He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Abella, seriously. Since the moment, you walked into my cage while I suffered from grief. My wolf knew all along.”
“Oh, Slade.” She reached up and grasped his face, then ravished him with a deep passionate soul-enriching kiss. He groaned and kissed her with equal fervor.
Epilogue
Cricket gazed out Dominic’s cabin on his secluded personal island. Slade had won the getaway on Hemlock Island by donating the most money, but instead of a week getaway it had turned into a month. Free. No worries. Far from Slade’s Yukon home, which in the end he may lose because of her. A bittersweet consequence of him mating a runt. Rylee had given them an extended leave of absence. Temporary banishment until the royal council decided their fate.
Slade hugged her from behind and tickled her neck with his warm breath. “You’re not suffering from cabin fever?”
Cricket shuddered against his muscular chest, then took his massive hands and held them. “Certainly not. Do you miss adventures?” Miss being respected and not the brunt of jokes?
“Are you kidding me? No way. Keeping you safe is adventurous enough.”
“Excuse me, who sent the coordinates and found out The Keep brought back werewolf hunting?”
Slade laughed and gently bit her earlobe, inspiring her clit, again. “Yes, my Abella, you saved humans and our kind, but I’m the one who protected your ass so you could.”
She turned and grinned. “True.”
“By the way, Rylee just texted me. She’s on her way.”
Cricket’s smile vanished, and she rocked slightly. The decision. Banishment. Never being around other pack members. They’d still have to abide by lycan law, but their only werewolf contact would be the warden. Even Mia would be out of bounds. Really sucks. “The hearing?”
“Yes, the royal council reached a verdict.”
“Oh, it must be bad if she needs to tell us in person.”
“Not necessarily, she said she wanted to see you.”
“For the last time.”
Slade lifted her chin. “Don’t worry, love. I doubt Rylee will agree to that.”
The wop, wop of an approaching helicopter made her stomach flutter in anticipation of the verdict.
“Slade, it’s Rylee.” Cricket dashed for the door.
Slade grabbed her before she opened it. “Wait.”
“What?”
“I have to make sure it is her and not The Keep.”
The helicopter with the Team Greywolf logo landed in the field. Dominic's hideaway was unknown. Nonetheless, Slade was still paranoid. Their capture or death would be a major coup for The Keep. Fortunately, it was Rylee.
Her beta leapt out and opened her door. Rylee wore a hooded faux furred jacket and white pants and sauntered toward their cottage. As always, she looked tall and regal.
Slade let her in, sniffed twice and bowed. “Welcome.”
Rylee pushed back her hood, sniffed in both their directions and smiled. “The pleasure is mine. I came directly from the hearing.”
“Well, what’s the outcome?” Cricket remembered her manners and gave her a wolfish grin. “Ma’am.”
“Good news, mostly.”
“Meaning?” asked Slade, his tone guarded.
“The royal council made their decision. Banishment until the next full moon, then reinstatement into pack society. And then you may return to Team Greywolf.”