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The clan seemed just as happy as Matt was, now that he and Erena belonged to each other. Their mate marks had completely healed, but the faint scars would be forever a reminder of their bond.
Four days had passed and nobody had said anything, but he felt their approval every time he dragged Erena onto his lap during a communal meal or held a hand while they walked to her workshop.
She smiled more. No, not as easily as other women he knew, and not like Kayla, who couldn't seem to stop smiling (and who couldn't seem to shut up, either, for that matter). But she smiled for Matt, and sometimes she even smiled at other clan members.
His mate was happy, and that's what he'd wanted.
At the moment, she was sitting across the fire, talking with her sister and Nolan. Her blond hair was up in a ponytail, and he knew from their last two nights together that she liked it when he ran his fingers through it during sex. He'd have to get rid of that hair elastic as soon as possible.
The plate of roast chicken and vegetables in his lap disappeared quickly as he watched his mate. Licks of fire would shoot up from the pit, obscuring her momentarily before revealing her again. A perfect, natural tease.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it. Bronson, most likely, calling for another update that Matt was in no position to give. Matt didn't have any information, and he wasn't looking for any information. Bronson didn't know it yet, but Matt was done. Someone else would have to do the spying, because even though Jameson hadn't told Matt he belonged here in the RCC yet, Matt knew there was no other home for him. The Rock Creek Clan, at Erena's side—that's where he belonged.
He saw her look over at him and he mouthed, Come here.
A week ago, she'd have told him to fuck off. Today, she grinned, set aside her empty plate, and slowly walked around the fire to stand in front of him.
"You know, you could've come over to me," she said.
"Yeah, but there are more people over there. I want you all to myself." He reached out and grabbed her wrist, then yanked her onto his lap.
She gave a soft sound of surprise before curling in next to his chest. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he took in the vanilla and sawdust scent of her.
"How did I get so lucky," he murmured.
Tracing a circle against his Henley with one of her fingers, she said, "I'm not sure if being with me is fortune or misfortune."
"Fortune, definitely." He touched her chin and tilted her head up toward his, then kissed her once, twice, three times on the lips. "Wanna run around tonight?"
"By 'run around' do you mean 'fool around?'"
"Well, I figured the fooling around was a given." They couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other—any time they were alone, they started flirting, then the flirting would turn to touching, and the touching to kissing, and then the next thing he knew, she'd be on all-fours on the floor of her workshop with him gripping her hips as he plunged into her slick pussy.
The last four days had been his own personal version of heaven.
"Then yeah," she said, rubbing her cheek against his stubble. "A run sounds awesome."
"Let's go now," he said, moving to stand.
Rex, a few chairs away, got up from where he'd been talking with Gemma and Nina. "Where are you off to?" he asked.
"We're going for a run," Matt said, grabbing Erena's hand.
Rex relaxed his stance. "Okay."
Jameson had left a couple of nights ago for his conference, and Rex was in charge while he was away.
Matt wondered how long it would take to regain his old friend's trust, or if it was even possible. Maybe Matt would be a misfit forever.
No, not with Erena at his side. He belonged here now, whether Rex fully accepted him or not.
"Matt," Nina said as he and Erena passed, "is everything okay?"
Matt nodded. "Yeah. Hey, have you heard from Jameson? Everything going good at the conference?"
"Yep," Nina said.
Rex looked on, cocking his head in suspicion. Matt didn't give a fuck about Rex's suspicions right now. He was eager for Jameson to return.
"He's still coming home tomorrow?"
"Yes," Nina said. "Are you sure you're all right? Everything's cool?"
"Totally." The lie came out smoothly, easily. Did Matt even know how to tell the truth anymore?
Then he turned back to Erena, saw her face, slightly flushed from the heat of the fire, saw the love and acceptance in her eyes. Yes, he knew how to tell the truth, because everything with her was pure honesty.
After giving her a quick peck on the cheek, he squeezed her hand. "So, about that run?"
*
FRESH SNOWFALL BLANKETED the ground. Clouds moved across the night sky, briefly blotting out the moon before allowing it to reflect down on them periodically. Matt looked around the forest, searching for that flash of reddish orange fur. Erena was messing with him, and he loved it. He'd find her, chase her, pin her down, show her who was boss. And then some way, somehow, she'd manage to fling snow in his eyes or scramble away, and they'd start over until their hearts were thumping with adrenaline and they shifted back to human so they could play some more.
His tail twitched in anticipation.
A scent carried through the forest—something familiar yet wholly undesirable. Catmint and stone, and, there—wet bark. Matt's fur raised and his ears went back. That was Rhiannon's scent, and Colby's. They didn't belong here. True, Matt and Erena had raced beyond the borders of the territory, but no other shifters ventured this close to the RCC. The fact that two of Bronson's people—three, most likely—were here meant that Bronson was getting impatient.
Matt couldn't let them see Erena, couldn't allow them to hurt her. Now he searched for the telltale flash of her red coat with anxiety instead of anticipation. He had to find her, bring her back to the RCC territory. Erena didn't know what Rhiannon could do, and she'd be fighting at a disadvantage.
Fuck, he'd put the entire clan in danger, and Jameson was out of town.
There—Erena's tail flashed past. He bounded after her with a growl of warning. Come back, he wanted to say. It's dangerous.
She looked over her shoulder, her blue eyes shining with laughter—she thought he was playing.
No, he wasn't playing, and he needed to get her out of here. Growling low once more, he starting walking—not running—for the cabins. He didn't want Bronson's people to see her or smell her. Bronson was likely searching for more information—hopefully Matt still had his trust and could put him off for a little while longer. Matt just needed enough time for Jameson to get back from his trip so they could come up with a plan.
She followed him, kicking snow at him occasionally and nipping at his tail. He played back just enough to keep her from being suspicious, but kept them moving toward the Ring of Fire.