“Damn. I didn’t mean to say it when we’re in the middle of saving the world,” he growled. “My timing sucks.”
A joy that felt too large to contain swelled within her. Sinclair had implied that he cared about her, and even that he intended to make her his mate.
But for her, those were very different things than being in love with her.
“You’re sure?” she asked in soft, hesitate tones.
The rich scent of his musk filled the cabin as his fingers tightened on the control stick until his knuckles turned white.
“Mira, I love you in every conceivable way,” he assured her. “And I intend to spend the rest of my life earning your heart.”
“Sinclair,” she breathed, trying to bend toward him, only to be halted by the rigid seat belt. With a rueful chuckle, she settled back in her seat. “You’re right. Your timing sucks,” she said, wishing she could throw herself into his arms.
She’d waited so long to find someone who could love her for who she was.
A nerdy, overly curvaceous woman who would never be glamorous, or beautiful, or blessed with a social skill that most men preferred.
She didn’t know why fate had been kind enough to offer her a male like Sinclair, but she wasn’t going to risk losing him. Not again.
This time, she intended to snatch happiness with both hands.
Just as soon as they saved the world.
Clearly agreeing that they needed to concentrate on the precious opportunity to expose the SAU as liars, Sinclair glanced toward the laptop.
“How long before the video is loaded?”
“It’s loaded,” she told him, glad that Donaldson was willing to spend government dollars on a top-of-the-line computer. It worked at lightning-speed. “Give me five minutes to make sure it’s streaming to every station.”
Sinclair pulled out his phone, waiting for the bluetooth to sync before calling his Pack.
“Rios,” he said when a male answered. “I’ve got what we need,” he said, a tense satisfaction edging his voice. “Warn Bree that the party starts in five minutes.”
****
Sinclair had just bathed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt when he caught the scent of the approaching jaguar.
With a glance at the naked woman who was tangled in the sheets of his bed, he reluctantly headed toward the mouth of the cave that served as his private lair.
It’d been almost twenty-four hours since the video had hit the television stations.
The reaction had been as cataclysmic as they had hoped.
It wasn’t just the videos that had been incontrovertible proof that the head of the SAU was responsible for the Verona Virus. Or the knowledge that it was the shifters that had provided the necessary blood to create a vaccine to save the human race.
It was also Bree’s press conference where she’d answered a seemingly endless barrage of questions with a calm composure that soon had even the most rabid journalist satisfied that they were telling the truth.
Once it had ended, they’d joined together as a Pack and celebrated for hours, singing and dancing with a joy that they hadn’t experienced in far too long.
None of them were foolish enough to think it was all over. Although the shifters were leaving the compounds, they all understood that the prejudices against them wouldn’t vanish overnight. And, certainly, the bitterness the shifters felt towards humans wouldn’t instantly disappear.
It would take time and effort to heal the wounds and come together to build a new future.
But for now, it was enough to know that they were free.
And for Sinclair, the night of celebration was even more life altering.
Mira had not only agreed to become his mate, but she’d requested that they exchange their vows in a human wedding. It had been her way of offering her love and commitment for the rest of her life.
It was a gift he deeply cherished.
Now he leaned against the chilled stone of his cave, watching as Rios appeared out of the early morning mist.
“Hey, sorry to bother you,” the younger man said, his jaw recently shaven and wearing a pair of black slacks and a crisp white shirt.
Clearly, he was prepared for the day.
Sinclair shrugged. “That’s okay. Mira’s asleep.” His lips twisted in a rueful smile. The poor woman had passed out a few hours ago. He hoped she spent most of the day sleeping; otherwise, she was going to be very sorry she’d drunk that last bottle of wine. “She’s not used to shifter parties.”
Rios flashed a smile. “We’ve had a lot to celebrate. The freedom of our people. The end of the SAU.” His smile widened. “The upcoming wedding of our Alpha.”
Mira was nothing short of a hero after she’d managed to upload Lowman’s video to every network and thus transmit it to every TV across the world.
“The SAU isn’t ended yet,” Sinclair warned. He didn’t want them to forget that there was still danger.
Rios reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. Then sliding his finger over the screen, he turned the phone toward Sinclair.
“Take a look at the morning paper,” he said.
Sinclair leaned forward, reading the headline out loud.
“Colonel Ranney to be publically tried for treason.” His breath hissed through his teeth, a savage flare of satisfaction racing through him. When he was young, he’d had a picture of the bastard taped to the wall. He’d intended to rip out his throat with his fangs. Strangely, however, he had to admit that the thought of the pompous ass suffering a public humiliation was even better. “I’ve waited twenty-five years for revenge,” he said with a low growl. “It’s as sweet as I anticipated.”
Rios nodded. “And now that you have your revenge, what are your plans?”
Sinclair didn’t hesitate. “Now I intend to concentrate on pleasing my new mate,” he said. “What about you?”
Something that might have been a blush stained the younger man’s cheeks.
“I’m leaving with Bree.”
Sinclair arched a brow, pretending to be surprised. Did Rios think that the entire Pack hadn’t noticed when the two had snuck away from the party long before it was over?
