Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,46

nodded. “I love you, baby brother.”

Daniel snorted. “Love you, too, jackass.”

Gabriel grinned as he pushed to his feet, and Daniel followed suit. They met in the middle, squeezing each other hard as they hugged. He was grateful his father hadn’t been able to drive a wedge between the two of them. He didn’t want anything else to, either.

“Okay, we’re heading out in the morning, so go back to sleep.”

“Another lead?” Daniel asked, wondering where the hell Talbot was leading them.

“Yeah, looks like we’re heading toward Wyoming.”

“The Holloways?” Daniel asked, knowing Laramie, the eldest Holloway brother and alpha of the bear pack, had recently found his mate, a woman who’d turned out to be a lot more than she’d appeared. A female Kodiak bear.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Gabriel replied. “The truth of the matter is that we don’t have a fucking clue where Talbot is leading us, but make no mistake, he’s definitely leading us.”

“Then maybe, we should stop following,” Daniel advised.

“I can’t. Not just because of what he did to my mate. But Wyoming? I’ll never forget the day I brought the Holloway brothers their father’s body. Even the thought that Talbot might be headed there with the intention of getting his hands on Laramie’s mate makes me see red.”

“We driving or flying?” Daniel asked.

“Tony, Kenzie and I are going to fly ahead. I guess Tony is good buddies with Jensen Holloway. Jonah will fly with us. Aleksy and Lyra are going to stay and drive with you and Ariel. If we find out Talbot’s gone somewhere else once we check in with Laramie, we’ll let you guys know.”

“Sounds good. What about the other two who came with Tony?” Daniel still couldn’t remember their names.

“They flew back this afternoon. Something else came up that they were needed for. Tony said he’d pull more once we had better information.”

“Any news on Quinn?” Daniel figured Ariel would ask when she woke up.

“She’s hanging in. Abby had them give her some of Tah’s blood, and she seems to be healing. She hasn’t spoken about the baby’s father. Gideon is watching over her. Miles is kind of…” Gabriel broke off with a shake of his head.

“I’m sure,” Daniel agreed. Miles Jensen hadn’t heard from his daughter since Isaac had sent her straight into the heart of a hunter’s lab. Now, she was back, hurt and pregnant with a baby whose father was a shifter. “You going to give me a good report when you check in with Tah later?” Because there was no doubt in his mind that either Gabriel or Kenzie would be speaking with their alpha before they called it a night.

Gabriel nodded. “Yeah, I will. You know he’s been behind the two of you from the very beginning, right?”

No, Daniel hadn’t, but it made him feel good hearing it now. Gabriel pulled him in for another hard hug.

“Aleksy and Lyra will meet you in the lobby at six. Get some more rest. I’ll call you as soon as I can tomorrow.”

“Tell the Holloways I said hello. In case we end up headed in a different direction.”

“Will do,” Gabriel vowed and reached for the door across from Daniel’s.

“You’re across the hall?” Daniel laughed as Gabriel nodded.

“Of course. I’ve always got your back, brother. Always.”

Stepping back into the room with his mate, Daniel’s heart felt light for the first time in a long time. He was making strides with her, and now, he knew he had his brother and his alpha’s support, too. Things were finally looking up. He slid back into bed with Ariel, and his heart caught when she immediately moved into him just as she had the last time. He pulled her close, wrapping her in his arms and dropping a kiss on her head.

“Everything okay?” she murmured against his chest, sounding mostly asleep.

“Yeah, baby. Everything’s fine. Go back to sleep.”

She murmured something, kissed his chest and settled against him with a soft sigh. Everything was more than fine. It was perfect.

Chapter Fourteen

Ariel had slept soundly pretty much the whole day after her encounter with Daniel. Encounter, hell. He’d brought her to orgasm for the first time in her life. She’d been a bit uncertain when she woke wrapped in his arms. Unsure how to behave or even what to say. She was so far out of her element. Her normal reaction was anger, but that didn’t seem the right choice with Daniel.

He’d saved her from her own awkwardness by kissing her brow as he left the bed and headed to