Page 125 of Crimson Moon Falling

“No. Director Langston was found dead this morning. No one was surprised. The acting director ordered our office to bring you in.”

Mangus and Athena went still beside me, sensing my sudden tension. John noticed and took his hands out of his pockets.

“Do you have a warrant?” I asked carefully.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “No, but they’re working on one. Listen, I told them I’d come talk with you and see if you’ll come in voluntarily. But honestly? I’m here to warn you. They want to recruit you, and while the acting director isn’t as crooked as Langston, she’s a hard ass.”

I let out a long exhale. My implant and I were in complete agreement that this needed to be shut down once and for all.

“I’m not coming with you, but I have a message for your interim director and all the other Fed organizations that think they can come after me. They will start a Pack war, and not just our Pack. I will also sue them within an inch of their lives and air their dirty laundry for years to come.”

He folded his arms. “This could get ugly.”

“It’s already ugly. If the FBCI and the entire Central Federal Government don’t leave me the hell alone, you need to plan on going to war, especially after the recent shit they’ve pulled.”

“I’m sorry–”

“I will also sue the FBCI for assault and illegally trying to detain me in Yellowstone, and flat-out kidnapping me in Utah.”

“It doesn’t have to escalate–”

“You know I was sexually assaulted while in their ‘custody.’ And Langston stood there and got off on it,” I interrupted.

“Fuck,” John sighed, his face going pale.

I gave him the one thing that would guarantee my Pack’s safety. “You can also tell her that if the Feds leave us alone, I’ll see if I’m available to consult on one or two cases a year that are worth my time, for a hefty fee. I’m also vetting the cases.”

John’s whole body relaxed. “I’ll tell them. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

He looked at the reporters by the gate. “Director Cochran would be a fool not to take you up on your offer. She might lack any personality or sense of humor, but she isn’t stupid. Well played, Blackthorne. I think Conall and the wolf shifters are rubbing off on you.”

It was more the device and chip embedded in my brainstem, courtesy of Apex. Somehow, we’d figured out how to work together, and I only sent it visions of me brutally cutting it out of my neck every so often. The device gave me a soft zap.

Right after John left, Conall walked out on the porch. “Drew mentioned you were out here talking with Bailey. How’d it go?”

I told him about our conversation. “We’ll see how she responds. When can we go home?”

He drew me over to the patio loveseat and pulled me into his lap. “You just told the Feds and specifically the FBCI to fuck off, then gave them a carrot if they behave. You scare me sometimes, and we can leave whenever you want. I miss Feeny.”

I laid my head on his shoulder. “I miss her too. Owen, not so much.”

He squeezed me, and I grunted, then laughed. We sat on the porch together, lazily enjoying skin contact. I kissed him softly, nibbling his bottom lip. When he pulled back, he stared at the scar on my cheek and the faint claw marks on my jaw, courtesy of Feeny’s mother.

“You’ve got so many injuries and scars, and most of them happened after I met you,” he murmured regretfully, bringing my wrist to his mouth.

I cupped his cheek. “Before you tracked me down outside that classroom, I was lonely, and just existing. You aren’t responsible, and I’d do it all again if I could still be sitting here with you.”

His eyes grew glassy. “My wolf and I would be lost without you. I expected that when I finally chose a mate, we’d tolerate each other like most Alpha couples. But I cherish and treasure you, Riley Blackthorne, Spooler, Resonant, and Mate of my heart. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

A tear slid down my cheek, but I smiled as I wiped it away. Our combined energy swirled around us, and little sparks rose from my skin and crackled in the air as his words filled my soul.

I intertwined my fingers with his, kissed his scarred knuckles, and gazed out at the quarter horses peacefully grazing in the pasture.

Epilogue

Riley