We walk out to a vehicle that probably cost as much as a small house. It's the Mercedes version of a Hummer. I want to hate it, but I have to admit, it's pretty sweet.
"Here, man, I don't want your bare ass on my seats." Deke tosses a towel at me and I wrap it around my waist.
They drive us up and out of the mini gorge and loop around to the dead-end road where we left the Harley, my clothes just a short hike away.
"See you tonight," I say as I climb out and hold Sunny's hand to help her down.
"Yep."
Sunny
I LEAN MY HELMET AGAINST TITUS' back and review what just happened.
Hearing the jabs that jerk took at Titus over me has me mad. Not for myself, but on Titus' behalf. No wonder he's felt so unavailable to me. My instincts weren't wrong. We are literally a separate species.
And his own kind mocked him for being with me.
Maybe, as much as we're attracted to each other and as much as we care about each other, a relationship is impossible.
I don't want to think about that now, though, so I push it out of my mind. Titus is still here on a job, and I intend to help him with it. After that, we can talk.
We ride back to Titus' place and he calls his alpha to report. I'm not trying to eavesdrop, but I notice he's only saying I.
Not we.
He hasn't mentioned my involvement at all.
Would he get in trouble?
Or is this more like… embarrassment? Like we're in high school and it's not cool to hang out with the weirdo.
The girl I tried really hard not to be in high school so I could catch the heart and hand of Jack.
Are we like a biracial couple one hundred years ago where he likes me in private but doesn't want to be seen with me in public?
I'm not down with that. It took me a while, but I've embraced who I am. I don't want to be with anyone who isn't cool with the whole package. Human genes and all.
But when Titus gets off the phone and wraps a beefy arm around me from the back to kiss my neck, I melt.
Just a little longer. I'm not ready to move on from him yet. The sex is too good. Feeling cared for and protected, too delicious.
I'll stick with my plan of riding this thing out.
"My alpha offered to take them all in," Titus says, lips still at my neck. "I'm going to hire a bus to take them all to Arizona if they want to go. Want to come along? You could stop in Tucson to visit the kids?"
It's not because I'm not ready for this to be over that I say yes.
Not at all.
And I am always excited to see Foxfire. I give her a call to tell her the news. Although not revealing what I know about her is going to kill me.
"Hi, Sunny!" She picks up.
"Foxfire, darling! How are you?"
"I'm good. How are you feeling?"
"Much better, darling. My bruises are fading and the arm doesn't hurt a bit anymore. Titus is taking good care of me."
"So he's still with you?"
"Yes, he's still here. And I'm going to head back to Arizona with him when he leaves in the next couple of days. I want to see you two."
"Sounds good, Sunny. I have some good news for you, too."
I gasp, my heart somersaulting. "Oh, goddess are you pregnant?"
"No, no, no, no, no. Sunny, no. I told you we're not even trying. But it is about a baby."
"What baby?"
"Remember Jordy, my dad's sister from Utah?"
"Yes, of course. I never met her in person, but I remember Johnny talking about her." I gasp again, catching up. "Is she pregnant?" I can't help it, I get excited about babies even when it's someone I only met once who lives in Utah.
Foxfire laughs. "Yes, actually! Turns out, she ended up in Tucson. She mated-I mean married this big guy named Grizz and they're expecting their first baby."
"Oh goddess, that's wonderful! I want to see them when I'm there. Maybe we can arrange a shower for her? I mean, we are her family, after all."
"I bet she'd love that, Sunny. I'll see if I can throw something together last minute. When exactly are you getting here?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll let you know. In the next couple of days, I imagine. Titus is making arrangements."
It literally kills me not to tell her everything that's going on. I'm a terrible secret-keeper. But Titus' secrets are important to me, so I have to honor him.
"Great, Sunny. Can't wait to see you."
"Me neither, darling. Bye!"
I hang up and beam at Titus, who is looking at me quizzically. "My daughter's aunt is in Tucson now with a guy named Grizz and they're expecting a baby!"
Titus' smile is totally indulgent. He drops a kiss on the top of my head. "That's great, sunshine. I know you love those babies."
I snuggle against him and lean my head on his chest. Try to ignore how right it feels.
Titus
SUNNY and I meet the Taos wolves at the appointed time and place.
"Hi, guys!" Sunny beams that bright smile and waves from the doorway.
Four of them sit at a table in the back corner, sharing a couple pitchers of beer. It's the same three from earlier today and one more who also appears military-trained.
They look over. Rafe barely acknowledges us with a slight lift of his chin.
"Hey," she tries again when we sit down. She leans across the table and sticks out her hand to the guy we don't know. "I'm Sunny."
He's younger than the others, probably late twenties, with Captain America good-looks. "Channing." His dimpled smile is just as bright as Sunny's.
A low growl starts in my throat when he takes her hand and he immediately yanks it back. "No offense, silver."