Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,34
searching for a place to belong and ended up a part of the Marine squad their pride alpha Tah had led before he knew exactly who and what he was.
Then Talbot had struck again when Kenzie and Gabriel were first getting together. She and Gabriel had a deep desire to get their hands on Talbot and find out exactly what he’d given her. Both as a child and a woman.
“Aleksy and Lyra will stay with me, but there’s room for you and Ariel to head back in the morning.”
Daniel wanted to stay and help his brother. He and Gabriel hadn’t always been there for each other. Isaac had seen to that. Daniel needed to be there now. Ariel needed him more, though, and she had to come first. Hell, he wasn’t sure anyone had ever put his mate first, and he would make damn sure he did. Which meant he’d ask her what she wanted. She deserved no less.
“I’ll see what she wants to do when she wakes up.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea for her to stay here? From the way they were talking, it sounds like she’s fragile. If we find him, it’s bound to get violent. I won’t let him get away this time.”
“My mate is anything but fragile,” Daniel stated with a growl as the woman in his arms opened her eyes and met his gaze. “She’s strong and fierce and exactly who I want at my side if things get dicey.”
“All right then,” Tony agreed. “Let’s talk about you. How’s your lion handling things? No further reactions to the shot I gave you?”
Ariel watched him curiously, brow lifted in question.
“No, the beast is settled. Calm even.”
“You’re with your mate,” Tony replied. “Everything I know about you guys says mates have a way of soothing the beast inside. Promise you’ll let me know if anything changes. I know you two haven’t sealed the deal so to speak.”
“Tony,” Daniel growled in warning, not wanting the other man to say anything that might upset Ariel.
“Stating facts. Ones you need to be aware of in case there are issues. The animal needs his mate. You almost lost him. I can’t promise it won’t happen again. Mate your mate.”
“Goodbye, Tony,” Daniel snapped, feeling Ariel tense and doing his best to soothe her. Damn it, he didn’t want her thinking he’d press her for things she was nowhere near ready for. And he was okay with that. She was more than worth the wait, no matter how long she needed.
“We’ll head your way soon, then meet up in the morning. There’s a diner across the road from the motel. Let meet there. Say six?” Tony asked.
Ariel nodded her agreement when Daniel silently left it up to her.
“Sounds good. See you then.”
“Are you staying with your mate tonight?”
Daniel held Ariel’s gaze, hiding nothing as he answered. “Yes. Good night, Tony. Call if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
Daniel laid his phone on the bedside table once the call disconnected. He had no idea what Ariel was thinking, and her continued silence wasn’t helping. Tony’s order to mate his mate hadn’t sent her moving from his lap. Daniel would count that as a positive.
“I’ll watch over you while you sleep. I can guard the door from the inside or outside. Your choice.”
She swallowed but held his gaze. “Inside.”
One word and he felt as if he’d won the lottery. She was letting him stay, was remaining in his arms even though she was awake now. He was afraid to say or do anything for fear she’d bolt or tell him to get the hell out. Fear threatened when she tugged away, leaving his arms to sit on the bed beside him.
“They took Quinn to Riverton?”
Daniel nodded. “Tony said she flew back with two of the guys who work with him, Mitch and Jonah. I met them on the way here. Jonah said they were good friends with Jess and her mates. I guess they’ve met the professor before, too. Said they’d look him up when they got back and say hello.”
Ariel nodded. “What’s Tony’s story with Dr. Talbot?”
Daniel shrugged. “I have no idea. He didn’t say. Of course, I didn’t ask, either. My guess is, it probably has something to do with Aleksy.”
“You think Gabriel and Kenzie will stay?”
“If Talbot is here, they’ll both want a go at him. I’d like to stay and watch their backs.”
“I’m not going back to Riverton,” Ariel stated softly.
“Ever or tomorrow?” Daniel asked when she didn’t say anything else.