Page 80 of Rugged

JOHNNY

The sun was startingto set behind the mountain, the evening air becoming cooler by the minute. Emma and I walked hand in hand toward the pack’s annual fall bonfire. The teens in the pack had collected enough wood to keep the bonfire going long into the night. They’d have fun until close to dawn. I’d been one of them only a few years ago, drinking with my shifter friends. Doing stupid shit.

Now, I’d be one of the first in bed. Not because I was old and tired but because I had my marked mate exactly where I wanted her and hanging out at a bonfire was not it.

But, I needed to give my mate a rest. After we returnedto Wolf Ranch, I’d kept her in my bedroom for the two days we didn’t really get the first time around. Emma–yes, EMMA–and I talked and fucked and ate food that someone from the main house dropped off and made love and… did all the things new mates were supposed to do.

We didn’t have to go far. It was behind the barn by the creek, the same open area where we had our pack picnics. By doing a quick scan, most of the pack was already here. Food was plentiful, music came from a speaker, and everyone was in an upbeat mood.

Emma squeezed my fingers. I stopped and turned to face her. “You okay?”

Her pretty face was etched in worry. “Are they going to be mad?”

I looked over her shoulder to her sister, flanked by her mates from the Two Marks pack. “I think they’re going to be really surprised, and I can’t wait to see their faces. Come on.”

She wasn’t as sure about my pack accepting her after she tricked all of them into thinking she was someone else. I could understand why, especially now that I met Lyssa. She definitely needed two mates to handle her.

I easily found Rob and Willow and went to them first.

“Hey,” I said, wrapping my arm around Emma’s shoulders.

Rob glanced between us, his expression unreadable. Willow, though, was grinning ear to ear. I’d updated him about what happened at Chapman’s ranch right after it happened. Well, right after I made love to Emma for the first time. But this was the first time we’d been face to face since our return.

“Alpha, I’d like–” I began, but Emma cut me off.

“I’d like to introduce myself again.” She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. “I’m sorry for lying to you, both of you. I’m Emma Lane. My sister, Lyssa, is here somewhere.”

“I’m right here!” Lyssa called in her perky, upbeat voice.

She sauntered up and stood next to Emma.

While they were definitely identical sisters, it was easy for me to tell the difference between them. Obvious ones were Lyssa’s tan from her time in Ibiza, but also her personality. It was bolder. There were more subtle, physical differences as well, like Emma’s mouth was a touch fuller. I could never confuse them.

My mark ensured that. Emma had my scent embedded in her.

“The two of you have caused quite a stir,” Rob commented.

Lyssa waved her hand through the air. “Keeping shifters a secret from humans is constant secret keeping.I think you’ve got your snout bent because for once, someone got one past you.”

“Lyssa,” a deep voice practically growled from behind us. Knox wrapped an arm about her waist, pulling her tightly to his front. “We don’t disrespect an alpha,” he murmured against her ear.

“It’s not disrespect, it’s honesty,” she replied.

Her other mate, Travis, joined them. While they hadn’t marked her yet, they would. Probably tonight, based on the way the three of them were.

I glanced at Rob, afraid he might get angry or rip her head off or whatever alphas did at times like this. The corner of his mouth tipped up, which made me relax.

“Tell us,honestly, mate, how that plug feels in your ass?” Knox whispered close to her ear. With my shifter hearing, I couldn’t miss the question. “It’ll feel different with your ass cherry red from being spanked to curb that sass.”

For once, Lyssa blushed, but I got the feeling she loved the reprimand. “Sorry, Alpha,” she said brightly. “Thank you for having us at your pack bonfire.”

Through her lashes, she glanced up at Knox, seeking something.

He smiled down at her. “Good girl,” he murmured, stroking his hand over her hair.

I squeezed Emma’s hip.

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