Page 251 of The Lands Defying
I sigh and nuzzle into Josh, hearing Darius’s growl in my head before I move away.
Josh laughs his ass off, and I kick his shin. “Shut up.”
“Ow, you little shit.” He lunges at me and I squeal, running around the trees. I laugh, listening to his own and when I see a scowling Darius, I head straight for him, launching myself into his lap.
“That’s cheating!” Josh points a finger at me as Darius pulls me close, protecting me from his damn tickling hands.
“No, it’s smart,” I reply, sticking my tongue out at him.
“Fucking cheater.” He walks off, grumbling and sitting down next to Sarah. Oh my Gods, is he pouting?
Sarah laughs at the look on his face, trying to hide it behind her hand as Seb and Taylor just outright laugh at him.
“She has a big, bad Heir on her side now,” Kade says. “No way can you tickle her.”
“I’ll get her,” Josh grumbles, giving me the stink eye, and I smirk into Darius’s neck.
“Not on my watch,” Darius growls his way. Darius pulls me closer, inhaling at my neck and releasing a deep growl “Move,” he barks at some Elites nearby, and they get up and move away from us without a word at the harsh command.
I roll my eyes.
“Are you ticklish,” I ask him, and Leo barks out a rough laugh, like the thought is hilarious.
And I mean, It kind of is.
“No.”
My fingers dance to his waist, and I’m suddenly turned, facing outwards on his lap, my arms trapped in his. “Oh my god! You are!”
“I said, no.”
I’m so fucking getting him when he least expect it.
“Food’s ready.” Anna says, stirring the pot as Oscar runs past her legs, diving for a waiting Jerrod who has his arms open.
My mouth drops open as he moves up on the bench, and a timid Katy heads for him, perching on the edge of the seat as she watches her son play with the huge Elite.
“What is happening,”I ask Darius through the link.
“I told you he wouldn’t hurt them.
“But…but…”What in the Gods happened when I was in my slumber…
The silence is all of a sudden uncomfortable and I realize everyone is looking at me.
“Bless the food, little wolf.”
I sit up straighter, having no shame with being on Darius’s lap as I look at my pack.
They have small smiles on their faces. Sam sits silently next to Kade, her hand in his, Josh and Sarah huddle close together. Hudson and Colten are shoulder-to-shoulder. Seb sits next to Damian, followed by Anna and Zaide, and then Leo and Taylor. Edward, who is looking far better, sits with a younger boy, who is chatting his ear off and Finn and Sybill are next, then Lacy, Elijah and Nathan with more members and Elites further back.
My eyes sting with unexpected tears. We are all on the same side around this campfire. We are all a united pack.
This is another moment to cherish. We don’t know when Charles will attack here again, or if he is just biding his time, but sitting here together like this is important to us all.
I look at the empty seats that have been left, and I realize it’s for Danny and Josie.
A breeze flutters past me and I smile. They are here, all around us.
