Page 37 of Brick
“We won’t,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
Somehow, he was going to prove that to be true. First, they’d get the Wiccans to secure the territory again, then they’d deal with Foley, and then if that asshole Malrick was still hanging around, he’d make sure he left Ohio with his tail between his legs.
“I’m sorry about all of this,” she said.
Adam grunted. “You can’t help that your old alpha was an asshole who traded you to another asshole. You’re not responsible for anyone else’s behavior.” He looked at Brick and said, “But that being said, even though the timing is terrible, and I know you guys wanted to wait, I think we need to move forward with the mating ceremony so that Jade will officially be part of our pack. She’s got sanctuary protection, but it’s not the same as being under my authority and also fully mated.”
“When?”
“Tonight when the sun sets. We’ll do something small, just high ranked and elders so we can keep an eye on each other. Once the Wiccans fix the wards, we should be able to run in our shifts without worrying about anything. At least for tonight.”
“We’ll be ready.”
Adam put his hand on Brick’s shoulder for a moment. “Take the rest of the day and spend time with each other. I’ll get Solan to help me get everything set up. And Leo, whenever he gets back from the drive-in.”
“I’ll tell Alli,” Jade said. “She can’t be part of things because she’s not a wolf, but she’d want to know.”
“You can reach out to her,” Brick said.
When they were alone on the front porch, he said, “I’m sorry about all this.”
“Sorry for what?” she tilted her head and looked at him.
“I’m sorry that we can’t wait. I know you wanted to.”
“Well, I wanted to get to know you better, and I feel like I do. Even though I know we’ll get to learn more about each other with every day that passes.” Her eyes darkened slightly and he caught the subtle hint of her arousal. Immediately his body responded and he growled softly.
“Brick, I’m falling for you,” she whispered. “You’re the sexiest, most protective, sweetest guy I’ve ever met. I can’t think of anything better than mating you and joining the pack.”
“I’m falling for you too,” he said, cupping her face. “You’re gorgeous and so strong and fierce. You’re everything I ever hoped I’d find in my truemate and so much more.” He took her hand and turned away from the house, leading her down the steps.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to get some privacy. If we’re going to mate and mark each other, I don’t want a house full of people listening in.”
He knew just the place to go for privacy. As they turned at the end of the yard and walked down the street, he sent a quick text to Solan to let him know where he was headed, and then he put his phone on do-not-disturb and tucked it into his pocket.
His focus now was on his beautiful mate and making her his in truth.
Chapter
Sixteen
Jade was flustered, a combination of worried about the Wiccan who’d been spying on them for the H. A. S. jerks, that pretentious asshat Malrick, and also turned on because Brick was sexy as hell and taking her somewhere for privacy.
It was highly strange to be worried about being safe and also thinking about having sex and marking her mate.
She couldn’t believe how quickly she’d gone from keeping up walls around her heart out of fear to wanting Brick to sink his fangs into her neck.
But she shouldn’t be surprised by that either. He was her truemate, the one guy on the planet meant to be hers. Of course he would be able to get through the protections she’d set up around her heart.
And not just because he was phenomenal in bed.
He was also sweet and kind and so careful with her. She knew he’d do anything to keep her safe and that she was his priority. He might be high ranked, but she came first for him. And that’s how it was supposed to be. She’d never been first in anyone’s life, not even her dad’s. He’d put the pack first, and look where that had gotten him? When he died, the alpha replaced his positionin the pack and moved on the same day as if he wasn’t even worth grieving.
The street was lined with trees, and there were only a few small homes here and there. It was quiet as they walked side by side, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot the only sound. She glanced up at him, finding his steady, protective presence a balm to her wildly spinning mind.
“This place we’re going to,” she asked, breaking the silence, “it’s safe, right?”
