20

“If it isn’t Rylee Christianson,” JD said as Rylee walked with me to the bar. She stiffened and my protective instincts kicked in.
“Fuck off JD,” I said as I stood in between him and Rylee.
“I see you still have the mark of a whore on your neck,” Carson chimed in as he joined JD.
My eyes flashed yellow and I had both of them pinned against the wall with a hand around their throats each. I squeezed as Baz roared in my head. The music had lowered and people were watching us. They tried to get out of my grip but I only squeezed harder.
“Lucas, they’re not worth it,” Rylee said as she placed a hand on my shoulder. My eyes returned to their normal green and I let go of them as several other Sires stepped forward. I turned away from them and took Rylee’s hand which she didn’t resist.
“We’ll be seeing you around Rylee,” JD said loudly and I felt fear coming from her.
“The Grey lair officially declares the McIntyre lair our enemy,” I said as I faced him again. There were a few gasps and I knew that this would influence a lot of votes tonight. I was the strongest Sire here and nobody wanted me as their enemy and for years now we’d been neutral with the McIntyre’s.
“What are you doing?” Jasper asked me.
“What I should’ve done a while ago,” I said as I got Rylee seated and turned to glare at them again.
“The Maxwell lair officially joins the Grey lair and declare the McIntyre’s our enemy,” Colin said loudly and Charles stood up nodding his support as well.
“Aw fuck it, the O’Connell lair declares those idiots our enemy as well,” Jasper said while still seated with his back to them.
“I can fight my own battles,” I said as I sat down and looked at them.
“I’m actually surprised that you haven’t taken over his lair sooner,” Jasper said with a chuckle and filled his glass from my bottle.
“Hannah take Rylee back to her room and pack. Charles bring the contract, we’re leaving tonight,” I said and emptied my glass.
Colin escorted Hannah and Rylee upstairs as I watched Carson and JD. They were watching Rylee and I could feel her fear intensifying as she walked past them. Colin glared at them and I saw his eyes flash yellow as well.
“Don’t do it Lucas,” Jasper said as he watched me.
“Fuck Jasper, you know me too well,” I said and he laughed.
“It’s been a while since you beat the shit out of someone at a public gathering,” he said still holding his glass.
“If I don’t do it, Baz is going to come out,” I said to him.
“Which one you want?” Jasper asked as we eyed them both.
“Carson, pathetic excuse of a Sire,” I spat the words out.
We stood up and headed to the bar and I saw the Elders shaking their heads at me. Carson and JD turned towards us as they stood at the bar and I could see Carson was angry. Two men had just left and I knew that they had withdrawn their ally status with them.
My first punch connected with Carson’s jaw and his head flipped sideways. He spat out blood and looked at me. We both lunged at the same time and I had his head in a choke hold in two moves. He elbowed me in the ribs but I held on.
I glanced over at Jasper as he sat astride JD hitting him in the face. JD was no match for Jasper and I leaned towards Carson’s ear, “stay away from Rylee or next time I will kill you both.” I let go of him and he started coughing. Jasper stood up as well and we made our way out of the ballroom followed by Charles and headed to his office.
An hour later we stood in front of the hotel as Rylee said goodbye to Colin. She had changed into jeans and I was still wearing my suit. Hannah was on the phone as she made arrangements for us to fly back to Aurora.
I watched Rylee on the jet as she slept on one of the couches and two hours later I woke her up as we landed. Jay and Preston met us on the tarmac and his eyes widened when he saw Rylee. He smiled at Hannah and they hugged.
“Welcome home oh mighty Sire,” he said and bowed.
“Asshole,” I said and he laughed.
“Who’s ass did you beat this time?” he asked me.
“McIntyre,” I said and he rubbed his hands together.
“Pity I missed it,” he said as Jay loaded our luggage into the boot and he opened the door for Rylee, “hello again Rylee.”
“Hi Preston,” she said and climbed into the car.
It was two am when we finally stopped in front of the house and I felt more at ease. I hated travelling and being away and Preston gave me reports as we drove home. Rylee sat quietly in the back with Hannah as Preston and I talked business.
“Where’s Rylee’s luggage going?” Preston asked me as we climbed out of the car.
“My room,” I said and he grinned at me like an idiot until I smacked his head and walked inside.
Rylee walked in behind Hannah and Jax’s eyebrows raised as well when he saw her. Chris was already asleep but I was glad that Jax had waited up for me. He and Hannah hugged and I watched her as she went upstairs to her room, well Rev’s room. She still had her room but she slept in Rev’s bed every night since he went to jail.
