Read Online Mated by H.M. McQueen - Free Book Online

a new side of you?  A romantic kissy man?"
    To her utter astonishment, his lips curved into a crooked grin. "Kissy man? I like the sound of that."
    "I do too." Madison kissed his lips. "I love you, Raythe."
    "I love you too and I am so sorry for being so slow about mating.  I was nervous, wasn't sure you loved me enough to want to be tied to me for life.  What a fool."
    Madison slipped from his lap.  "No more talk about that.  We're starting over remember.  Now, let's eat something, you need your strength. Because I want to celebrate by having you again."
    In the kitchen there were an assortment of food already set.  Someone must have come and delivered the meal.  "It all looks delicious." Madison went to a pitcher to pour a drink.  She looked over her shoulder to Raythe who leaned against the doorway and stared at his cell.  "What's wrong?"
    "The Panama City pack has declared war on ours after the drug bust."
    It was her fault, she should have never returned.  He neared and held her by the shoulders looking into her face.  "This has nothing to do with us, Madison.  Remember they were the ones stupid enough to let Damiel lead them to our home."
    Relieved she leaned into him.  "Now what?"
    "We go back to Devlin Beach and see what life brings."
    She hugged him tight.  "As long as we're together, I can face anything."
    "That's exactly how I feel." Raythe lifted her face to him.  "Now let’s eat."
    "I love you, Raythe."
    He grinned down at her.  "I know."

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    Raythe slept in late. For the first time in months, he finally relaxed enough to sleep like the dead.  With Madison tucked against him, in their home in Devlin Beach, all was right in his world.
    Madison stirred and he wrapped his arm around her waist.  “Don’t get up yet.”
    “Okay.” She snuggled against him and within minutes fell back asleep.  A smile curved his lips as he too fell back into a deep slumber.
    The jingling of his cell phone woke him a couple hours later.  Madison was not in bed and the sense of panic made him jerk up to sit.  It was then he heard the shower.  It had been two weeks since they returned from Puerto Rico and he still felt panic when not seeing her at first waking.
    Taden’s call went to voice mail, but Raythe called him back to avoid having to listen to the message.  The pack leader answered.  “Meeting today at sundown.  The young wolves need to run, they’re getting antsy.  Short tempered.”
    “We’re taking a chance.  What about the other pack?”
    When they ran, half the pack remained behind at either Sanctum or wherever they worked.  With only a small group of them meeting, it gave their enemies a rare opportunity to attack them.
    Taden’s low growl sounded.  “Yeah, I know. Not much we can do about it.  Not about to stay hidden and let the fuckers think we’re scared.”
    Raythe agreed.  “From what I hear, the few that came are probably ready to head home.  They’ve yet to kick anybody’s ass.”
    When he ended the call, Madison stood at the edge of the bed looking down at him.  "Do you have to go?" She frowned and bit her bottom lip.
    "I'm one of the bigger wolves.  I can provide both protection and intimidation at once."  He curled his arm, bulging out a bicep.
    Madison rolled her eyes and smiled.  "Yeah.  But I still worry."
     
     
    The wooded area was darker than their last run, the new moon combined with overcast sky gave very little light.  If anything it worked in their favor, the darker it was, the better to keep hidden from humans. Only seven wolves came to run.  Four others would remain at the wood line as lookouts.
    Four young wolves stood in a line waiting for Taden, Jace, and Raythe to approach.  They shifted from one foot to the other in anticipation.  Raythe understood their situation.  Adolescence was when the wolf and the human learned to work together.  They needed to run often to bond and communicate.  That they waited for