Well, that was certainly true. Riley liked taking care of them, liked knowing where they were. Her raven was eager to pick up the mantle of Guardian, proud and honored. “I thank you for your offer . . . and I accept.”
Taryn beamed. “Awesome!”
Trey nodded his approval. “We’ll see you both at breakfast. Don’t worry, we won’t tell the others that you’re mated. You can tell them yourselves.”
Once the Alphas left, Tao tugged Riley close, aligning her body to his. “Accepting the position of Guardian was the right thing to do.” The pack hadn’t needed one before Riley came, because they’d had only Kye and Lilah. Tao suspected that Grace would have been made Guardian if Riley hadn’t joined the pack. As much as Grace was amazing with the kids, she didn’t fit the position in the same way that Riley did. “What would make the morning even better would be if you handed over my damn ring.”
“You’re barking at the wrong raven, Fenris.”
Tao growled. “It’s a good fucking thing you’re worth this trouble, Porter. I need coffee and food.” In one swift move, he slung her over his shoulder, ignoring her horrified squeaks, and strode out of the room. He didn’t put her down until just before they reached the kitchen. Cutting off the insults she would have slung at him, he kissed the breath out of her. “You know better than to call me Fenris.”
“But it’s fun.”
He sighed. “Whatever.” Linking their fingers, Tao drew her into the kitchen. The pack looked up and either nodded or gave them an absent smile. It wasn’t until they’d neared the table that heads snapped up. Eyes wide, the pack were instantly on their feet, congratulating them. Well, apart from Greta and Dominic.
Slumped in his chair, Dominic looked at them with a baffled expression. “You’ve mated? Really? Weird. I always figured you were a ghost,” he told Riley. A grin spread across his face. “You haunt my dreams every night.”
Tao growled, clenching his fists against the urge to slap the enforcer. “Dominic, why do you hate yourself?”
“You really have to be suicidal to persist with this, Dom,” said Marcus. The others nodded or murmured their agreement.
“Ah, come on!” said Dominic. “Can you really blame me for finding her hot? Sometimes I wish I was cross-eyed so I could see her twice.”
Out of patience, Tao reached over and slapped the enforcer over the back of the head. Dominic just laughed, thoroughly pleased with himself.
Lydia sighed at Dominic. “Honey, you’ve had so many people whack that crazy head of yours that I’m surprised you don’t have special needs.”
Dominic paused in chewing his sandwich. “Actually, so am I.”
Rolling her eyes at his antics, Riley turned to Savannah and Dexter. Neither had offered any congratulations. They were both still in their seats, eyeing her and Tao warily.
“You’re mates now?” asked Savannah.
Tao crouched down. “Riley’s still yours,” he told both of them. “We just share her now. It means there’s always someone to take care of her. Right?”
Savannah thought about it for a moment and then grinned. “We’re like Team Riley.”
Tao nodded. “Exactly.” He ruffled Dexter’s mop of curls. The cub offered him an acorn from his pocket, which Tao decided to interpret as a sign of acceptance, so he gratefully took it.
Greta gave Riley one of those condescending head-to-toe looks. “Fate let you down big-time, my boy,” she told Tao.
“Here we go,” mumbled Taryn.
Riley glanced at Makenna and crossed her eyes. The old woman might have told Avery that Tao could do worse, but it was unlikely that Greta would ever actually like Riley. Even if she did, she’d still always be vile toward Riley just because the crone was crazy.
“She’s a raven, for God’s sake,” Greta complained.
Riley snorted. “At least I’m not the mascot for California’s Psychotic Bitch Department.” Ignoring the woman’s horrified gasp, Riley turned to Tao. “I’m going to call my uncles.”
“Okay.” Tao kissed her and then gave her ass a gentle pat. “Don’t be long.” Pulling out the chair next to Trick, he sat down.
“I told you,” teased Trick with a smirk.
Tao shot him a look of disgust. “What are you, twelve?”
Unoffended, Trick bit into his toast. “It’s still weird that your wolf didn’t like her at first.”
“Maybe our animals don’t always know when they’ve met their true mate.” Or maybe Tao’s wolf had been as wary of mating as he was, though Tao doubted it. Their animals were more elemental in their way of thinking. They didn’t really have “issues.” Tao couldn’t know for sure. What he did know was that the wolf’s only current problem was that his mate, standing in the corner of the kitchen, was too far away. Clingy bastard.
The phone only rang twice before Ethan picked up. “Morning, sweetheart,” he greeted her.
“Hey,” said Riley. “Call Max over and then put me on speakerphone so I can talk to both of you.”
Ethan whistled. “Riley wants to talk to us!”
“Okay, I’m here,” Max announced a few moments later.
Riley smiled and took a deep breath. “I have some news.”
“You and Tao are mates,” said Ethan. “Ow! What was that for?”
“You could have let her tell us,” Max reprimanded him.
“Why, when we already knew?” Ethan seemed genuinely confused.
“So she could have that moment of giving us the good news.”
Riley sighed. “Since neither of you are complaining about the mating, I’m guessing you’re both good with this.”
“We like Tao,” said Max.
“We like him for you,” Ethan added. “Promise you won’t have the mating ceremony without us.”
“I have no intention of throwing the ceremony until all this crap is over,” she assured them. She thought about telling them what had happened at the amusement park, but she saw no need to worry them further. It would only hurt them that they couldn’t be here to protect her because they needed to keep watch on the other ravens. “All the flock still accounted for?”
“Yes,” said Ethan. “We’re in constant contact with Hugh and the enforcers—everyone has been vigilant, but there have been no problems so far.”