Chapter Forty-Two

Kerry

Demetria stepped into the passenger side of Kerry's truck wearing a summer dress that killed him. His wolf wanted to drag her back into the house, and never leave. But they needed to be away from prying ears.

They needed a place to talk, and frankly, Kerry needed to take Demetria away from the pack house.

The full-moon was coming, the professor was potentially creeping around the perimeter, but it made Kerry want to take her away even more. It made Kerry want to spend a normal day with her, to show her it wouldn't always be like this. They would find their peace, and be together one day without doom and gloom hanging over them.

Kerry started the truck, and made it well onto the highway when Demetria laughed.

He glanced over at her beaming face. "Something funny?"

She shook her head. "I'm so glad to be away from there. It feels like three thousand pounds lifted from my shoulders when we left. It's one thing after the other—,"

Kerry reached over and palmed her thigh. "I know. Come over here," he said, patting the bucket seat beside him. She slid over toward him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Are we really going on a date, date?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

He chuckled. "Yeah, of course. We're going to eat, and then I have a surprise."

Demetria sat up straight, and looked at him. "Do tell."

Kerry rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Demetria? Surprises do not work that way, okay? I thought a thirty-something year old would know that."

She chuckled, and folded her arms. "Oh, I'm well aware of how surprises are supposed to work, Kerry. But they aren't my strong suit. I give Claire her Hanukkah present early every year."

"You celebrate Hanukkah?" he asked.

"Don't divert the conversation," she said, waggling her finger around. "I don't do surprises. Tell me."

Kerry leaned back, and gave her a tempting side eye. "Not happening, Witch. You made me wait. Now it's your turn."

She grinned. "Touché."

***

Demetria licked the frosting of her cupcake off her bottom lip, making Kerry's wolf growl. The conversation, the light-heartedness of their night, it had pushed him over the edge with her. If he hadn't been in love with her then, he was now.

This was the girl he knew the goddess had meant for him. She was perfect. He loved every second of being with her. He pushed the thought of reality back into a vaulted chamber of his mind.

Kerry shoved open the door to the restaurant, and stepped out onto the street.

He avoided the waxing gibbous moon, which was between a half-moon and a full-moon hanging above them. It was just a reminder of how close they were to Ike and Ivory coming for them.

He slid his arm around Demetria's waist, and dragged her near him. "The parking lot is that way," she said, jabbing her finger over her shoulder.

"I know," he said, continuing the opposite direction.

Demetria craned her neck to look at the shops down the way of the shopping center. "Oh yeah, my surprise."

"Right, you forgot," he teased.

She laughed. "Where are you taking me?" she asked.

He dragged her down past three more stores, and stopped. She tilted her head to the side, and stared at the tattoo parlor. "Are we getting tattoos?" she asked.

Kerry smiled, and shook his head. "I've left my tattoo on you, baby girl. It's your turn. Tell me what you want on me, and I'll get it. It's my way, since you're not a shewolf, of letting you claim me. Mark me."

Demetria stared at him for several seconds before laughing, and covering her mouth. "Oh my gosh. I can't believe you're going to let me do this. Anything I want?"

He narrowed his eyes to slits. "Nothing raunchy or stupid, Demetria."

She jumped up and down, grabbed his forearm, and dragged him inside.

The pierced woman behind the counter gave them both a onceover. She was red-haired and surprisingly not covered in tattoos herself. "Can I help you guys?"

"He's getting a tattoo, and I get to choose!" Demetria said, a little too excitedly.

The girl gave me an uneasy look like she didn't think it was a good idea, but I didn't care. My mate was excited, and I couldn't wait to have something of hers on me. "Okay. Patch is free if you want to go on back. He's in the second booth on the left."

Demetria dragged me back through walls of artwork, toward Patch, who sat on his chair, looking at his phone. He looked more like a stereotypical tattoo artist, covered in ink, long black hair and a ponytail. "Hi!" Demetria said.

He glanced up. "How can I help you two?"

Demetria turned to look at Kerry. "He's getting a tattoo, and I know what I want it to be."

Patch chuckled. "I have to ask. You think this is a good idea?"

He smiled, glancing at Demetria who's soul sang to his own like a corny 80s song. "Anything she wants."

Patch stood up. "Lay down, brother. I'll pray it's not too bad."

Demetria pointed something out on her phone to Patch, and then pointed to her neck. He noticed her mark, and reached forward to look at it. Kerry saw the awe on his face, but his wolf growled loudly at him for touching her.

He pulled his hand back, and then put his palms up in surrender. "Okay. Chill. Just admiring her ink. I've never seen anything like it. You can't see the lines or anything. Who did it?"

Demetria's face tinted red. "Some girl at a moon goddess parlor in Florida."

Kerry bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing.

Patch nodded while putting on his gloves. "I'll have to look her up. I'd love to learn her techniques."

He sat down on his rolling stool, and went to show Kerry the picture. "No. Just do it. I trust her."

Patch gave him a look, but nodded. "Okay."

Kerry didn't feel any pain because his wolf was too excited. He tried to trace the lines in his mind, but couldn't and just closed his eyes. Thirty minutes later, Patch tapped his shoulder, and handed him a mirror. Kerry glanced at Demetria nearly jumping in the corner, and glanced down at his neck.

He stared down at the outline of a wolf howling into the night. A full-moon above him, with Witchy Mate written in a beautiful deep red font underneath. Kerry fought off the tears in his eyes, and pulled her down to his chest.

"Do you like it?" she whispered, wrapping her hands around his shoulders.

"I love it, and I love you."