Page 104 of Vengeful Mates
Castor’s bond shattered at the declaration, and shit, so did I, swiping at the tears bleeding from my eyes. My emotions went wild. Up. Down. In between. Flinging me around like a leaf in a storm.
My mate probed my bond, trying to calm me, but I pushed him away to enjoy his moment. He earned it, by helping her with homework, preparing dinner with her, and bedtime reading.
Alaric told me Mia said the same to him recently. Two daddies down, two more to go. I know Mia adored them all, especially Slade. Fun Daddy did all the best activities—speed boating, riding jet skis, trips to the trampoline park, days at the water park. All the good stuff over summer.
Castor brushed her hair, keeping her head tucked in his shoulder, not letting her see me crying. “We’re not going to get dinner made with all this hugging.”
“We can eat hugs for tea,” Mia suggested.
Castor chuckled and lifted her, carrying her to the kitchen, distracting her with a question. “We’ll need more than hugs to give us fuel for the big ride tomorrow. You excited about that?”
“Yeessss, I get to ride with Slade!!!” Mia clapped his shoulders. “He’s gonna let me steer for a bit.”
Oh, God. He did not say that, did he?Damn devil.
“Don’t you want to ride with me?” Castor mocked disappointment.
Mia giggled. “You ride too slow.”
“Who said that?”
“Slaaddee!”
Mia cackled as if Castor tickled her again. “Slade told you that, didn’t he? He wants you to ride with him and not me.”
Goddess. Competitive much? I sniffed and wiped my nose.
“No!” she squealed.
I took a moment to compose myself, taking in as much air to still the turmoil within. Feeling more grounded, I stumbled into the kitchen to work with them, eyeing off the piled ingredients.
“What can I chop up?” I fought to keep the flurry out of my voice.
Mia got busy bossing me into cutting up most of the vegetables while she and Castor stirred the meat in the pot and crushed garlic.
Each slice of the onion darkened my thoughts. The ground dropped away beneath me at the thought of what Colton might do to my family. Send me one of his infamous canopic jars with the body parts of my men. Leave my children fatherless, me mateless, the club in upheaval.
Heartache cut deep that my men might never meet their babies, be present for their first birthdays, first haircuts, first words, first steps. All firsts for me, too.
The damn onion forced out the tears threatening to fall. “This onion is strong,” I muttered to ward off Mia.
“Castor said you have to cut them a special way.” Mia came over to show me the direction.
“Silly me.” I put on a fake smile for her, and she went back to gathering the dried herbs for Castor.
I knew the world I entered by accepting the Jackals into my heart. Our love was tainted by darkness. Sprouted from the ashes of disaster. Forged by fire and destruction. Fueled by vengeance and fury.
I rubbed my forehead. Peace eluded me, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt at complete ease since entering the Jackals’ world. Brief glimpses showed me how perfect it could be. I wanted to shake off the remaining shackles connecting us to our enemies and live the incredible life I knew waited for us.
Somehow, I got through prepping the vegetables without cutting myself and breaking down. Feet aching and my legs Jell-O, I sat at the bench, smiling and offering my baby encouragement as she worked in synchronicity with Castor.
The threat to our lives crackled like a live wire that sparked, turning the smell of dinner to ash. Fear slowed the blood in my veins and turned my heart to ice. Dialed my metabolism down. I knew I needed to eat to nourish the babies, but I worried too much to stomach a thing. Bitterness crept into my soul, jading it. Peril hit us at every turn, and it wore me down.
Slade’s Harley rumbled into the driveway followed by the softer purr of Zethan’s sporty Yamaha and the silky hum of Alaric’s Chieftain.
Mia’s eyes widened and she burst out, “They’re home!” and ran to the front door to throw herself at them.
I circled a hand on my belly and went with her.
