Page 55 of Country and Clove
“That’s enough dismemberment talk for this morning.” Clove squeezed Aaron’s arm as she slipped out of bed and padded to the bathroom. “The sooner we get ready, the sooner we’ll find out if we got what we came for. Up and at ’em, cowboy.” She turned, dropping the sheet and patting her thigh. “Come on, boy, come on.”
“I know you’re not calling me like a dog.” Aaron’s eyes darkened as he stalked across the room.
“What are you going to do about it?” she dared.
“Something filthy and I don’t care what Graham hears.”
Clove squealed as he slammed the door behind them.
* * *
Graham was staring at them with narrowed eyes when they finally emerged from the bedroom. “Dirty fuckers. I said five minutes, not forty-five.”
“Sorry,” Aaron said, without even a hint of an actual apology behind the word. He took Clove’s hand as they headed out the door. She shivered in response to his touch. Would it always be like this? Somehow around Aaron she always felt starved for his touch. Every time his eyes fell on her, her heart raced. And just one simple word with that sexy-as-hell Southern accent and she was a puddle in his hands. Her wolf howled with happiness as it reached out to Aaron’s animal. His wolf responded with a possessive growl that made her wolf practically faint. He glanced down at her and grinned.
“You’re mine forever, darlin’. Get used to it.”
“How can you possibly know what I’m thinking?” she asked, annoyance flickering in her tone.
“I don’t. But your pheromones change and it gives me a pretty good idea of what’s on your mind.” He gave her a wink that was so damn attractive it should be outlawed.
Tawny and her lycans were squeezed into the living room of the main house when they arrived. Graham practically shoved them out of the way as he entered. He made a beeline toward Taia, immediately whispering something in her ear that had her cheeks darkening.
Clove smiled watching them. Now that she’d found her happily-ever-after, it was nice to see two people who were head over heels about each other. It no longer caused that sickening feeling of bitterness and jealousy that seeing the other couples had while her bond had been broken.
Someone passed her and Aaron cups of coffee and they gratefully accepted. There was a buffet of pastries and croissant sandwiches spread out along the center island, but the tone in the room told Clove that things were serious enough that breakfast could wait. She and Aaron moved near Tawny.
“Let’s get to the business at hand,” Tawny announced and the room fell silent. “Firstly, we have some news to share. Taia has made the decision to leave our pack and assimilate to the Ulric pack with her mate. I received approval from their Alpha just this morning. It is painful any time there’s a need to replace a Beta, but as Davey’s been filling in for Taia during ceremonies, we believe this will be a fairly smooth transition. While we are heartbroken to lose Taia, we are overjoyed by the news of her finding a fated mate. What a rare and beautiful gift.”
The lycans near Graham and Taia reached out, rubbing their hands along the new couple’s shoulders and arms.
“When it comes to the original reason for your visit”—Tawny’s voice went a bit dark—“I have come to a decision. My job is to think of what’s best for my pack first and foremost, which means needlessly entering into a war with some shadow creatures in another territory is low on my list of priorities. However”—she stilled, tapping a finger to her lips—“I have now seen firsthand the power these Celestials wield. Everything happens for a reason. I don’t believe for one instant it was an accident that this, right now, right here, is where not one, but two Celestials emerged. On top of that, one of our most beloved has been bonded to these people and to their cause. I believe it would be foolish to turn my back on such a miraculous sign from the gods and stars. And lucky for you two”—her bright blue eyes fell on Aaron and Clove—“my pack is in agreement.”
Clove let out the breath she’d been holding and felt Aaron do the same.
“You’ll come to our aid when the time comes?” Aaron asked.
“The Buckthorn pack are officially your allies.”
The room erupted in cheers and excited voices. Clove’s heart warmed as Aaron closed the gap between him and Tawny, dragging Clove with him and pulling his aunt in for a tight hug.
“Thank you, Tawny. This means the world to me and my pack.”
Clove watched, keenly aware she was intruding on a private moment.
Tawny gripped him fiercely before pulling back and taking his face between her hands. “You’re not a thing like your father.” She gave him a soft smile. Something passed over Aaron’s features, a vulnerability and relief. Clove’s own heart swelled with emotion knowing just how important those words had been to her mate. When Aaron turned to her again, he swept her up in his arms, spinning her in circles as she giggled.
“Let’s go home, pretty girl.” He gave her one of his lopsided grins and she lifted up on her toes, taking his lips in a desperate and joyous kiss.
“Let’s go home.”
Lark appeared within the hour to transport them back. Graham was stalling their departure, begging for Taia to come with him now. She politely declined, saying she needed a few days to get her stuff packed, but would join him soon. Graham walked over to Lark with a pout on his face.
“It’s only a few days,” Clove offered encouragingly.
“What am I supposed to do without her? I’ll go mad,” he whined.
“Oh shut it. Clove and I survived without each other for weeks,” Aaron said with an eyeroll.
