Arden’s Mate(26)

Grayson won, but not by much. He was sneaky and lighter on his feet. They changed back to human form and looked like shit with scratches and blood gushing from bit marks. The funny thing was they were both grinning like fools.

“I’ll get you next time, Grayson.” Tray whacked Grayson on the back, then they turned to face the watching army men. “Who is willing to give us a try? To make it more fair you’ll have the knives we fight demons with.”

* * * *

Arden was surprised at how patient Remy was. She watched everything and asked questions about the change. Did it hurt? Which mode did he like better? Are all shifters able to do half-change mode? Then she asked about how long he’d been in the army, and if he had always want to join the army.

He’d answered all her questions and more. No, the change didn’t hurt. He liked his full change into a wolf best, because he was faster as a wolf, he had more stealth, and all his senses were heightened. Yes, all shifters had a half-change mode. It was their protection mode. He’d been in the army since he was eighteen. He was now part of a special division higher than most. No, he hadn’t always wanted to be in the army. At one point he wanted to be a doctor like Kane, but he learnt he didn’t have the patience with certain people and he didn’t like being inside cooped up. He liked the physical side of the army, the hands-on approach.

When he’d taken a group of army men to train with in half-change mode, Remy had come and watched only to be dragged away as she threatened the men with fire if they hurt him.

“Pixie, they are supposed to be training with shifters in half-change mode. They won’t learn otherwise.”

She’d stood holding a fireball, tossing it from one hand to the other. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I fight demons. Compared to a demon these men are like bugs I can squish with one hand.”

She’d let the fire ebb, but a not-too-happy Ava had to come and take her away. Arden and his wolf had been ecstatic at her behavior—Remy cared for him. She didn’t want anything happening to him. Her action gave him hope for their future.

The day hadn’t ended on a high though. Remy had asked Tray about Sara, and he let it slip that Sara had the last bridesmaid and wedding dress fitting before the wedding the day after tomorrow in the morning.

The devastated look that had flashed over Remy’s face had Arden rethinking everything. Remy shouldn’t keep being punished. She’d supported her friends when they needed it, but they hadn’t returned the favor. When Faith and Kane first got together and Kane was being a jackarse, Remy had let Faith stay with her. And Remy had been great with Faith’s brother Bengie. Arden may not have met Remy in person until he saw her lying in a bed at Kane’s house, almost dead, and he mated her, but he sure had heard of her.

Now Remy sat quietly beside him, watching TV as they snuggled on the sofa. She let a sob escape every now and then, and he knew he had to do something. “I’ll take you to the dress fitting. You can go to your first shift at your new job tomorrow, and then the following day we will go to the bridal shop. You will see your friends. You can tell them why you left and get them to listen to you.”

She buried her face into his chest and cried. “I didn’t even know she was going to the bridal shop. I’ve been best friends with Sara since primary school. Why am I not a bridesmaid? I’m supposed to be a bridesmaid.” Her sobs got louder and her tears soaked his shirt.

“Come on, let’s go to bed. You have your first full day at work tomorrow. Then we’ll get up early the following day and crash the bridal appointment. I think you need a day so you can think about what you’re going to say. Tell them what you told me. If they are real friends, they’ll support you.”

Remy nodded into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. “I am sorry I ran. You’re good for me. I will deny this if you repeat it, but I’m really lucky I’ve got you. You’re the best boyfriend, mate, whatever you want to call it a girl could ever have.”

Arden felt good about how things were going between them. He’d never had this easy goingness with another woman, or such comfortable conversations. He’d never joked or mucked around like he did with Remy.

Hugging her to him, he moved to the edge of the sofa and lifted her up, kissing her forehead. He walked down the hall to their room and gently laid her on the bed before joining her. He was calm, his wolf was happy, and as he lay there and watched as she fell asleep he didn’t feel like he needed to change to wolf, or even go out and kill as many demons as he could. He held her to him and let sleep take him.