Pack Mates (Were Chronicles) by Crissy Smith Page A

“We need to calm down or we’ll have heart attacks before the ceremony even starts.”
    RJ kissed the side of her neck before pulling Dylan by the arm. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”
    Nikki watched them go, smiling. They stopped to talk to several people, both new and old Pack members, before they made it to the drink table. She saw Justin and Ben sitting at a table sitting close together off to the side.
    “I never thought I would see you smiling at someone like that here at home.”
    Nikki sighed and turned to face Brandon. “I didn’t either,” she admitted. “You know I was pissed when you ordered me home.”
    He nodded. “Yeah, you didn’t hide that well.”
    “What would have happened if I hadn’t come?”
    Brandon shrugged his shoulders. “I hope I would have gotten my head out of my ass before I did something stupid like challenge Dylan, but I don’t know. I got caught up in all the politics.”
    “You have it worked out now?” she asked, stepping closer to her brother. He was a good man so she did believe he would have figured it out. No matter what happened, she was proud of him.
    “Dylan asked me to be his Beta. He wants Max and RJ as his enforcers and a couple others from both Packs in the inner circle. Everyone he named made sense and Cameron agreed with his choices. I do believe he will make a good Alpha.”
    “Well then, congratulations,” she said with a hip bump against him.
    He grinned. “Thanks, but it’s not over yet. Stay close tonight.”
    Nikki sighed but he cut her off.
    “I mean it. This will be the last chance before anything done against Dylan will be against the Alpha. It’s all or nothing tonight.”
    “I know, Bran,” she assured him. “I’ll be careful.”
    He nodded. “Cameron just arrived. I have to go over a few things with him.”
    He left her quickly and she rolled her eyes. Brandon in full protective mode once again. She spotted RJ and made her way over to him to steal some more kisses.

    * * * *

    RJ could feel the excitement in the air. The Alpha ceremony would start soon and the Pack was in full celebration. Cameron, Dylan and Brandon stood in the middle of the clearing, preparing for the circle. Justin and Ben were working the crowd like pros and Nikki was in the middle of a group of women around her age. They laughed and squealed, and he couldn’t hold back a smile as she shook her hips and danced away, laughing.
    He caught her eye and the look in hers changed, moving from happy to heated with passion. He jerked his head to the edge of the crowd and she nodded.
    He captured her in his arms as they came together on the outskirts of the clearing. Their lips met, breath mixed, and he devoured her. She broke away panting and rested her forehead on his chest.
    “I’ve been watching you,” she informed him, slipping her hands down his back.
    “I know,” he whispered back. “I’ve been watching you too.”
    They kissed again until she shivered in his arms. It was getting too hot, too fast.
    “I want you,” she admitted, mouthing his collarbone. “I always want you.”
    He moaned and looked around for any semi-private place. They were surrounded by Pack members. No one was paying attention to them now, but it wouldn’t be long before they drew some unwanted attention. Especially if she kept teasing him with her tongue…
    “We can’t…” Damn it, there had to be somewhere close by.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, Pack members,” Cameron’s voice rose above the crowd. “It’s time.”
    “Oh God!” Nikki whimpered and pushed him away. “They better hurry and get this over with.”
    Her chest heaved, her eyes wild, and he could smell her arousal. He reached for her again but she shook her head. “If you touch me again, everyone is going to get a show,” she promised.
    He dropped his head and stifled a groan. He had better control than this. They would get through the ceremony then he would take her to the first private spot they found and pound