Page 38 of Beautiful Butterfly

Paris pulled back, his breathtakingly blue eyes shining. “You were just finding your way in life, hon. All you needed was the right person by your side.” He looked to where Wyatt was talking with Kellen. “You’ll always be my bestie, but a parent has to cut the apron strings at some point and watch his baby panda spread his wings.”

“You were the right person, too,” Alister said. If it wasn’t for Paris, there was no telling where Alister would be in life.

Paris kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so proud of you, Alister. I always knew you had moxie, sweetheart.”

“Learned it from you.” Alister laughed. His heart thumped a little faster when he looked across the yard and saw Wyatt watching him with a smile. His mate winked at him, making Alister feel like the most cherished person on the planet.

For the rest of the cookout, Alister hung with the mates, enjoying good friends and great food. The sun had begun to dip below the horizon when he stood, ready to head home. Sam’s first cookout had been a success.

Wyatt joined him and slid his arm around Alister’s waist, pressing a kiss behind his ear. “Ready to head out?”

With a nod, he wished everyone a good evening and walked toward the driveway. Alister had always loved dusk, when the world was bathed in a golden glow and everything seemed to slow down just a little bit.

“I want to go for our run,” Alister said when they slipped into the car. “That night was stolen from us, and I want it back, to make it ours again by replacing the bad memories with good.”

As they drove away from Morgan’s, Wyatt left the town limits behind. Alister didn’t say anything until his mate turned right and pulled into the parking area where the hellhounds had attacked.

His mate parked and cut the motor then turned his head to look at Alister. “If this is too much, we can go.”

As Alister looked around, his pulse quickened. That night, he’d been excited to see Wyatt’s cheetah, to spend time with the powerful beast. Even now, sitting in the passenger seat, his mind conjured the scents of pine needles, damp moss, and sweet floral fragrances.

The memory of those two hellhounds emerging from the darkness surfaced, as well, primal authority flowing from them, and Alister felt the terror he’d been gripped in.

“I want to do this.” His gaze lowered to the ground, but thankfully Wyatt’s blood was gone. Had the previous week’s rain washed it away, or maybe someone had scrubbed the spot clean?

Wyatt started the car. “This is too soon. I shouldn’t have brought you here. I’m sorry, Alister.”

He placed a hand on his mate’s arm. “Let me try to see if I can do this.”

There was nothing Alister could do about replacing bad with good as far as the penthouse went. He never wanted to see that place again. But this, a place so close to home… If Alister didn’t at least try, those hellhounds would win.

“You have nothing to prove, baby.”

“I have everything to prove.” Alister opened the door and placed his feet on the ground. He stared up at the tall trees, listened to an owl hoot, and drew in a deep breath of nature. His panda wanted to shut the car door, to get away from there, but Alister was just as determined to recapture that night as theirs.

The car cut off, and Alister heard his mate get out. Then Wyatt was in front of him. He crouched and gripped Alister’s hands in his.

“Close your eyes and take a deep breath. When you exhale, let your anxiety flow out of your body.”

Gripping his mate’s hands, Alister did as Wyatt instructed. He repeated the steps two more times before he felt his mind and body begin to relax.

As Wyatt gently pulled him from the car, Alister rose to his feet, his eyes still closed. He soaked in the moment, and concentrated on his mate’s strong hands holding his.

Wyatt’s facial hair tickled Alister’s cheek in a soft caress, his mate’s warm breath sweeping across his skin.

“You’re so amazing, butterfly. So strong,” he whispered in Alister’s ear. “There are moments when I look at you and I’m blown away that you’re really mine. It doesn’t seem real to me, and I have no idea what I did to deserve you.”

Alister’s eyelids fluttered open, and his breath caught as moonlight captured pure wonder in Wyatt’s gray eyes.

“Let’s recapture our night,” Alister said.

A smile more dazzling than the millions of stars twinkling overhead spread across Wyatt’s lips. They undressed, and his mate shifted first. Alister slid his hand over the cheetah’s fur, feeling the strength and power contained within the sleek muscles.

The cheetah lowered himself to the ground. Alister shifted and climbed on his back, then the cheetah stood and padded toward the trees. Alister dug his claws in as the fierce cat took off, his strides long and exhilarating.

Instead of being afraid he’d fall off, Alister’s red panda squealed with delight. He’d never felt so free and happy as he did in that moment.

The cheetah alternated between running and trotting. When the cat slowed enough, Alister jumped off and shifted. He fell to the grass and laughed when Wyatt rubbed his entire side over him.

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