“Really?”
Sinclair nodded. There would be a lot of families eager to reunite.
“Does she know about your intentions?” he asked.
“I thought I would let it be a surprise,” Rios said with a soft chuckle.
Sinclair reached out to grasp his friend’s arm. “Good luck, amigo.”
Rios smiled, his gaze skimming over Sinclair’s shoulder.
“When I get back, we’re going to have a discussion about you moving into a new house,” he warned.
“What’s wrong with my lair?” Sinclair demanded with a frown.
“Besides the fact that it’s damp, dusty, and not fit for a delicate human female?” Rios asked in faux innocent tones.
“Hmm.” Sinclair waved his friend away. “You take care of your female, and let me take care of mine.”
“I’m just saying,” Rios said, turning to disappear into the mist.
A silence descended as Sinclair considered his friend’s teasing chastisement.
Dammit. Rios was right.
He had a vivid memory of Mira’s house with the kitchen table and single chair.
He wanted her to have a home.
A place where she was surrounded by family and friends and she never, ever felt lonely again.
Starting tomorrow, they were going to design the house of her dreams…
“Sinclair?” Mira’s sleepy voice interrupted his thoughts, and instantly, he was hurrying to join her in their bed.
“I’m here, sweetheart,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “And I’m never going away.”
THE END
A Note from Alexandra and Carrie Ann
We hoped you enjoyed reading BURIED AND SHADOWED.
This is just the start of our dark and gritty Branded Packs series. With more to come, we can’t wait to hear what you think. If you enjoyed it and have time, we’d so appreciate a review on Goodreads and where your digital retailer. Every review, no matter how long, helps authors and readers. You won’t have to wait long for more in this series! Happy Reading!
The Branded Pack Series:
Book 1: Stolen and Forgiven
Book 2: Abandoned and Unseen
Book 3: Buried and Shadowed
About Carrie Ann and her Books
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.
Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.
Make sure you’re signed up for her MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
Redwood Pack Series:
Book 1: An Alpha’s Path
Book 2: A Taste for a Mate
Book 3: Trinity Bound
Book 3.5: A Night Away
Book 4: Enforcer’s Redemption
Book 4.5: Blurred Expectations
Book 4.7: Forgiveness
Book 5: Shattered Emotions
Book 6: Hidden Destiny
Book 6.5: A Beta’s Haven
Book 7: Fighting Fate
Book 7.5 Loving the Omega
Book 7.7: The Hunted Heart
Book 8: Wicked Wolf
The Talon Pack (Following the Redwood Pack Series):
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed (Coming Oct 2016)
Book 5: Fractured Silence (Coming April 2017)
Dante’s Circle Series:
Book 1: Dust of My Wings
Book 2: Her Warriors’ Three Wishes
Book 3: An Unlucky Moon
The Dante’s Circle Box Set (Contains Books 1-3)
Book 3.5: His Choice
Book 4: Tangled Innocence
Book 5: Fierce Enchantment
Book 6: An Immortal’s Song
Book 7: Prowled Darkness
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
The Montgomery Ink Box Set (Contains Books 0.5, 0.6, 1)
Book 1.5 Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed (Coming Nov 2016)
The Branded Pack Series:
(Written with Alexandra Ivy)
Book 1: Stolen and Forgiven
Book 2: Abandoned and Unseen
Book 3: Buried and Shadowed
Holiday, Montana Series:
Book 1: Charmed Spirits
Book 2: Santa’s Executive
Book 3: Finding Abigail
The Holiday Montana Box Set (Contains Books 1-3)
Book 4: Her Lucky Love
Book 5: Dreams of Ivory
Stand Alone:
Finally Found You
Flame and Ink
About Alexandra and her Books
Alexandra Ivy is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Guardians of Eternity, as well as the Sentinels, Dragons of Eternity and ARES series. After majoring in theatre she decided she prefers to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She lives in Missouri with her family. Visit her website at alexandraivy.com.
Guardians Of Eternity
When Darkness Ends
Embrace the Darkness
Darkness Everlasting
Darkness Revealed
Darkness Unleashed
Beyond the Darkness
Devoured by Darkness
Yours for Eternity
Darkness Eternal
Supernatural
Bound by Darkness
The Real Housewives of Vampire County
Fear the Darkness
Levet
Darkness Avenged
Hunt the Darkness
A Very Levet Christmas
When Darkness Ends
Masters Of Seduction
Masters Of Seduction Volume One
Masters Of Seduction Two:
Ruthless: House of Zanthe
Reckless: House Of Furia
Ares Series
Kill Without Mercy
Bayou Heat Series
Bayou Heat Collection One
Bayou Heat Collection Two
Raphael/Parish
Bayon/Jean Baptiste
Talon/Xavior
Bayou Noel
Sebastian/Aristide
Lian/Roch
Hakan/Severin
Angel/Hiss
Michel/Striker
Branded Packs
Stolen And Forgiven
Abandoned And Unseen
Buried And Shadowed
Dragons Of Eternity
Burned By Darkness
Sentinels:
Out of Control
Born in Blood
Blood Assassin