Chapter 524 Chapter 524
Amari still couldn’t believe her little meltdown. That was so unlike her. She wasn’t some wishy-washy, drama queen like that had her spinning a half-hour ago. She looked over to see Tripp was relaxed and didn’t even seem like he cared about the shit they were about to wade into. Rolling her head from side to side, she tried to relax the tense muscles. She had been a bitch, saying some of that to him and she regretted it, even though it had rolled right off him as if he knew she didn’t mean any of it. The fact that they were both quiet, without that awkward silence vibe happening told her he was just as much a loner as she was, and that was a good thing, right?
His phone ringing startled both of them. He answered it quickly. “Carson.”
“Tripp, it’s Mae.”
Amari looked at the phone, she didn’t really know Mae but had nothing but respect for a female leading a clan. They were few and far between.
“Shep just told me what’s going on.” There was a short pause, “I don’t suppose I can talk you out of it?”
Amari looked to see him glance at her. “No. Amari wants me there.” He winked at her.
“I see. Am I on speaker?”
“Yes, you are.” He looked amused, not solemn like most would be when their Alpha called them.
“Amari, I’m sure Tripp has explained the circumstances of the last time he saw your father.”
Amari sat straighter, she wasn’t her Alpha, but respect was still due. “Yes, he has.” She glanced to see his expression held no judgment. “I’m sure Alpha Hughes will be too distracted by my being there to notice Tripp. He banished me years ago, I’ve never been back.”
There was a long pause. “I see. I knew you were no longer part of his clan, but I wasn’t aware of the circumstances, I’m sorry.”
Amari shrugged; wasn’t her fault her father was a posturing control freak. “Your boy will be fine, Mae, there’s going to be someone else there to keep things under control.”
“Who is going to be there?”
Amari smirked, “we’re not sure, Tripp’s team leader, Kenzo Dean said someone from the Alliance would be there with us.”
“I’d still like something more concrete, for both of your sakes.” There were voices in the background, “Amari, I would like to extend a formal invitation for you to be one of my clan members.”
Amari jerked forward in her seat and looked at the phone and then at Tripp, he didn’t look shocked or surprised.
“We’ll have to forego any sort of ceremony until you can be here. All I need from you right now is your agreement and then the Alliance laws of clan protocol make sure that your father has no right to reprimand you without my consent.” She cleared her throat, “that applies to both of you, in case you’ve forgotten, Tripp.”
“I haven’t.” He glanced over at her; a questioning look on his face. “There’s something else you should be aware of, Mae.”
Amari realized what he was asking and shrugged, too distracted by the possibility of belonging to a pack again. The bite on her neck was never going away, so it wasn’t like it was going to be a big secret.
“What’s that?”
Tripp reached over and took her hand, squeezing it so it wasn’t balled up with tension. “Amari and I are mates.” He lifted her hand and kissed it softly. “It’s not a done deal as of yet, but I’m hoping she’ll decide I’m worth the trouble and accept me.” He gave her a big-toothed grin.
Amari couldn’t help but smile briefly back at him.
“That is wonderful news, congratulations, the both of you.”
“I just thought you should know because if Alpha Hughes starts on her, it’s within my right…”
“I know, but I trust you to control yourself as much as you’re able, Tripp.” There was an authoritative tone in her words this time. “Amari, while I know Tripp has a few interesting traits, I do hope you’ll decide to accept him, he’s one of the most dedicated men I know,” she sounded proud and it caused a lump in Amari’s throat, “but, I’m sure you know this already.”
Amari cleared her throat and looked down at their clasped hands. “He’s very good at his job.” It was the best she could come up with and not let the shaky emotions be heard in her voice. To be part of a clan again after all this time—she started speaking before her emotions won the battle inside her. “I will accept your invitation to be part of the Martin clan and will endeavor to do my part to ensure the community thrives and bring honor to you.”
“Spoken only the way an Alpha’s child could. Welcome to the clan, Amari.” The voices in the background were louder, she had probably put them on speaker so someone could witness her oath. “Tripp, the house is yours, we’ll clear out all the clutter for the next time you’re here. A newly mated couple needs a place of their own.”
Amari pulled her hand free from his. A clan, a home, what was going on?
“Thanks, Mae.” He gave her a wary look, “I don’t know how often we’ll be around with everything that’s happening…”
“I heard and it’s about damn time we ended the tyranny that’s forced us all to hide.” The voices in the background grew louder, then became muffled.
Amari liked her attitude; she could see them getting along well in the future. Future. In a few days’ time, her whole entire world was changed.
“I’m going to have to go, Tripp, we’ve just had a birth in the clan, and I want to check in on the family.”
She tried to think if her father had ever done that and couldn’t recall a time he’d announced something like that. Her mother, she’d go see the new mom, she was sure of that.
“Congratulate the parents for me,” Tripp said it so easily, it made her feel awkward.
“That’s wonderful news.” She offered in a quiet voice.
“Try to keep things bloodless when you get to the Hughes clan, both of you.”
Amari smirked at the way she said it like it was something she had to ask of Tripp often.
“We will try.” He said as he looked over at her, amusement in his eyes.
“Once again, welcome, Amari, we’re damn lucky to have you as part of our clan.”
“I will try to make you proud to have me.” The lump was back in her throat again.
“Call me when you’re done with Hughes, Tripp.”
“Absolutely, Mae.”
The line went quiet.
“I guess she doesn’t realize there are ways to kill someone without blood being spilled.”
Amari looked over and appreciated his attempt at humor. Blowing out a breath, she looked at the phone once more, like she wasn’t sure that had just happened.
“Welcome to the clan,” Tripp said in a more serious tone.
“I never,” she looked away and out the window, “thought I’d be part of a clan again.”
“Mae is one of the good ones,” he put her window down a few inches like he knew she needed fresh air, “I’ve met a lot that shouldn’t be leading anything.”
Amari nodded, “yeah me too. Most of them, though put their people first and go above and beyond.”
“Guess we both have a home now.”
A mate. A clan. A Home. None of them was something she thought she’d want—ever, but now some of it was sounding like it might be worth the hell she’d gone through.
“Hey.”
She looked over to see him holding out his hand to her, she looked at it and then at the man that was supposed to be paying attention to where he was driving, but was watching her instead, she took it before he crashed his pretty ride.
“We’ll get through this, all of it, together.” Lifting their hands, he kissed hers.
She couldn’t handle any sappy moments right now; she was barely hanging on as it was. “You’re very oral, Tripp,” she lifted their hands as if to illustrate.
His grin was slow and sinful, “darlin, you have no idea.”
She felt her cheeks heat and her blood warm. “Don’t start, you already said we weren’t allowed to go in there smelling like sex.”
Tripp squeezed her hand, then released it to adjust himself, “my body has other ideas.”
Amari inhaled and there was no missing the pheromones from his cat filling the interior of the vehicle. She looked out the window and then glanced at the GPS like she needed confirmation of where they were. “We could stop—”
“I would like nothing more than to stop this truck and lay you down right now, but we need to get this over with so we can move on with the rest of our lives…”
“And get back to the teams.” She sucked in a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. Back to work would be the best thing right now.
“I can honestly say the last thing on my mind right now is that group.” He glanced at her and gave her a player’s smile.
Something to look forward to, and it wasn’t the teams for once. “Fine, keep driving, let’s get this done with.” She needed the confrontation with her father right now while she processed that she was part of a clan again. She still didn’t know what she was going to do about being a mate, but just the idea that she had the purpose of belonging to a clan made her want to cry and laugh at the same time. She hated this new wishy-washy feature in her personality and some yelling and glaring at her father should purge it from her well enough.