They all filed off the bus one by one. Each of them staring up at the white-capped mountains, breathing in the cool, crisp air around them. The weather was bitter and the sky was gray… snow. Justice draped his arms over Wick’s shoulders and breathed in his mate’s scent, combining with the nostalgic scents of his home. The coolness was already settling in his bones and easing him.
It was night, but they had no problem seeing how gorgeous the landscape was. So different from the warm, dry Nevada climate. The oohs and ahhs at being home after so long were comical. Justice told his small pack and family to go home and get some much-deserved rest.
“This has been one long, crazy, unexpected trip,” Justice called out, his voice even more impressive on his own land. “I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. We accomplished so much. The packs are celebrating our triumph. The rogue pack is eliminated and so is the facility they were using to replicate our DNA, thanks to Wick’s foot soldiers. They were in and out with zero casualties. Even rescued nine shifters and two vampires.”
Cheers and applause were loud and long. Justice hadn’t been expecting rescues either, but when Ramon reported them, Farica hurried to make arrangements for the shifters to be transported to Mikel’s land so they could be properly checked by the pack’s physicians. Neither Justice nor Wick could shake the idea that there may be more facilities. Their organization seemed too well funded to only have one. They’d find them all, he swore to his family.
“I love you all. Rest up. We’ll start back on Monday, bright and early.” Justice accepted a few more hugs and congratulatory kisses, then led Wick towards his home. His one-story, log, ranch-style house was in the middle of his fifteen acres. His brother’s homes were nearby, yet still far enough away to give them all a sense of privacy. Justice heard each sibling return his sentiment… except Alek. His brother was gone, probably already in his house with the door shut tight behind him.
Justice opened his door and pushed it wide, gesturing for Wick to enter. “Your majesty.”
“Very cheeky.” Wick pecked him on his mouth and walked by him.
He tried to see his home through Wick’s eyes. His oversized, well-used furniture, all positioned in a semi-circle for meetings. His coffee table was an enormous General Grant tree-trunk he’d hauled all the way from Grant Grove in California years ago. He’d done all the work on it himself; his brothers constantly put in bids for it, but he’d never let it go. He didn’t have a lot of possessions, but what he did have was nice and handsome. Except his eighty-inch television and surround sound system… that was sexy. Wick walked into the spacious kitchen, smiling back at him.
“I like the openness. I’ve seen so many homes that have just as many doors upstairs as they do downstairs.” Wick spun around. “There is only a downstairs.”
Justice pointed down a dark hall. “There’s two bedrooms. The entire back is my bedroom and there’s a decent guest room off the garage with its own bath.” Justice looked out the window. “Bell is still talking with Mac and Taleb. When he comes in, I’ll tell him he’s welcome to stay here with us until he settles.” Hopefully at Alek’s. “You haven’t seen him in months, I’m sure you don’t want him staying in the city with the others. He’s your second, he should be close.”
“You’re amazing.” Wick hugged Justice, pulling him close for a searing kiss. “It’s been two days. He looks fine on the outside, but I know how it feels to crave the taste of your Beloved and be denied.”
Justice winced, remembering the twenty-four hours of hell he’d put them through. “He only has to go to him.”
“He will.” Wick turned Justice’s face away from the large window that overlooked his land. “What I need is a good run, my final meal, and a hard shag to make me sleep the rest of the weekend.”
Justice groaned and ground himself against Wick. “Already got you talking like an American. I can manage all that and more.”
“I know.” Wick sighed and rubbed his cheek against Justice’s scruffy one. He was back to wolfing it again, not bothering to shave the entire trip home. “I love you.”
Justice intensified the kiss, biting and moaning the longer he did. “I love you more.” He inched back, slowly removing his sweats and t-shirt. “I’ll race you. First one to the Saco River is the real alpha,” Justice taunted.
He reared back and laughed, enjoying the strong-willed determination that transformed Wick’s loving smile to a predatory one. His grin was toothy and devious. Wick peeled out of his clothes, not caring if the window was wide open and people were still lingering outside. His mate was becoming a true shifter. With one last look, they chuckled and took off for the door, Justice grabbing Wick before he could leap off the steps and jumped in front of him.