“I think we’ve far over-stayed our welcome, Alpha, but on behalf of myself and my pack, I humbly thank you for your hospitality.” Justice shook Mikel’s hand and pulled him in for a one-armed hug, patting his back affectionately.

“You and your family are welcome anytime, Justice. We mean that.” Mikel stepped back in front of his betas.

Wick gave Mikel a firm shake as well. “It’s been a pleasure.”

“This isn’t goodbye, Alpha-mate. This is only the beginning.” Mikel turned an impish grin at Justice. “This one visits more than in-laws.”

“Next time, I’ll make it an even six months; see how you like that visit.” Justice laughed.

Everyone joined in on the farewell, safe travels, and well wishes. Justice hated to say goodbye whenever he spent time with his shifters, but he couldn’t wait to get his mate back home and in his bed, either.

There was still so much more to do. The work of an alpha and a king was never done.

Wick’s soldiers were set to hit the facility this evening during the graveyard shift. Justice wanted as few human causalities as possible. They were no longer focused on politics and abiding by human law… he was operating by pack law. Justice would defend his shifters by any means. Those scientists were operating independently from any governmental agency and probably illegally. Now, more than ever, Justice was determined to wipe them all out. He and his brother had mates to consider.

The pack waved goodbye, while their two RVs and long trail of SUVs drove off.

“They are probably relieved to go back to some normality.” Wick kept waving as they drove past, like they were the royal couple. “They look sorry to see us go, but thankful, too.”

“Isn’t that with all visitors?” Justice squeezed Wick’s hand.

“I suppose. We don’t call it visiting. When I meet with covens, it’s for business, never pleasure. Visiting is reserved for people you actually care to see.” Wick turned dark eyes on him. “No one likes to see me coming.”

“I certainly do.” Justice turned Wick’s mouth to his and kissed him slowly. “Things are going to change, baby. I promise.”

They rode in silence for a long time. Wick seemed content to ride and enjoy the scenery now, but it hadn’t been pretty explaining to his mate that Justice didn’t fly and yes, they’d be driving the entire twenty-five hundred miles back to the east coast. He thought Wick was going to have a conniption when he told him that his pack didn’t fly anywhere. Justice didn’t own those big RVs for nothing. He’d explained that their animals didn’t do well up in the air, confined inside a tin can.

Wick agreed to allow Bell to fly the rest of the court to Maine while the captain and a majority of Wick’s army stayed behind tonight to finish their job. They’d level the research facility and be on the first jet to join them tomorrow. It was the best compromise. When Wick saw the RV’s accommodations, he didn’t mind settling in the master bed compartment with Justice to help pass the long hours.

Justice laid there with his mate in his arms while one of his three drivers navigated through a terrible storm in South Dakota. By the time they got to New Hampshire on Monday afternoon, all of them were done with traveling and could use a few days apart. There was no better ultimate test of a man’s restraint than being trapped in a vehicle with Mac and his pranks for two straight days and not killing him. Justice would have to remember to pay his drivers a bonus this month for getting them back home in record time.

Wick waited for Justice to come out of the bathroom so he could go in next. The RV was nice, but the shower barely fit one. He wasn’t worried. He couldn’t wait for Wick to see his master bath. The Jacuzzi tub was calling him and his cramping muscles. Justice had a basic salary as the AZ but he wasn’t into materialism, so he saved well. Most of the renovations on his log-home were done by him and his brothers, same for their homes, that all sat on the same piece of land.

The driver eased the RV into the big carport at the north side of his property. It was dark and quiet, having been desolate for so long. Justice had pack that watched the grounds but they didn’t live there. There were quite a few vehicles parked, including Justice’s four-by-four, Mac’s Harley, and Taleb’s smart car. He saw a couple sedans with blacked-out windows parked in front of his house and he assumed it was Bell and his guards. Justice breathed a sigh that Bell didn’t hesitate to come right over. Alek was still beside himself with guilt and shame. He hadn’t shown himself much, choosing to stay closed in his bunk with his laptop or a book. He only came out to eat and stretch at rest stops. When Justice offered him a quick run in Vermont, he’d been shocked when his brother said no. He was worried for Alek’s sanity. He hadn’t let his wolf out since he claimed his mate. That was two-and-a-half days ago.

They all filed off the bus one by one. Each of them staring up at the white-capped mountains, breathing in the cool, crisp air around them. The weather was bitter and the sky was gray… snow. Justice draped his arms over Wick’s shoulders and breathed in his mate’s scent, combining with the nostalgic scents of his home. The coolness was already settling in his bones and easing him.

It was night, but they had no problem seeing how gorgeous the landscape was. So different from the warm, dry Nevada climate. The oohs and ahhs at being home after so long were comical. Justice told his small pack and family to go home and get some much-deserved rest.

“This has been one long, crazy, unexpected trip,” Justice called out, his voice even more impressive on his own land. “I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. We accomplished so much. The packs are celebrating our triumph. The rogue pack is eliminated and so is the facility they were using to replicate our DNA, thanks to Wick’s foot soldiers. They were in and out with zero casualties. Even rescued nine shifters and two vampires.”

