Page 79 of The Renegade Mate

“Why don’t we know already? Why don’t Packs know about this stuff?”

Ryan shrugged. “If it’s true, there could be a number of reasons. Packs tend to keep to themselves. This is not the sort of information that gets passed around Alphas. Plus, most Alphas have challenged for the position. Not many are trained up by the previous Alphas to take over. They go into it just as blind as we are and learn about things like this on the job, as it were.”

“It's wrong. Everyone should know about this. It’s part of who we all are.”

I fell silent, thinking it all over. I needed to talk to Camille. See what she knew about it.

After a time, Ryan pressed a soft kiss to my shoulder. “We should head back.”

I sighed, not wanting this moment of just being us, to end. But he was right. We had responsibilities waiting for us.

We dressed slowly, stealing kisses and caresses along the way. By the time we emerged from the forest, my lips were swollen, and a pleasant ache had settled between my thighs.

Ryan wrapped an arm around my waist, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

I laughed, leaning into his side. “You certainly worked up an appetite.”

“Only for you, beautiful.”

My wolf sighed in contentment.

The sounds of laughter and conversation met us as we approached the campsite. Our Pack, those who fought and were battered and bloody, and those who had come after they heard we had won, milled about, grilling food, and enjoying each other’s company, seemingly without a care in the world.

I smiled up at Ryan, love and determination burning in my chest. Today we’d cemented our claim on each other and the Three Rivers. And anyone who challenged that would soon regret it.

The scent of smoked meat reached my nose, and my stomach rumbled in response. Ryan chuckled, giving me a little squeeze. “Let’s get you fed.”

We made our way over to the grills, where Derek was flipping burgers and bacon. One arm was in a sling, but he was doing a good job with his other one. He glanced up as we approached, a grin splitting his face. “Well, don’t you two look properly ravished?”

Heat flooded to my cheeks. Beside me, Ryan growled.

Derek's grin got wider.

"How's your arm?" I asked, nodding to his sling.

"It'll be fine. Thomas patched me up. I'll need to Shift when we get back but I'm on Thomas' painkillers so I don't feel a thing right now."

Ryan nodded, and I caught a quick spike of relief through our bond. He'd been worried about his brothers.

"What about everyone else? Any serious injuries?"

"No deaths. A few serious wounds but Thomas has been working his magic. They'll all live."

It was my turn to feel relief. I knew Ryan felt it through our bond when he stroked the back of my hand.

Sofia arrived carrying an empty tray. "They sure scoffed those quickly!" she said to me, pointedly ignoring Derek. Derek only had eyes for her though, tracking her every move.

"You know, you had some pretty fierce skills out there, Sofia," Derek said, oh so casually. "You been training?"

I exchanged a glance with Ryan. We both knew Derek was really trying to find out if Sofia had been training with someone and if so, who.

Sofia wasn't falling for it. "If I have, it's none of your business. Besides, someone had to pick up the slack while you were busy getting your arm broken."

"Ouch, that hurts." Derek placed his good hand over his heart in mock offense. "And here I thought you'd be impressed by my battle scars."

Sofia scoffed. "Please, I've seen paper cuts more impressive than that."

Derek leaned forward slightly, his voice deep and smooth. "I could show you things more impressive than that. You just have to ask, Sofia."

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