Every Were Gets A Mate

Chapter 23

Alpha Driscol answered his phone. "Sam. How are you?"

Fidoro smiled. "I'm good, Paul. And you?"

"Got my hands full with the boys, and we've got another baby on the way. Just found out she's a girl."

"Finally! I was getting concerned about how far you and Lorna would go to get your one of each."

Paul Driscol laughed. "Fourth time was the charm." His voice turned serious. "Any chance you're calling about this trouble we've got with Fury Pack, Sam?"

"That's it exactly, Paul. I've got Jessica McIntire here with me now. She's mate to one of my best trackers."

"How is that possible? King Fisher told me she was his son's mate." Driscol sounded shocked and confused.

"It's a long story. It all started back when the English first came to the Americas." Fidoro walked over to the ice chest and got another beer as he continued talking.

Cade's finger touched my cheek. The warm tingles made me close my eyes and inhale deeply. He tucked my hair behind my ear and ran his fingers down the full length of those strands. A shiver went down my spine, and I heard the ocean in my ear for a second. "Everything is going to be okay, Jess."

I turned and looked at him. Unfortunately, he had put his jacket back on while I was talking to Mom. "I think I believe you, Cade."

He smiled, leaned in, and kissed me. My eyes fell closed again as the sensations he caused took up all my attention. He pulled back sooner than I wanted him too.

I tried to turn my attention back to Fidoro, who was relaxing on a log across the campfire from us. "It sounds like they know each other well."

"Yet another sign that Fate knows what she's doing here."

"Yeah."

"Your mom is going to be so happy to see you."

Just the mention of her brought moisture to my eyes again. I leaned against Cade and pressed my cheek to his chest, infinitely comforted by his warmth and the sound of his heartbeat. "I can't wait. It's been so long since I've been hugged by them. I remember it so clearly."

Cade pulled away from me but only to swing his leg over the log and get into a better position to hold me. He brought me back to his chest and put his chin on top of my head. His scent, warmth, and the pressure of his body encased me in a safe cocoon I never wanted to leave. "You'll get lots of hugs from all of them soon. What's your dad's name?"

"Scott."

"Where does the McIntire name come from? That's Scottish, isn't it?"

"Yes. A Scottish immigrant ten generations ago. Falsaff?"

"An ancient name in the Black Hills area."

"Tikon, Ashby, and Spen, right?" I wanted to make sure I remembered the names of Cade's parents and brother, which he had told me the night before.

"Right." He kissed my hair.

"Unusual names."

"Not in Black Hills. We've kept the names from the old language, even though few can speak it."

"Cadeon. Cade-on. Cade. On." I liked making the sounds.

"Cade on Jess."

I laughed.

"Speaking of which, tomorrow is a full moon. How fast can you run?"

Speaking of what? "I don't know. It felt really fast when I was running away from Fisher's residence. I hadn't run in a very long time before that. Why?"