Cheers and applause were loud and long. Justice hadn’t been expecting rescues either, but when Ramon reported them, Farica hurried to make arrangements for the shifters to be transported to Mikel’s land so they could be properly checked by the pack’s physicians. Neither Justice nor Wick could shake the idea that there may be more facilities. Their organization seemed too well funded to only have one. They’d find them all, he swore to his family.

“I love you all. Rest up. We’ll start back on Monday, bright and early.” Justice accepted a few more hugs and congratulatory kisses, then led Wick towards his home. His one-story, log, ranch-style house was in the middle of his fifteen acres. His brother’s homes were nearby, yet still far enough away to give them all a sense of privacy. Justice heard each sibling return his sentiment… except Alek. His brother was gone, probably already in his house with the door shut tight behind him.

Justice opened his door and pushed it wide, gesturing for Wick to enter. “Your majesty.”

“Very cheeky.” Wick pecked him on his mouth and walked by him.

He tried to see his home through Wick’s eyes. His oversized, well-used furniture, all positioned in a semi-circle for meetings. His coffee table was an enormous General Grant tree-trunk he’d hauled all the way from Grant Grove in California years ago. He’d done all the work on it himself; his brothers constantly put in bids for it, but he’d never let it go. He didn’t have a lot of possessions, but what he did have was nice and handsome. Except his eighty-inch television and surround sound system… that was sexy. Wick walked into the spacious kitchen, smiling back at him.

“I like the openness. I’ve seen so many homes that have just as many doors upstairs as they do downstairs.” Wick spun around. “There is only a downstairs.”

Justice pointed down a dark hall. “There’s two bedrooms. The entire back is my bedroom and there’s a decent guest room off the garage with its own bath.” Justice looked out the window. “Bell is still talking with Mac and Taleb. When he comes in, I’ll tell him he’s welcome to stay here with us until he settles.” Hopefully at Alek’s. “You haven’t seen him in months, I’m sure you don’t want him staying in the city with the others. He’s your second, he should be close.”

“You’re amazing.” Wick hugged Justice, pulling him close for a searing kiss. “It’s been two days. He looks fine on the outside, but I know how it feels to crave the taste of your Beloved and be denied.”

Justice winced, remembering the twenty-four hours of hell he’d put them through. “He only has to go to him.”

“He will.” Wick turned Justice’s face away from the large window that overlooked his land. “What I need is a good run, my final meal, and a hard shag to make me sleep the rest of the weekend.”

Justice groaned and ground himself against Wick. “Already got you talking like an American. I can manage all that and more.”

“I know.” Wick sighed and rubbed his cheek against Justice’s scruffy one. He was back to wolfing it again, not bothering to shave the entire trip home. “I love you.”

Justice intensified the kiss, biting and moaning the longer he did. “I love you more.” He inched back, slowly removing his sweats and t-shirt. “I’ll race you. First one to the Saco River is the real alpha,” Justice taunted.

He reared back and laughed, enjoying the strong-willed determination that transformed Wick’s loving smile to a predatory one. His grin was toothy and devious. Wick peeled out of his clothes, not caring if the window was wide open and people were still lingering outside. His mate was becoming a true shifter. With one last look, they chuckled and took off for the door, Justice grabbing Wick before he could leap off the steps and jumped in front of him.

“Bloody cheater!” Wick yelled right before he shifted to his big beast and flashed after Justice’s white wolf.

“Hey you two!” Mac yelled. Justice heard his brothers’ hearty laughs as they shifted and chased after them. It wasn’t long before a few others had joined in. Their howls and roars could be heard for miles. It was great to be home and it was evident his pack was as happy, too. Justice led his mate and his pack through the mountains to the refreshing river. Eight or nine wolves trotted over and drank beside them. He guessed his pack had a resurgence of energy.

When they were done eating and drinking, more tussling and wrestling began when Mac called himself the real alpha. Justice jumped out of the pile and dropped down next to the big tiger watching over the group with a caring and keen eye. Justice burrowed against his mate, turning to lick his dark nose, his cheek, rubbing anywhere he could leave his scent. One by one, the wolves came over and brushed against them both before running off. Justice accepted his brothers’ warmth and grazes against his flank, all of them feeling the absence of Alek. Mac whined against Justice’s cheek, rubbing him affectionately.

“He’s going to be okay, Macauley,” Justice assured his brother, sending him on his way.

“He will be okay, Justice,” Wick said. “Bell is a good man, too. He’ll do what’s right.”

“I hope so.”

Wick stood and stretched his long back, shaking his thick fur again. “Let’s go home.”

“Damn, I love the way that sounds,” Justice answered.

“You’ll hear it forever.” Wick rubbed against him as they walked.

“There’s so much more to be done. This is only the beginning.”

Wick’s dedication flowed through their bond. “I know. I’m right here with you. All the way.”

A gust of cool wind blew through their fur, as a soft, gentle hand caressed their backs as they moved. They turned their heads towards each other, both having felt it.

“Was that… was that your mom?”

Justice couldn’t nod. Instead, he flooded his mate with all the happiness and emotion he felt from his mom’s touch. “It was her.”

Justice took his vampire mate home.

 

The End… for now.

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