Alpha's Vow (Shifter Ops 2)

“Jael and Jehoshaphat,” Tabitha offers.

“Jafar and Jasmine,” I whip back.

“Yes,” Tabitha shouts over Sadie's laughter. “Do it, Charlie. I dare you.”

“If you name that child Nebuchadnezzar,” Adele starts, and I hold up a hand.

“I won't, I promise.” My cheeks hurt from smiling.

“Then I think you’ll be fine,” Adele says.

“Oh, yeah, Charlie, you’ve got this,” Tabitha says.

“Let us know if you have any cravings, and we’ll help you out,” Sadie adds. “I’m in the mood to bake things.”

“And if you’re craving something delicious, we’ll help you eat,” Tabitha says. “But not if it's gross—like pretzels dipped in pickle juice.”

I stick my tongue out at Tabitha. She makes the face back at me, and then we both smile. I feel a lot better. My friends are awesome, and they’ll help. Even if my life's in a snarl and I don't feel ready yet to be a mother, my kid will have the best three godmothers on the face of the Earth.

Chapter 12

Charlie

Saturday morning, Lance tells me he wants to help me relax for the weekend. He corrals me into his brother’s Humvee. “Come on,” he says, “I have a surprise for you.”

Surprise. I sort of hate surprises. I mean, how do you plan properly?

But it’s Lance, who makes me feel like I’d be safe anywhere, who I trust to take care of all my needs, because he’s made it his life’s mission.

“We’re flying somewhere?” I ask, digging my nails into my jeans so I don’t bite them off.

“Maybe.”

Lance drives down the road toward the tiny Taos airport. The not knowing drives me nuts. Meanwhile, Lance sits completely relaxed, one big hand on the steering wheel, the other one covering my knee. Maybe some of his calm will rub off on me.

He passes the terminal and drives us to a smaller building near the runway. A bunch of small white planes sit, waiting for their flights.

“We're taking a private flight?” I ask.

“That's right, baby. Nothing but the best. But it's a military plane so it's a little stripped to the bare bones. Come on.” He gets out and gets my door.

I grab my purse. “Um, did I need to bring anything?”

“Nope, just you.” He kisses me and takes my hand, a giant grin on his face. Like a little boy who is going to show me his toys. His grown-up and very expensive toys.

Our plane is the last one on the tarmac, a boxy-looking one painted a dull grey-green. Army green. It’s pretty bare inside, with an open cockpit and a few simple hard seats folded up between hanging straps.

I have a thought. “Lance,” I say nervously, “we’re not going skydiving?”

“Nah, angel. Nothing like that. This weekend is all about you and me relaxing together.” He leads me to the middle of the seating area, where two comfier looking seats have been retrofitted in between the basic ones.

“So where are we going?” I clutch my purse, wondering how in the hell Lance managed to get me here without giving me any details. I feel naked, being in a plane without a suitcase. I at least would have packed a carry-on bag with some essentials.

“You'll see.”

He kisses my forehead then drops his head to brush his mouth against mine. I lean into him and the kiss, then give a start as the doors begin to close. Someone’s climbed into the cockpit.

“All right, this is it.” Lance buckles me in. “Strap you in, nice and tight.”

Another kiss, and the plane engines start to roar.

“Might be a little louder than you’re used to,” Lance shouts over the noise. But his excitement is catching, and my heart is pumping after that kiss. Lance straps himself in right next to me and settles his hand over my knee. I lean back with a smile. Maybe this could be fun.

“So what do you say?” hollers the pilot. “Wanna do some barrel rolls?”

“Nothing but the easiest ride for my girl,” Lance calls back.

“Is that Teddy?” I point to the front. Sadie told me about him, and the epic helicopter ride Deke took her on for a date.

“That's my name,” the pilot hollers back. Somehow he heard me over the noise. “Coz I'm cuddly like a teddy bear.”

I crane my head around Lance. Teddy is a giant dude in a cut off shirt that shows off his tattoo-covered arms, bulging with muscles. He’s definitely not soft and squishy like a stuffed toy. His muscles have muscles.

“Don’t flirt with my mate,” Lance shouts back. His body’s still relaxed but there’s a whisper of a threat behind his words.

“Is he a wolf shifter, too?” I guess, since Lance used the word mate with him.

“Bear, baby,” Teddy calls, again hearing me when I don’t think it should be possible.

“Call her baby again,” Lance grits out, “and I’ll castrate you.”

“Who’s doing the favors here?” Teddy pokes back.