“Umm…Sure. If we’re all going to agree on stuff though...” Tucker reaches out and grabs my right arm, and positions it so it’s pointing toward the ground. “Maybe you should agree to stop aiming your guns at me.”
“And how about not waving your arms around like a mad woman with one of those guns in your hand?” Pike adds.
I look down at the arm Tucker’s holding at my side and see my .45. “I might be able to agree to both of those.”
“Great. Now that the Bonnie crisis is over how about we get back to the bigger problem.” Pike huffs.
I holster my gun, and not even a full second after it’s securely in place Tucker’s arms wrap around me, positioning me so my back is to his front. I want to snap at him to let me go, but I’m still frazzled and fell the need to take the comfort he’s offering.
“What’s the plan?” Tucker asks Pike.
“We’re going home and facing the challenge head on. I’m not letting Kyran and this other pack take what’s mine.” Pike growls. I can see his skin rippling with the urge to shift and protect what’s his. But when Bloom moves closer to him and puts her hand in his the rippling stops instantly. I’m in awe of the power she holds over this powerful man.
Her eyes seek out mine, and although it’s a small one she smiles. I return the smile but mine is much larger. I know in the situation we’re dealing with I should be more reserved but I can’t help it. It warms my heart to see my best friend happy and healthy after watching her suffer physically and emotionally. I’ll fight off anything and anybody who plans on taking her happiness away from her.
“I’m more than happy to help with the ass kickin’.” I throw out there.
“Bonnie.” Tucker and Pike say in unison.
“It’s her right as your mate’s Guardian to protect her.” Tillie informs Pike. I grin, thankful she ended their arguments before they got truly started. She stops my gloating, though, by adding. “But she’s not at her full strength, yet. And she needs to be trained.”
“When will she be at her strongest?” Bloom asks, joining the conversation.
Tillie turns her smiling eyes to me. “She knows what she has to do to make that happen.”
I roll my eyes at the older Guardian’s meddling. I feel Tucker’s body behind me shake with his silent laughter. He can tell Tillie’s pressing my buttons and he’s enjoying the reinforcements. I elbow him in the stomach to get him to stop laughing.
I spin in his arms so I look up at his face. “You think this is funny?”
“Hilarious.” He answers instantly.
“Fine.” I break free of his arms and walk over to Pike. “Can you perform our mating ceremony before we leave?”
Pike’s and Bloom’s eyes get huge. From behind me I hear Tucker sucking in a shocked breath. Pike’s fly to Tuckers, behind me, before coming back to me. “If that’s what you want. But I’ll warn you, Bonnie, a mating bond isn’t something you can take back.”
“I know, but if I want to be strong enough to do my job as Guardian I have to be fully mated to the wolf giant.”
“You’ll pull your strength from Tucker.” Bloom whispers in understanding.
I nod my head before asking Pike again. “Will you perform the ceremony?”
“Is this how you want it to happen, Tuck?” Pike asks his best friend and beta.
I feel Tucker’s warmth as he comes to stand beside me. I look over and up, to find him watching me with a determined expression. He doesn’t look away from me when he answers. “I don’t care what it takes to make it happen as long as she’s bound to me forever.”
His words send a shiver of longing through me. Will I ever be that sure of what’s between us? Or will I forever be questioning if I made the right decision? This isn’t like a normal marriage where I’ll be able to divorce him if it goes bad. This is truly tying myself to another being until we take our last breaths.
“I swear with everything that I hold precious that if you give into us I’ll make it so you never regret our mating. We belong together, Bonnie-bean.”
“I wish I could be as sure as you.”
“Your first instinct when learning of Kyran’s plans was to protect me. Me. Not your Oracle and best friend. Me! Your mate. So whether you’re ready to admit it or not, I know you want me just as much as I want you.”
Darn it!
I did that. I even referred to him as my mate. I’m in so much trouble.
In front of everyone Tucker pulls me back into his arms; face to face. “Trouble can be fun when you’re doing it with the right partner.” Without giving me a chance to respond he slams his lips to mine. It’s a rough, demanding kiss, that shouldn’t be making my stomach do somersaults but somehow is.