Chapter 171

We didn’t move for hours, instead staying up to strategize well into the night. We took a few breaks to get food, but that was it. Everyone was reeling after Zoe’s message, long after she disappeared to rejoin the Crescent wolves.

Eventually, Nina called it a night. “We can talk more tomorrow,” she said. Her skin was pale, and she looked exhausted. Everyone did. We all dispersed, and Matt led me to his cabin, Fiona trailing behind us.

“I’m just there,” Fiona said, pointing to a cabin a few feet from Matt’s.

“Okay.” I squeezed her hand. “We’ll talk soon. I promise.”

She nodded, then walked over to her cabin. Matt unlocked the door of his with a key and stepped aside to let me in.

“You can stay with her tonight,” Matt said as I walked past him. “If you want to catch up.”

I just shook my head. I was much too tired to get into everything.

He followed me and flicked on the light. The overheads hummed as they came on, casting yellow light over the square room. Matt closed the door behind us, and stood so close, I could feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back. I leaned back into him, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me up.

“I know that was a lot,” he said. “But you handled everything really well.”

“Thanks,” I breathed, surveying the room. There was a double bed, a dresser, and a wooden chest that I could only assume was stacked high with weapons. The far corner had a small kitchenette and a room that had to be a bathroom.

“This is cute,” I said.

“Yeah.” He kissed the side of my neck, then stepped around me. “I have some clothes in the dresser,” he said, pointing to the tall set of drawers. “Wear whatever you want. We’ll get you some of your own clothes soon.”

“Thanks.”

I didn’t mind wearing his clothes if I was being honest. They were warm and soft, and they smelled like him. It made me feel comfortable and safe.

I walked over to the chest and opened the lid. My suspicions were confirmed. A stack of knives and swords littered the teak box. Matt followed my gaze and laughed. “Help yourself,” he said. “I imagine you know how to use them now?”

I nodded. Alyx and Jeremy taught me how to use knives. I had a few tutorials with the swords, but I didn’t love them.

“They didn’t teach me guns,” I admitted, closing the lid.

He opened a door on the other side of the room and gestured for me to come see. I walked over to him and looked inside. The walls held an assortment of mounted guns–handguns, shotguns, and rifles of different kinds. Shelves held boxes of ammunition that I could only assume were mostly silver.

“We have a shooting range here,” Matt said. “I’ll teach you.”

“Okay.”

“It’s not too hard,” he promised. “I’m sure Jack will help, too. He’s good with guns.”

I laughed and stepped out of the way as Matt closed the door. “Was that a compliment?”

“Believe it or not, your brother has been the only tolerable person these past few months.”

I sat down on the edge of the bed and looked up at him. The mattress bounced a few times as he dropped down beside me.

“I was going to ask you about that. I noticed some tension between you and Nina.”

His jaw clenched, and he lay back against the mattress. The edge of his t-shirt rode up, revealing the pale skin along his abs. My gaze strayed there for a moment, and when I looked up at his face, he was smiling knowingly.

I gave him a cheeky smile. “Are you going to answer my question?”

He sighed. “We just had a few arguments. They were being too cautious for me, and it made me angry. They just didn’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

He looked away. “What it was like for me. They wanted me to be who I always was. Cautious and strategic, but I couldn’t be that. All I could think about every day was that you were out there with Alyx and his family and there was nothing I could do to get to you or help you. They were more concerned about what you might be able to do for them, but they weren’t willing to risk anything to help you.”

“They didn’t owe me anything,” I said, grabbing his hand. “They still don't.”

“Maybe, but they owed me.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Everything turned out alright.”

He shook his head. “We’re about to go to war. I don’t believe that for a second. There will always be a risk. They just weren’t willing to take it for you, even though I begged them. Actually begged, Celeste.”

My heart hurt to see the bleak look in his eyes.

“I called Nina and Enzo and begged them to do something. Anything. But they didn’t, and I don’t think I can forgive them for that. Now war is coming, anyway.”

I turned and lay my head against his chest. He ran his fingers through my hair.

“I don’t blame you or them,” I said. “You shouldn’t either.”

He sighed, his fingers stilling in my hair. “It’s not that easy.”

“I know.”

He resumed playing with my hair, and I closed my eyes. “I’ve missed you,” he said after a while. I was half asleep, but his soft voice had me awake in an instant.

I looked up at him. “I missed you, too.”

He smiled and turned us both until he was leaning over me. His leg was wedged between mine, and he had his hands in my hair. Heat pooled in my core at the look of pure want in his eyes.

“I think the long hair is growing on me,” I admitted, reaching up a hand to run my fingers through the hair that fell across his forehead.

“Is that right?”

I grinned. “Yup. Something to hold on to.”

He smirked and kissed me. I did what I said, dragging my hands through his soft hair. He kissed me like he wasn’t sure if he’d ever get another chance. It was desperate, and loving, and full of so much heat, I almost felt like I was burning alive.

“You’re so stunning,” he murmured into my neck, kissing his way down my neck to the collar of the t-shirt I had on. His shirt. He leaned back, and I sat forward so she could pull it up and over my head. I wasn’t wearing a bra, and he leaned down to lick one of my nipples.

“God, I’m so lucky,” he said. My back arched as he moved on to the other breast.

“I’m the lucky one,” I breathed, my voice uneven.

He chuckled and moved lower, kissing all the way down to my belly button. I breathed hard, letting myself collapse back into the mattress as he slipped the track pants off my hips.

I wasn’t wearing any underwear, but I wasn’t embarrassed as his heated gaze roved over me. He kissed the edge of my hip, then my inner thigh. Then he pushed my legs further apart and lowered his head. The first sweep of his tongue had my back arching again, and a breathy moan escaping my lips.

Every soft touch was pleasure and torture all at once. I held onto his hair, my moans getting louder. He didn’t bother to tell me to be quiet, and I didn’t try to be.

A moment later, I shuddered and collapsed back into the mattress, letting the waves of pleasure roll through me. He licked his lips and leaned back. My eyelids drooped and my muscles felt heavy enough that I couldn’t lift them. Still, I reached for him as he collapsed next to me.

“I’m good,” he said, kissing the side of my head. “Get some sleep.”

I started to protest, but he stopped me with a languid kiss. Then he got up to turn out the lights. I got under the warm covers, and Matt got in next to me, pulling me tight against his chest.

“I love you,” I said, my voice sleepy. My eyes drooped shut.

“You’re everything,” he answered, his voice hoarse. A moment later, I was asleep.