn't what we needed now. I needed to know, needed to be reminded that Kansas was here. He was safe. And he was mine.
"Mine," I snarled, thrusting into him.
He threw his head back, and I sucked on his throat, licking over his rapid pulse.
This day had changed us. The actions we'd chosen weren't the type that would go away. But I didn't want them to. I'd looked into a future without Kansas, and, it seemed, he'd done the same thing, and neither of us liked it.
There was no future without Kansas.
I thrust into him, stroking his hard cock. Our worries weren't over. Hell, I didn't even know how our current worries had been solved, but we'd get through it. We'd deal with him not turning into a shifter, with the birth and all the changes we'd have to make. And I'd do it happily. I didn't know how I ever thought having a mate would only drag me down. Kansas was my life preserver in a raging, deep ocean.
His cries turned sharp. He was close. So was I. My hips flexed, skin bouncing against skin.
"Wyatt! I'm going to—" He exploded, draping against the wood as his orgasm made it hard for him to stand. I held him instead, my balls tight moments before pleasure shot out, bursting from me in pulsing waves. "Wyatt!"
Kansas disappeared.
At least, he wasn't where he should've been, clinging to a tree while getting pounded from behind. He was… on the ground… on four legs. "Kansas?"
The pure white wolf at my feet cocked his head to the side, making one ear rise while the other flopped in half.