“You can follow Preston up to my room,” I said to Rylee.
“Hi Jax,” she said and he smiled at her.
“This is a really welcome surprise, never thought I’d see the day,” he said and I cleared my throat.
“I’ll be up shortly and then we can talk,” I said to her. Preston took her upstairs and I turned to Jax.
“How did that happen?” he asked me.
“Enforcement from the Elders. I asked them to break the bond, they couldn’t and now we have to live together for six months before they decide,” I said to him.
“Your life just gets better and better,” he said and I sighed.
“Yeah, anyway, I declared those McIntyre scum our enemy tonight along with two other lairs, so prepare our men for it. If any member of the McIntyre lair sets foot in our territory I want them captured and taken to our cells,” I said to him.
“Because of Rylee?” he asked me.
“Yes and no. I’ve been itching to take over his lair and have Aurora to myself,” I said to him.
“About time,” he said.
“How’s my sister?” I asked him.
“Moody and she pees all the time but other than that she’s great and wishes she could go into labour,” he said with a smile.
“See you in the morning, we’ll have a meeting at The Drake with our warriors, get them up to speed and formally declare our position with paperwork,” I said to him.
We hugged and I went upstairs. I didn’t bother going into my office because if I did I wouldn’t sleep and I needed to rest. I had a long day ahead of me. I opened the bedroom door and I heard the shower. I undressed and pulled pajama bottoms on just as the shower shut off.
The bathroom door opened and I looked up where I sat on the edge of the bed on my side. She was wearing a tight fitting top with loose pajama pants and her hair was loose as well. She smelled like my bodywash and I felt her climb into the bed.
“Can we talk in the morning please?” she asked, “I’m tired.”
“Yeah me too,” I said as I pulled the covers away and turned on my side facing her. I looked at her back and I had the sudden urge just to hold her.
“It was Carson and JD,” I said and she turned towards me.
“What?” she asked me.
“They’re the ones that attacked you weren’t they?” I asked her. It had all clicked on the jet as I watched her sleep. The stiffness, the way they were looking at her, her fear, it all made sense to me then, her fear wasn’t being with me, it was being in Aurora with them.
“Yes,” she said softly and I moved closer to her. I pulled her against me and I held her tightly.
“I won’t let either of them hurt you ever again,” I said as I felt her shoulders heave with her crying.
I held her until she fell asleep before I closed my eyes and we woke up in the same position. I could feel her looking at me even before I opened my eyes. I wondered what the time was but I knew that Jax would’ve woken me up if I was running late.
“Morning,” I said and opened my eyes.
“I forgot you were a cheery morning person,” she said as she rolled onto her back and I stood up and stretched.
“It’s a new day, fresh start, new opportunities,” I said and walked to the bathroom. It was only seven am but I felt rested for only sleeping four hours. I showered and then swore at myself for not bringing my clothes to the bathroom. Oh well, it’s not like she hasn’t seen me naked before.
I walked out of the bathroom with the towel around my waist and opened the cupboard door and walked inside. I got dressed and smiled a little as I felt Rylee watching me. She was probably blushing but I knew that if I looked up now and saw that I would probably start something I shouldn’t.
“Breakfast’s at eight,” I said to her as I pulled a t-shirt over my head.
“Thanks, I’ll just shower and get dressed,” she said as she climbed out of bed.
“You should’ve joined me in the shower, we could’ve saved water,” I said and she blushed as I laughed.
“Asshole,” she muttered but she was smiling.
“I was kidding,” I said and thought ‘maybe I wasn’t.’
I left my bedroom and made my way downstairs to the dining room where I knew Martha would already have coffee waiting for me. I heard Chris downstairs in the kitchen and I smiled as I went there first. My arms encircled her from behind and I placed my hands on her stomach.
“How are you feeling?” I asked her as she smiled and I kissed her cheek.
“Like a fat whale,” she said with a laugh.
“I think you look beautiful,” I said to her.
“I heard Rylee’s here,” she said and turned to look at me.
“I’m sure Jax already told you the whole story,” I said and she nodded.
“I really hope you guys can figure it out, you deserve some happiness,” Chris said.
“Who says I’m not happy?” I asked her.
“I’m not talking about your endless parade of one night stands brother, I’m talking about true happiness only a bonded mate can provide,” she said as she took my arm and we walked to the dining room.
“Where is your bonded mate?” I asked her and she only smiled.
“In the office with Preston, I’m sure they’ll join us soon,” she said.