Page 34 of Remy & the Wildcat

Not on his watch.

Remy watched from a short distance as Thyme and her best friend, Dana, hugged near the huge bonfire. Her friend had graciously moved out of the house she’d shared with Thyme so the couple could have it to themselves, and he knew that his mate missed having her friend around.

As the last bit of daylight slipped away into night, more wood was added to the fire until the flames stretched high above the burning logs and the heat was intense. Thyme joined Remy as Dana moved to stand with her family. All the pride members were in their family groups, which meant that Remy and Thyme were standing with Brilla, Leif, and her family. To say that Remy didn’t much care for Brilla’s family was an understatement.

Even though they’d managed to thwart any more issues stemming from Leif’s intention to cause strife in the pride, there was a definite unease among the shifters, and there were plenty of aggressive looks toward Remy and Thyme.

He just didn’t understand why they were so intent on Leif taking over.

What the hell was the benefit?

Was it simply them wanting Leif as alpha, or was there more to it?

He’d walked the hunting grounds with Thyme and it was clear there wasn’t a single living thing there, even the birds had abandoned the trees, and those were in shaky shape. If shifters didn’t have accelerated healing, he suspected some would succumb to illness related to the toxins from the factory that polluted the river.

Jacob and Liam stepped in front of the pride, standing a few feet away from the blazing bonfire with their back to the flames. Liam motioned Thyme and Remy forward, and they stood on either side of him, facing each other.

A hush fell over the pride.

Liam spoke loudly, “When your great-great-great-grandfather and his beloved mate started the pride in the town of Marin, they always intended for the eldest child of each generation to lead once he or she took a mate after the age of twenty-one. Every generation has grown stronger, the pride living and working together in harmony, and this generation is no different. There have been conflicts and difficulties, but those come before any change of leadership.

“Thyme is the eldest of Alpha Olsen’s children and is past her twenty-first year. Tonight she joins with her truemate, Remy Mayfield, which is the next step in the change of leadership. After tonight, Thyme and Remy will be mated before the spirits of our forefathers under the stars and before the fire, and officially be interim alphas, learning to lead before taking over the pride on the June full moon’s ascension ceremony.” Liam looked at Thyme and took one of her hands, then he looked at Remy and took one of his. Drawing their hands together, he held both in his and said, “As elders, Jacob and I are honored to pass the torch to Thyme and Remy, and as a pride member, I welcome the opportunities that will come with the move to Copper Creek.”

His genial smile slipped for a moment, and Remy realized he was looking at Leif and Brilla, and the severe frowns on their faces.

“We aren’t human and this is not a marriage ceremony, therefore it doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with Thyme and Remy taking over the pride. Democracy has never been our way of life, there is one joint leadership and that is the alphas alone. As is our custom, after tonight and prior to the ascension ceremony, if any pride members would prefer to leave the pride, they will be granted exile, but know this: exile is permanent and cannot be revoked.”

A murmur slipped through the crowd but Remy couldn’t make out what was being said.

Liam growled and the murmurs stopped.

As the joining ceremony began, Remy was reminded of how different it was from the way wolves joined together, with the blood, oil, and ash that represented their people, a leather strap to join the hands of the couple, and the high-ranked males standing watch. But he wasn’t part of a wolf pack anymore, he was going to be alpha of a wildcat pride alongside his gorgeous mate.

The firelight flickered over her face, her eyes glowing with happiness and her smile one that made him feel warm from the inside out. Her dark hair gleamed from the red and oranges of the bonfire, and he could pick out her sweet scent even among all the other smells around him.

He was one lucky male.

“Do you, Remy, take Thyme as your mate, to honor her above all others, to provide for her and protect her and your young, until you’re called into the great beyond by our ancestors?”

“I do.”

Liam asked the same questions of Thyme, who smiled so sweetly, with tear-filled eyes, as she answered that she, too, took Remy as her mate, that he wanted to fall to his knees and hold her tightly.

Jacob had remained in stony silence the entire time. Remy wondered why he even bothered to stand with Liam, except it was expected of him as elder.

Something landed in front of them, a tinny sound ringing softly in the dirt.

Remy looked down and saw a metal cylinder, but before he could act, thick smoke poured from it, enveloping them swiftly in a noxious mist. He choked and coughed, his eyes stinging so he couldn’t see anything.

Thyme let go of his hand and he shouted her name, swinging his hands through the smoke but not finding her.

“Thyme!”

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he could feel a change in the air, even though he couldn’t see anything. He closed his stinging eyes and reached for his wolf, using his heightened senses.

He felt the connection to Thyme and reached for her. Pulling her safely into his arms, he pivoted her the other direction and felt something rush by him. There was a cascade of sparks from the bonfire and the screams of someone being burned.

“Clear the fucking area!” Remy bellowed.

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