to the houses we have ready. We’ll bring your luggage by when it’s been unloaded.”
Nikolai smiled and started leading his people away to where Michael and Will stood.
I pulled my hand from Skye’s as Dimitri approached, extending it to him.
He paused in front of me.
“Thank you,” I started sincerely, “for protecting Skye.”
Dimitri nodded with an easy grin and shook my hand. “No problem.”
My right hand squeezed his as my left arm swung. My knuckles collided solidly with his jaw, snapping his head back. I let go as he stumbled backwards and went down, hard.
Everyone around us froze.
“Remy!” Skye hissed, moving to step around me and check on him.
I held her back with one hand as I glared down at Dimitri. “Take her away from me again and I’ll kill you.”
“Noted,” he muttered, rubbing his jaw. He winced as he touched the already swelling area and got back up.
Skye’s nails dug into my forearm as Dimitri joined the others getting ready to leave.
“Really?”
I looked at her. “Yes, really. And I really will kill him, or anyone, who takes you from me again.”
She sighed, but didn’t seem too upset by what I said. In fact, when her eyes met mine, all I could see was love.
Unable to resist, I kissed her again, hard.
It killed me to step away from her, especially when she rocked forward, her lips chasing mine as I straightened and looked back at my pack.
“You all know what to do,” I said, nodding that they were okay to leave. The cars carrying the Narodnaya pack members were already leaving.
Everyone slowly cleared out until only a few of us were left. Dante stalked away from my side, grabbing Tate and pulling her close as Ryder let Addie out of the car.
“Mom,” Skye breathed as she approached. “Are you okay?”
She was still pale, but nodded. “I’m fine, baby.”
“You’re welcome to go with the others,” I told her, not crazy about her going home to an empty apartment. “You can stay at the house tonight. Or stay with Zoe and Michael.”
“Actually I’m going to go pick up your mother,” Addie replied, her eyes darting around nervously. “Gabe’s insisting she get some sleep that isn’t the cot they brought into his room. I told her she can use Skye’s bed. The apartment is only a couple blocks from the medical center, so she’s still close by.”
“Thank you,” I said, truly meaning it. Addie had been invaluable lately between handling food for the workers and keeping Mom company at the medical center so she wasn’t alone.
“How is he?” Skye demanded, her worried eyes lifting to me.
“He’s doing good,” I answered, thankful it was the truth. “I promised him I would bring you by soon to visit.”
“We’ll give you a ride,” Rhodes said, wrapping an arm around Larkin’s shoulders.
“Actually,” Addie said, “if it’s all right, I’d like to run back. I could use some time to clear my head.”
“Mom.” Skye sighed. “Is that even safe right now?”
“She’s safe,” I assured Skye. “The borders are miles away and locked down tight, and there’s plenty of guards in the woods between here and town.”
Now that Brooks Ridge was with us, we had ample guards to make sure everyone inside the Blackwater pack territory was safe.
“It’s fine,” Addie replied firmly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Skye moved away from me and hugged Addie. “Promise you’ll call if you need me.”
Addie released her with a smile, smoothing a hand down Skye’s dark hair. “I will. Don’t worry about me.” She turned and headed for the treeline.
“What now?” Skye asked softly, looking around.
I glanced around at my friends. My family.
“Now we hug you again,” Larkin declared with a beaming smile, pulling Skye into a crushing hug. It only took a second for Katy to join them.
After a pause, Rhodes shrugged and wrapped his arms around all three of them.
I started to laugh.
“You know you want in on this,” Katy teased from over Larkin’s shoulder.
“You all have five seconds before I’m taking Skye back,” I warned them instead. My wolf was less than pleased with anyone except us touching Skye.
Four and a half seconds later, they let Skye go. She was back at my side, my arm wrapped possessively around her shoulders, at the five second mark.
“Is there anything we need to know right now?” I looked at her.
“Yeah,” she replied seriously, but turned away from me and looked at Katy.
“I know where Maren is.”
Katy gasped and stepped back into Dante as he, Ryder, and Tate joined us.