Page 41 of Wild Reckoning

“Killian?”

His head snapped around at the sound of Stewart’s scared voice. Quinton released him, but Killian didn’t move. He was naked and bloody and didn’t want to hold his mate with death smeared all over him.

Stewart didn’t seem to care. He ran across the room and fell into Killian’s arms, and damn, it felt so good to hold him.

“Thank you,” Stewart said into his chest. “Thank you for saving Ethan.”

Killian glanced at Ryker, who looked like he’d been kicked in the nuts. His gaze kept darting to the living room, where Killian heard Hyett’s voice pitched softly as he talked to the cub.

“I don’t blame you,” Killian finally said to his brother. “My head was still in a bad place.”

The side of Ryker’s mouth turned upward before he walked out of the kitchen. A moment later, Killian heard the front door open and close. He needed to talk to Ryker, to convince the guy not to feel guilty about what happened, but first Killian needed to get dressed then talk with the cops.

And find out what this was all about.

Five hours later, Killian had his answer. Ethan’s bed was shoved aside, a part of the floor beneath it opened to reveal a ton of drugs.

Rage filled Killian all over again. The cub had taken a nap in that bed, had been sleeping over the twenty white bricks the deputies pulled out of the floor, each one triple wrapped.

That’s why Killian hadn’t smelled them.

The deputies searched the entire house, making sure there weren’t any more stashes while the coroner removed Alonso’s and Tetlow’s bodies.

Stewart now stood in the upstairs hallway, rubbing his arms as he glanced around. Ethan was downstairs with Quinton.

Killian took a quick shower to get rid of Tetlow’s blood, and his dad had given him his go-bag so he could dress.

“You must regret moving here.” Killian leaned against the wall, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “It’s barely been forty-eight hours and look at the insanity that unfolded.”

He wouldn’t blame his mate if the guy wanted to move away, but Stewart wasn’t leaving him behind. Killian might have fucked up when it came to protecting them at the most crucial moment, but he couldn’t see himself living without his mate and cub.

Stewart glanced at him, a weary smile playing at his lips. “Not really. At least here, Ethan and I have a hero. We never had one with Clive. I’d rather relive the past two days over than any of the ones I spent with my ex.”

The statement shocked Killian. Then he pushed from the wall and folded Stewart into his arms. “How about we just chill from here on out? No more insanity or bad men.”

Stewart’s green eyes shimmered as he smiled up at Killian. “Sounds like heaven to me.”

So did spending the rest of his life with the man he loved, a brave little cub in tow.

* * * *

“If Stewart isn’t pissed at you, then you need to let up on the guilt.” Killian rested his foot on the railing at the house—his home—where he now resided in with his mate and cub. It had been two weeks since Tetlow had broken in and held a gun to Ethan’s head, and Killian still had nightmares about that night, as well as the gun shoved into his mate’s side.

Ryker stared off into the yard as a few snowflakes began to fall. “Kid knows how to worm his way into your heart, and I left the cub—your cub—defenseless, Killian.” He scrubbed a hand over his bearded jaw. “I’ve been thinking about hitting the road. For the past couple of weeks, it’s been calling to me, you know?”

Killian knew exactly how Ryker felt. Before meeting Stewart, the same thought had crossed his mind. But now he had two very important reasons to keep his butt in Midnight Falls. He clapped Ryker on the shoulder. “Just do all of us a favor and don’t leave until after Christmas. We can’t celebrate it without you.”

His brother gave him a wry smile, causing Killian to wonder if he would stick around for the holidays. “Sure.”

“I mean it,” Killian growled just as the front door opened and Ethan stuck his head outside.

“Pay whiff bears?” He walked out in full gear, coat zipped up, hat and gloves on. “Uncuh Stewalulu say I pay whiff bears.”

Compared to Killian and Ryker, Ethan was a tiny little thing. A tiny person who had four massive bear shifters wrapped around his finger. The cub’s gaze darted to Ryker, and a bright smile lit up his face. “Uncuh Dyke pay whiff me?”

Ryker melted right before Killian’s eyes. “Sure, buddy. What do you want to play?”

Ethan gave a tiny roar, holding his hands up like his gloved fingers were claws. “I da bear. I piss a you.”

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