Arden’s Mate(21)

Arden had met Grayson in the army. He was Special Forces like Arden. They had done a lot of missions together, and Arden had come to trust him. Grayson might seem laid-back and easy-going, but he was anything but—he was a deadly killing machine.

“I like her, Arden. She’s little, but full of fire.”

Oh yes, Remy was full of fire, but it looked like he could ignite her easy enough. “That she is.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t just come here to ask you to hire her, although I wouldn’t let her work anywhere else. I know you’d protect her with your life.”

“I know. So what else did you come for?”

“We need your help.”

Grayson raised his eyebrow.

“The army has given us over fifty humans to train to help us kill demons. Before you say anything, we have no choice in it. I also think the humans need to learn to help fight the demons, otherwise we will lose this battle. It’s come to our attention that we are too soft on them when we train them and they’re not lasting in the field. From now on we’re going to fight with them in our half-change modes. If they can’t handle that, then they will have no chance with demons. We are going to have to be brutal. My brother-in-law can kick all the recruits’ arses, and I know he is advanced being mated to one of us, but if they can’t even beat him they are screwed. I know how you fight, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but cats are sneaky bastards and good at being the underdog. I’ve seen you fight a demon on your own and win. We need you. You would be a part of a special division of the army. It would be something you’d do in the day, and take a team with you at night.” He looked him straight in his eyes. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but you are one of the best.”

“I have a lot of work to do here. You know, ordering stock, hiring people, accounts, and other shit.”

“So in other words I’ll see you at the base tomorrow?” Arden knew Grayson was bored out of his mind and just didn’t want to say it.

Grayson nodded. “Yeah, I’ll see you at noon.” Cats weren’t morning people. Arden had learned that if it could be helped you didn’t wake Grayson up until at least eleven. Grayson getting up at noon even was a feat. “Let’s go see where your mate is.”

“She was a bartender before all this happened.” He didn’t have to say more, because Grayson knew what had happened.

Grayson walked out of his office and down the hall to the bar. Arden followed behind him, stopping at the sight that greeted him—Remy leaned over the bar, passing some beers to some very happy werewolves who stared at her breasts which were spilling out of her top. The wolves didn’t even bother asking for their change, they just stared as she smiled, turned, and served the next person, leaning over to show the cleavage again.

Grayson broke out into laughter. “Oh, she is hired.” He whacked Arden on the back. “I like your mate.”

Snarling, he stomped to the bar, pushing his way through the crowd of men. He reached across the counter and pulled a stunned Remy over the bar and onto his shoulder. “She is finished for today,” he growled, knowing that Grayson had heard him.

“Hey, dipshit, put me down. I wasn’t done.”

He smacked her arse. “Yes, you were.”

Everyone gave him a wide berth as he walked out of the bar with his struggling mate swearing up a storm.

He held her with one hand and unlocked his car with his key, then opened the door, placing her in the passenger seat. “Stay.”

She screeched, “I am not a dog, unlike the one I am looking at now.”

He laughed, and it felt good to feel. He’d felt numb for months. Now that Remy was back, so was he. He walked around to the driver’s side, opened his door, and got in.

She was still cursing him. “What the hell, Arden! Why did you do that?”

“Because you’re mine.”

Remy snorted, crossed her arms over her chest on a huff, and stared out the window. He started the car and drove away. He wanted her. Driving at top speed, he made it back to their house in record time.

Remy shot him glances all the way home. The tension in the car was high, and by the end not only was Remy panting, but so was he. Parking the car, he turned to her on a growl of need. “Out. Out now.”

He got out of the car and Remy followed. Arden knew in the back of his mind something was up, but right now he didn’t care, he needed to take Remy, to claim her, to mate her until she knew no other.

Opening the front door, he let her walk ahead of him before he shut and locked the door. Locks wouldn’t keep shifters out, but it would tell them not to disturb the people inside. Remy sashayed by and he stood transfixed for a moment before he went after her, picking her up and carrying her to the kitchen table.