“Peyton did all this for you?” I asked.
“Seems so. She’s pretty incredible.”
“You’re lucky to have her.”
“We’re lucky to have her.”
“Look at this place. It actually looks like a house already.”
“I certainly wasn’t expecting this. Growing up the way we did, I never thought anyone gave a shit about me and my brothers. And Oliver would have beat the shit out of us for taking a handout. Smith boys don’t do that. But this felt different. I don’t even know how to explain it.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“This is one ugly couch, but damn isn’t comfortable.”
I squealed as he pulled me down onto it with him.
“Are you okay? Today was a lot.”
“It was, but I think you were right. I’m going to be okay here.”
He nuzzled into my neck and kissed a spot that sent chills up my spine.
“Maybe better than okay,” I confessed.
Before things could even start to heat up between us, his phone rang. It was Thomas again. I’d mostly heard their conversation.
As he hung up, he looked at me, frustrated. “We’ve been summoned back to the Alpha house.”
*****
“They put my mate as threat number one on their stupid list. What are they thinking? I just hope no one is dumb enough to come after her,” Kyle Westin said. “Because it will not end well.”
Kyle Westin was actually here, along with his mate and two sons.
I knew Lily had mentioned being a Westin. Logically I even knew that her brother was the Alpha, but standing in his presence was something else. The man was a legend amongst shifters and a champion of witches. Of course I stood there in awe.
Kelsey snorted. “No, it would not go well in their favor if they try to come for me.”
“Wait. You?” I asked. Kyle had said his mate. “You’re a witch, too?”
She grinned. “I am.”
“And a Pack Mother?”
“And a Pack Mother,” she confirmed.
“Ha! The only two level 5 witches in the known world right here at my table,” Lily said proudly. “I’m honored. I dare them to even try coming at us. Don’t worry, Tricia. We’ve got your back.”
Thomas chuckled. “Babe, you can’t make blind threats like that.”
“He’s right. We don’t take these things lightly,” Kyle agreed. “I have Westin Force already investigating and looking for any possible threats to our Packs.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Puh-lease. The Grand Council is just onboard because you rankled some fur when you turned your back on their mating games. God, I hated those trials.”
“The Mating Trials?” Tricia asked.
“Yup. Barbaric nonsense and so is this new witch hunt.”