Hunting Midnight

Chapter Twenty-Two: Fire And Secrets

After a few minutes of waiting in the living room alone, Ruhn stalks into the living room, his face even. "I'm going to load up the car. Stay here, I'll come get you in a few minutes."
    I raise a brow in slight confusion as Ruhn leans down and kisses me gently on my forehead as if it's the most natural thing for him to do. As soon as he steps out of the pack house, I race up the stairs to my bedroom to pack. As soon as I enter, Manteo comes in behind me. "I have the jacket you asked me to get for Ruhn."
    Extending a hand, Manteo holds out the heavy black leather jacket. I take it gratefully looking it over. The jacket is huge, almost down to my knees, and yet, I know it will fit Ruhn perfectly.
    "He's going to love this," I say, shooting Manteo a grateful smile. "Thank you so much for doing this."
    Manteo nods, offering me a small shrug. "This is one favor I didn't mind doing. Ruhn doesn't get a lot of gifts, so he'll appreciate this. You're... you're good for him, Kenna."
    I can't help but smile. Manteo looks surprised at his own admission. Then he clears his throat and uncomfortably walks out of the room just as Ruhn enters.
    "What was Manteo doing here?" Ruhn asks, glancing once back down the hallway.
    "He was delivering something," I reply, holding out the jacket to him. "I never gave you a wedding present, so I asked Manteo's help to get you something I hope you like."
    Ruhn nods, his eyes flicking to the jacket before he looks away with darkened eyes. "I can't remember the last time I was given a gift. It must have been years ago."
    "Well," I say with a smile as I take a step closer to him, "now you have a wife, so get used to it."
    Gently reaching up and grasping his defined jaw, I turn his head back to me. Ruhn's gaze is vulnerable as he meets my eyes. "There will be many gifts in your future, Ruhn."
    A ghost of a smile flickers over Ruhn's face as he takes the jacket from my arms and holds it up.
    "It's made so that it won't tear when you shift," I explain as Ruhn looks over the gift, his face revealing nothing. "Manteo's friend made it, but of course, if you don't like it you don't have to wear–"
    In one swift step, Ruhn's lips are on mine, capturing me in a searing kiss. I soft sigh escapes my lips as he holds me close, one hand cupping the side of my face.
    "I love it, Kenna," he says, pulling away to pull the jacket on over his massive shoulders. "Thank you."
    I smile as I step forward and kiss him once more before moving to the closet to grab a duffel bag and quickly throw in a few changes of clothes.
    "Is it only you and I going to the Chief's estate?" I ask as I lug my bag out of the closet and set it down by the bedroom door, grabbing my own dark green jacket and pulling it on.
    "Yes," Ruhn nods, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Manteo and Caleb will ride us to the border, but the Chief's guards will follow us from there. Drakon will be handcuffed in the backseat."
    "We should gag him, too," I add. "There's no way I'm listening to his nonsense for three hours."
    Ruhn chuckles as he stands and walks into the bathroom to grab some toiletries. Then he walks back into the bedroom and tosses them into his own travel bag. "He'll be gagged and blindfolded. You might even forget he's there."
    "Doubtful," I say with a laugh.
    "Oh," Ruhn says as if just remembering something, "and we'll be having dinner with the Chief and Chieftess tonight."
    "Just the four of us?" I ask curiously.
    Ruhn nods. "That's what Chief Gavriel said. Tomorrow the Alphas from the other three packs will join us in the morning for a meeting."
    I look down at my outfit– a simple t-shirt and jeans– and realize it might be a little too casual for dinner with the Chief. "I should change."
    Ruhn's sexy lips lift into a smirk and his eyes light up. "Are you nervous?"
    "A little," I admit with a shrug, "but I'm looking forward to seeing Chieftess Brianna."
    "Just know the Chief will want to talk to you too," Ruhn adds.
    "I assume he'll have questions about Vargr."
    "The dinner will be easier than the meeting with the Alpha's tomorrow. That will probably be a bit of an interrogation since you were inside the hunter's safe house."
    "That's fine," I say with a nod. "I can handle an interrogation."
    Ruhn reaches out and pushes a lock of red hair behind my ear. "Don't worry. I won't let him question you too hard."
    I sigh as I think about the other Alpha's peppering me with questions. Ruhn turns and continues to pack as I walk to my closet and pull on a black dress. It's simple, and yet tasteful with it's tight material. The straps of the dress are thin, holding the top up a safe amount, and the hem of the dress hugs right above my knees. I pull on my green jacket back on, leaving it unzipped. As I step out of the closet and pull on my boots, Ruhn's eyes widen with interest as his hot gaze trails up and down my exposed legs. "You haven't worn that before."
"There hasn't been a need," I reply as I finish lacing my boots and look back up at him. "But I'm glad you like it."
"Well," Ruhn says as he picks up our bags and tosses them over his shoulders, leading me out into the hallway, "I think you should wear it more."