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"I already got it covered. Some of my pack and Kodi's are guarding the perimeter."
She lifted a brow at him. "You did what?"
Chase crouched down and smirked. "You think I would allow my mate's territory to get hit again after just being attacked? What kind of mate do you think I am?"
Remy giggled and sighed. "The one trying to take over my pack?"
It was a joke, and thankfully, Chase took it as one. He scooped her up in one swoop and cradled her against him. He buried his nose into the crook of her neck and breathed in her scent. Remy found herself nudging her nose against his jaw until he moved his face and pressed his lips against hers. The touch alone was settling her Lycan down from the aftermath of the events. Remy groaned when Chase broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers.
"There will be time for that later. I want you to take a bath and get some food in your body. You are no good to your pack if you are too tired and malnourished to defend it."
"You're talking like I am the new Alpha."
Chase moved to look at her and then tilted his head at her. "You aren't?"
Remy groaned. "I don't even know. My mom hasn't taken over in the pack bonds. Part of me feels like she should be the one to take over, but the other part is screaming that it should be me. But Chase...how am I supposed to take over when my father just died?"
Remy felt more vulnerable than she’d ever been. She was confident about becoming the next Alpha when her father was alive and willing to just hand it over to her. Her whole life, she’d known she would one day be in charge of this pack, yet now that the time had come, she felt it was wrong to take it. Yes, she and her Lycan wanted to take over the pack, but how was that fair to the pack as they mourned, even if the Pack Laws dictate it to happen, and the pack bonds are begging for a new Alpha?
But how is that okay to do? They are mourning my father, and I just take over?
"Remy, it is the Lycan way. Your pack will understand why you have risen to Alpha. That does not discredit their feelings about their Alpha or lessen their need to mourn him. They need you right now. They will grow restless and dangerous if the Alpha seat in the pack bonds remains empty. We are social creatures, but we need the hierarchy to keep our beasts from losing control and going on a killing spree."
She knew he was right. It was exactly what her Lycan had said, too, but it didn't stop her from feeling like it would take away from the weight of her father's death; it did, however, lessen the load she felt on her shoulders. Chase seemed satisfied with her silence and walked over to the tub. The thing was large enough to look like a small swimming pool or a jacuzzi. It was deep enough for her to lean back, and the water would reach her neck. Chase turned the water on, pulled a vial out of his pocket, and placed it on the tub's edge. She watched him check the temperature of the water several times before he nodded and plugged it. She noticed how his shirt fitted closely to his body, reminding her of the defined muscles underneath. He turned to her, catching her staring at him, but ignored it. Then he stared at her clothes.
"Need help getting those off?"
"Is that an offer?" Remy purred.
Chase let out a small laugh, "No, sweetheart. As much as I would love that, I would rather get you in this bath."
Remy pouted and emphasized her quivering lip. Chase shook his head, took two large steps, and kneeled down in front of her. He reached out and put his hands on her ankles. His thumbs moved inside the fabric and gently brushed her skin. Feeling his skin on hers made her heart leap. Chase smirked before he tugged on the pants, and she felt the waist of the pants fall down. Remy bit her lip, her heart racing at the idea of her and Chase on the bathroom floor fluttering through her mind. Chase chuckled at her.
"I love what I do to you, but as I said, I just want to get you into this bath."
"Aw, come on. I just went through hell. I deserve some kind of reward."
This time, Chase laughed. "I agree. You should be rewarded. But that is what the bath is for. Now, let me take off your clothes."
"How is a damn bath a reward for surviving a small war?"
"I will show you if you let me."
Remy got to her feet and felt the room spin as she did. She didn't have the energy to do this, and her wobbling on her feet made Chase growl.
"Damn it, woman, you do not have to do everything yourself anymore!" Chase said before wrapping his arms around her. "I am here. I am your mate, and it is my job to care for you."
Truthfully, she wasn't used to being cared for this way—not how Chase planned on it anyway. Her parents and brother were always there for her, but not in the same way as this.
"Once you tell me why, I will," Remy snarled.
"Bonded or not, you are mine. Mine to take care of, protect, and make happy. I understand you are going through a whirlwind of emotions right now, and you are going to question everything I do because of the asshole who threw you away, but that won’t stop me from trying to prove that I am better than he could ever hope to be."
Remy growled at the mention of Levi. She opened her mouth to tell Chase not to mention him again, but he pressed his lips against hers to shut her up before she could. His hand went to the back of her neck, and the kiss deepened until she clutched his shirt in her hands and curled her toes. When he broke the kiss, they were both breathless. He sucked in a breath and continued with his argument.
"Let me take care of you and prove that I am yours. You were mine from the moment we danced together. Fuck, you were mine from the moment I saw you. If you are keeping me at arm's length because of all this bullshit, then fine. I'll still wait. You are more than worth the wait. But for the love of everything holy, stop acting like I am the enemy when I am far from it."
Tears rolled down her cheeks at his words. Remy didn't realize that was what she had been doing. The hurt she made Chase feel hit her like a tidal wave from her going back and forth just now of wanting him and then pushing him away. That wasn't her intention at all. The death of her father and other pack members was affecting her more than she thought, and she needed to stop before she caused more damage to her mate.
