Page 30 of Remy & the Wildcat

“First, we need to hit the sheets. Then tomorrow, we’ll outline a plan to move the pride and set up a list of families to meet with, and then we can talk to Liam, since he’s the only elder on our side. There’s a lot to do between now and our joining ceremony on Friday.”

“I’m up for the job.”

“Which job?” she asked, batting her eyes.

“Both,” he said.

“Race ya!” she shoved her door open and slammed it, the truck rocking a little on the tires. He laughed as he got out of the truck, taking his time to head into the house, where he could hear his mate’s giggles echoing through the rooms.

It didn’t matter who won the race, because they were both going to win tonight, he’d make sure of it.

Monday night, as the sky was robed in darkness, the moon hidden by clouds and a coming storm, Leif Olson stalked toward the home belonging to the mayor of some dilapidated town called Copper Creek. Behind him, his males were fanned out, snarls and low growls echoing in the darkness.

The rumors in Marin were spreading like crazy now that his half-sister and her dog boyfriend had decided that the future of the pride was going to be in this…place. She’d spent the day talking with Liam and the heads of the pride families. His grandfather had stayed out of the talks because he didn’t want the pride to move and didn’t want Thyme to take over.

Leif had his mom and her side of the family on his side, and friends who supported him becoming alpha, but the majority of the pride wanted to move away from Marin even though it was their people’s heritage, bad hunting grounds be damned.

He had a plan for when he took over as alpha, he just had to stop his sister from making it to the ascension ceremony on the next full moon.

In the meantime, he was going to fuck up her plans to move the pride to Copper Creek, because no way in hell was he going to allow it. He was the rightful alpha, not her. Never her.

“Spread out,” he hissed to his males. “Break windows, doors, ruin everything. If whoever is in that house tries to run, hurt but don’t kill. We’ll make sure the mayor and anyone else in that place knows if the pride comes here, that there will be hell to pay.”

With an encouraging yowl, Leif charged for the front door, claws and fangs ready.

On Tuesday morning, Thyme and Remy walked into the coffee shop where she’d spent the better part of her youth learning how to make various drinks.

Whatever chatter had been going on stopped suddenly when they walked in, and the eerie silence was enough to give her a chill.

“Hey, Marty,” she said as she and Remy stepped up to the glass case.

“Thyme,” he said.

She glanced up from the pastry case to see the strange look on his face. His tone was so cool and detached.

“What’s going on?”

His eyes darted to the side and then he forced a smile. “Not a thing. What can I get for you and your friend?”

“This isn’t my friend, it’s my mate, Remy.”

Remy snorted and she realized what she said. “Ah crap, I mean yes he’s my friend. But he’s also my mate.”

“You can move on,” Remy said gently, his tone laced with humor.

“Right. Remy, this is Marty, he and his wife run the coffee shop and gave me my first and only job.”

“Nice to meet you,” Remy said.

“Sure,” Marty said.

“Something’s going on,” Thyme said. “What’s wrong?” She looked around the shop and found everyone studiously ignoring them.

“What can I get for you two?” Marty insisted.

Remy nudged her and she looked up at him. He shrugged and she let out a frustrated grunt.

They placed their order for iced coffees and Danish, which Marty made at lightning speed, not accepting payment and asking if they wouldn’t mind taking it to go, because they were full.

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