Page 68 of Beautiful Madness

Zach and Lucy, Ash’s leashwrapped around her wrist, stepped up beside me. Max followed them, though hewas uncharacteristically subdued. Max was dealing with his own changes. Remywalked past Sam to join us, and part of me believed that maybe he, too,recognized Sam, though I couldn’t have said how.

As Remy walked by him, Sambroke from the crowd and fell into step beside him, and they reached ustogether.

“Kait,” Jared said. “Are youleaving?”

I nodded. “We’re going home.”

He took my shoulders and leanedforward to kiss me, a brief but thorough kiss that made my heart pound, as Iknew it always would. “I’ll call you tonight.”

We hadn’t told anyone that wewere planning to have an official, bond-securing ceremony soon, but our planswould surprise none of them.

Least of all my mother. Sheleft Nigel’s side, the sadness over Lennon and Eli already dimming in her eyes,and hurried to my little group. “Nigel and I will follow you out there,” sheinformed me. “Lucy is going to cook everything, and she invited us.”

“Mom,” I said, reaching out totake her hand. “You know you’re always welcome. It’s your house, too.”

“No, dear,” she said firmly.“This is my home. Huntersburg belongs to you and your sweet little pack.” Thenshe shot me a mysterious smile. “Remember how I said we have a surprise foryou? It’s nearly ready.”

“Yeah,” I said, somewhat dryly.“And I’m not sure whether to be excited or scared.”

They all laughed as we made ourway from the crowd and to our respective cars. Before we reached the vehicles,I looked up to see one of the two missing members of my pack leaning against mycar, waiting for me.

The detective hadn’t wanted towitness the killings of Eli and Lennon, despite the changes inside him. He wasstill a human law enforcement officer, and though he understood and acceptedthat nonhumans were different with their own rules and regulations, he wouldalways be just a little outside the circle.

He wanted it that way.

“Rick,” I murmured. “Follow mehome?”

He smiled, but his smile dimmedwhen his stare lit on Sam, who was now wearing his true face. He didn’t believehe needed to hide it from us.

But maybe he would need to hidefrom Rick.

For now.

Sam hesitated, then gave Rick anod before he climbed into my car with Lucy, Ash, and Max. Zach and Remy gotinto Remy’s car.

“Kait,” Rick said, his voicelow. “You know he killed that woman.”

“Idon’tknow,” I said.I circled his wrist with my fingers. “Sam is one of mine, Rick. If he needshelp, I’ll help him.” I could feel Sam watching me from the car. He knew wewere discussing him. He also knew that if I wanted to, I would fight him, and Iwould kill him. He’d seen me in the caves. Still, he hung around, because deepdown he understood that maybe my need to accept him was as huge as his need tobe accepted. “He swears he didn’t kill that girl. And I don’t think he’s thatweak.”

“You don’t want to believe it,”he said gently. “I’m not finished with the investigation. If I find anydiscrepancies, anything that points to a copycat, we’re good.”

“And if not?” I met his eyes,and neither of us wavered.

“Then we will have a problem,”he said.

I nodded. “You coming toHuntersburg?”

He blew out a sigh and staredat me silently for a few seconds. “Yes. Yes, Kait. I’m coming to Huntersburg.”

I gave his arm one last squeezeand then walked away. “See you out there.”

It was time to start anew, andRick, whether he wanted to or not, was going to start anew with me. With all ofus.

His pack.

ChapterThirty-Seven

“Dammit, Joe, you can’t expectme to run the office at night just so you can skulk around looking all…”