Page 21 of Wraith’s Betrayal

"Now we figure out how to tell your brother without him committing murder."

"Maybe we don't tell him. Maybe we just disappear into the mountains, live off the grid, raise wolves or something."

I laughed, the sound surprising us both. "Tempting. But Blade would track us down. He's persistent like that."

"True." She shifted, looking up at me. "Are you ready for that? For what he'll do when he finds out?"

"I'm ready for anything if it means keeping you."

"Even losing your brotherhood?"

"The club will understand. Eventually. Viper's practical—he'll see this was inevitable. Phoenix and Tank already know something's been building. And Blade..." I sighed. "Blade will come around. Might take time and probably some bloodshed, but he loves you. He'll want you happy."

"And you make me happy."

"You make me alive." I pulled her up for another kiss, deep and claiming. "For the first time since Emma died, I feel alive."

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I ignored it.

It buzzed again. Then again.

"You should check that," Raven murmured against my mouth.

I grabbed it, seeing Blade's name on the screen. Three missed calls, two texts.

Where are you?

Tiffany said some guy was asking about Raven at the clinic. Description matches her ex. I'm coming over.

"Shit." I showed her the screen.

She studied the messages, then smiled. "Good."

"Good? Raven, your brother is about to walk in and find us⁠—"

"Find us together. Finally." She sat up, my tags swinging between her breasts. "I'm tired of hiding. Tired of pretending I don't love you. Tired of acting like this thing between us doesn't exist."

"He'll be here in ten minutes. Maybe less."

"Then we should probably put on clothes." She slid from the bed, grabbing my shirt from the floor and pulling it on. It hit her mid-thigh, the Pike Creek Riders logo across the back marking her as clearly as my tags around her neck.

"That's not going to help the situation."

"I'm not trying to help. I'm making a statement." She found her underwear, sliding them on under the shirt. "We're together. Deal with it."

I pulled on my jeans, leaving my chest bare, bruises from the fight visible. Let Blade see. Let him understand what I'd do for her.

"You sure about this?"

She moved into my arms, fitting against me perfectly. "I've never been more sure of anything. We've wasted enough time. Whatever happens next, we face it together."

"Together," I agreed, sealing it with a kiss.

The sound of a motorcycle approaching made us both tense. Not just one bike—multiple. Blade had brought backup.

"He brought witnesses," Raven observed. "Smart. Harder to commit murder with the whole club watching."

"Comforting."