Page 36 of Alpha's Second Chance

She smiled. “The one about your job. How would you work in Chicago?”

Ah, that question. It was important, but not as important as Eve. “The military has bases all over the country. The shifter units are small and well-connected. I can get reassigned.”

“Is that something you want? To leave? Your team here seemed like family.”

“I don’t want to leave.” I traced my finger over the shape of her ear. Every part of her was beautiful. “My team here is family. But you’re my mate. You’ll be my home.”

Eve sniffed. She patted her face with my sheet. “Don’t make me cry. I’ve made it through all of this without falling apart.” She grabbed my hand. “Thank you. For sticking by me. For not giving up on me.”

I pressed my mouth against hers. After making out for a few minutes, she cuddled into me with a sleepy sigh, and fell asleep on my shoulder.

Once I was certain she was asleep again, I crept from the bed and pulled on some clothes. In the den, I started a fire. By the time I was done outside, the entire room should be warm. As shifters, we didn’t feel cold the same way humans did, but a fire would still be cozy.

I had to find something to make a ring with. At my cabin in Avon, I had tools and woodworking supplies. Here, there was no garage, no shed -- I had only what we needed to survive.

In the kitchen pantry I found thin wire and wire cutters. I cut off three strips, and I measured the size against my own. Eve’s hands weren’t tiny, but they were smaller than mine, and her fingers were slim and elegant. I did my best to braid three wires together.

I crept outside. Near the edge of the cabin, I spotted John, who must have taken the night watch. My team had saved my life. And not only that, they’d accepted Eve without question, because I did, even given our rocky history together. They hadn’t asked questions, they hadn’t snubbed her. They’d just protected her.

“Hey Alpha,” John called out. “Feeling better?”

“Much. I should have come out earlier to let you know.” I gripped his arm. He and the rest weren’t on duty now that Bull was dead. They’d stuck around for me, and for Eve. “Thank you. For everything.”

John nodded. He could certainly tell Eve and I were in the process of mating, and he likely knew I was in a hurry to get back to her. I’d make it up to my team soon enough.

In the woods, I found a Spruce tree. I hoped I wasn’t going overboard. When I was fifteen, I’d put a little sprig of spruce in everything I gave Eve. I’d even taken to dropping spruce needles on her paperwork at school, or sticking them under the windshield wipers of her car. That was the year my love for Eve had changed from friendship, to that of a mate.

Eve had always grinned, and tucked the spruce needles into her pockets. I hoped the memory was happy, and not an unpleasant reminder. The smell was spicier than Eve’s gentle scent, but it would do. With my knife, I cut off a small bundle.

I slipped back into bed. When my frigid skin touched hers, she shivered. Shit. I’d forgotten to warm up before I hopped back in the bed. I’d been so preoccupied with getting the ring and the tree needles into an envelope that I hadn’t noticed the chill. “Cold?” I asked.

She rubbed her face against the pillow. “A little.”

Oh well. I’d made the perfect excuse to leave the bedroom. “I have a fire going in the den.”

“Sounds perfect,” she said. I lifted her, and carried her into the den where I had blankets in front of the fire. “Please be careful,” she said. “Don’t crack the rest of your ribs carrying me.”

“Are you implying that I’m not strong enough to carry my omega?”

She grinned. “If I’m going to say something, I won’t imply. I’ll just say it.” She gave me a big smacking kiss on the cheek. “I could get used to this,” she said as I lowered her to the floor.

I really hoped she would. I would happily carry her around for the rest of our lives. I kept that thought to myself, not wanting to ruin my surprise. She wasn’t wrong about my ribs, although it had nothing to do with carrying her. Bull had really done a number on me. But I would not let that bastard screw up my plans for one second.

We lay in front of the fireplace, snuggled together while I tried to suppress the panic that rolled through my stomach. “I’m not going to Chicago,” she said.

“What?” Did she mean she wasn’t taking the job? Had I zoned out for part of the conversation? “Why?”

“I don’t want you to leave your team. I saw how you all interact. How you take care of each other. They love you, and they watch your back.” She reached up and ran her hand through my hair, something she hadn’t done since we were teens. “Colorado has plenty of opportunities, but I’m not ready to leave Denver yet.”

“That’s fine for me,” I assured her. “I can work in the surrounding areas and come out here on the weekends, or whatever works for us.”

Eve moved to sit on the hearth of the fireplace. “Being out here with you, and with your team, has reawakened all I loved about being a shifter. I’d like to try visiting Avon sometime. I’d like to try and see my parents, and our clan, if you think it’s a good idea.”

I quickly closed my jaw from where it had dropped open. I was still elated that Eve wanted to be my mate. There was no way I was going to press her about visiting our clan, but if it was her idea, I’d do everything I could to make it work. “I think it’s a great idea. I think it’ll go over better than you expect.” I winked at her. “And if it doesn’t, then I’ll put them all in exile.”

“Right, because you’re the big powerful Alpha.” Her eyes lit up as she laughed at me.

I moved to sit at Eve’s side on the hearth. “Pretty much.” I pressed my hand against the small envelope in my pocket. Whew. Still there.

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