Chapter 25: One Last Night

Lucien was in bed and asleep, to Emma’s surprise when she returned to their room. He was snoring louder than usual. She’d expected him to be out drinking. He’d been defeated in his quest to get the packs to return to the old ways.
Emma had walked along the beach thinking before she came back to the room. When she entered the bathroom, her phone dinged.
“Meet me at the cove, please.”
Dex.
“I’ll be there.”
She slipped out of the bathroom, but Lucien was still snoring. She closed the door to the room with a slight snick then listened. Lucien was still asleep as far as she could tell. He wasn’t one to wake in the night. Even so, she vowed not to be gone for too long.
Dex was at their spot. The moon shone on the water as the waves lapped at the sand. Emma shifted back to human form and stood before Dex. “Hey.”
“Hey. That was pretty ballsy back there, not agreeing with Lucien.”
Emma cocked her head. “Was it the right decision? I don’t know, but I can’t go back and change it. What would you have done if your Luna didn’t agree with you?”
“In my case, we would have discussed it, but I never would have stopped her from expressing her opinion when she had a right to speak.”
“You don’t think what I did was a violation of the Alpha/Luna code?”
“For me, I would want my Luna to have different ideas. If she were in lockstep with me, I might not always make the right decisions.” He took a step closer. “Was there a backlash from Lucien?”
“He’s angry, but I think he’ll calm down.”
“I don’t think so. Come away with me. Tonight. We can leave now.”
“No Dex. I have to make a clean break from Lucien. I have to do it.”
He brushed the hair out of my face. “I admire your courage. This isn’t going to be easy, not with Lucien’s ego at stake.”
“Still. It has to be me leaving. Not you taking me away.”
“You say the word and I’ll be on your doorstep.”
“I know that Dex and I appreciate it. I have to do this. I have plans in place.”
“I’m worried about your safety.”
“I’ve got it covered. I’m not spending another night under his roof, Dex. I’ll be okay.”
Dex took Emma in his arms. He hugged her as if it was the last time he was seeing her and she reveled in the warmth and love that touched every nerve in her body. He loved her. He hadn’t said it, but he didn’t have to.
“Let me kiss you.”
“Please.”
He captured her lips and the passion flowed out of him. She’d missed this, not only in her marriage but in her life. Passion. Respect. Love.
He broke off the kiss and stared down at her. “I’m glad you’re leaving Lucien. I don’t think I said that. Tell me your plans.”
She shook her head. “No. If you know them then you might slip.”
“I’m good at keeping secrets, Emma.”
She framed his face with her hands. “No. Let’s just enjoy being together for tonight and know that it will happen again. Soon. I promise.”
“I’ll worry about you.”
“I know, but you have to trust me. I have a plan. A good one.”
He frowned. “Okay.”
“You can’t control this, Dex. I have to. This is me, breaking free. If I go directly to you I’ll bring war onto your pack. I couldn’t forgive myself if I did that.”
“Lucien will fight for you? Not that you aren’t worth fighting for, Emma, but does he know that?”
“It will have nothing to do with me. It’s about appearances. He’s put on a show about how an arranged marriage is better than mates. When I leave, it will prove his theories wrong. The optics will be horrible for him after days of him preaching at the Council.”
“All the more reason I’m glad that you’re leaving him. He doesn’t know what he has. He doesn’t deserve you, Emma.”
“I know.”
Dex laughed. “It’s been great watching you find your courage. To become the strong she-wolf I knew you could be.”
“I wish I’d done it five years ago.”
“It had to happen in its time, Emma. Don’t regret the past. It’s a waste of time.”
Not only was Dex sexy, but he was smart. “I wish we could spend the night together. In your bed, Dex. I don’t mean to be a tease.”
“I do, too, Emma, but I respect your boundaries. We’ll have many nights together after this. No threat of anyone discovering us because we belong together. “
She went on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you for being you.”
A laugh rumbled out of his. “What? A sexy Alpha that you can’t resist?”
“Well, that and smart and sweet, too.”
“You’re going to make a great Luna for me, Emma.”
Pride filled her.
“I need to get back. I don’t want Lucien waking up alone. We’re setting off early tomorrow.”
“I wish I could hold you the whole night, Emma.”
“Soon, Dex, soon.”
She kissed him, then shifted to her wolf form. He did the same and they nuzzled each other for a moment before she scrambled over the rocks. She turned back to human form and watched as Dex did as well Her plan was as foolproof as possible, but she was still worried about it.
Dex transformed and kissed her again. “I’ll let you have a head start to get back.”
“Thanks.”
“No need to have anyone talking about us,” he said.
She turned away from him.
“Emma?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give up the pack if that’s what it takes,” he said.
She strode to where he stood. “Oh, Dex. I wouldn’t ask you to do that. You’ve just found your place.”
“Just know that it’s an option,” he said.
She shook her head. “Not in my mind.”
But what if his pack didn’t accept her? She didn’t want to think about that; she couldn’t think about that right now. She had to get through the next day and then she’d be free.
“Don’t think about leaving your pack. You’re a great Alpha and I’ll be your Luna. We’ll be fine.”
“You do know that it’s driving me crazy not to be in control of all of this.”
She patted his face. “I know. You wouldn’t be an Alpha if you weren’t, but you also have to trust your Luna.”
“My Luna. I like the sound of that, Emma. It’s something I didn’t think I’d find.”
“Nor are you getting rid of me.”
He growled. “I have no intentions of getting rid of you. Someone has to kick my butt when I’m being stupid.”
“It’s a nice butt, too.”
He turned to look at his bottom. “You like my butt?”
“I’ve always liked your butt, Dex. Just a handful, that’s all I need.”
He puffed out his chest. “Well, you have some fine attributes, too, Emma.”
“Do tell.”
She liked the playful banter. It had been missing in her life.
“Is my Luna fishing for a compliment?”
“Yes.”
He threw his head back and let out a small howl. “You have a fine mind and a rack that I can’t wait to bury my face in.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. He hugged her close to him and the only reason she let go was because the sooner she did, the sooner she’d be back in his arms.
“I love you, Emma.”
“I love you, Dex,” Emma said.
“Hey, you better go for a swim or something or else Lucien will smell me on you.”
“I’ll jump in the ocean on my way back.”
She left him in the moonlight, her heart staying with him.