Best Friends (New Species Book 15) Read online

  He realized neither had touched their food at the meeting, as both stood silently in his home. “Are you hungry?”

  “A little. That food did look good.”

  He softly growled. “I’m sorry. I just took you out of there without thinking about that.”

  “We could go downstairs to eat in the cafeteria.”

  “The others will want to ask you more questions about human females and sit at our table with us. You were too nice to them before. We won’t have the opportunity to talk alone if we go down there.”

  That had Mel laughing, and he liked seeing that she could after the meeting they’d had. He wasn’t feeling as generous. The male who’d attacked Mel was with the humans. He wanted that male sent to Fuller Prison but he couldn’t fault Justice for the tough decision he’d made. They got to keep the two males who’d attempted to kill Species. They were a deadly threat if they were ever freed. That wouldn’t happen.

  “I have cereal,” he offered.

  “That works.”

  He rushed into the kitchen and prepared two bowls. They took seats next to each other on the floor, using the coffee table in his living room as a surface to eat. “What are you thinking, Mel? Please share with me.” He wanted to plead with her to stay with him instead of returning to her parents. Part of his education once he’d been freed included learning maps of the United States. Indiana was far from California.

  “I’m not returning to Indiana.”

  He felt immense relief at hearing her say that. “Good.”

  “It’s not just because I don’t want to live with my mama.” She held his gaze. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “I don’t want to lose you, either,” he admitted. “I want you to stay with me. You belong here. We can get married like humans do. Other Species have legally wed their human mates. We’ll also sign mate papers. It will officially make you Species.” He tensed, prepared for her to argue with him.

  She put down her spoon and stared at him.

  He reached out and took her hand, forgetting his own food. “I know you want more time…but I’d like for you to think about it. I swear I’ll give you a great life, Mel. Tell me what to say or do to convince you.”

  “You are so sweet, Snow.” A smile played at her lips. “I missed you when you took me home after the first night we spent together. All I wanted to do was come back here to be with you. Then that jerk was waiting at my place, and we got to spend another night together after you picked me up from the station. You even went along with my bait plan when I know you didn’t want me to be in danger. You understood how important it was to me to try to get him in case he wanted to go after Mary next. You had my back.”

  “I always will.”

  “I believe that. It’s why I’m saying yes.”

  He felt stunned but fearful that he might be misunderstanding her.

  “Yes,” she repeated. “It might be crazy to jump into this so fast but I know you’ll catch me. I’ve fallen in love with you, and I already can’t imagine my life without you anymore. I don’t even want to.”

  “You’ll be my mate?”

  “Yes, Snow. I’d like to get legally hitched, too, if that’s okay.”

  “I will marry you,” he swore, grinning. “You’re my heart, Mel. You have all my love. Forever.”

  “I figured that when you asked me to mate you. You’re a pretty serious guy.”

  He pushed the coffee table back and grabbed her, putting her on his lap. “You’ve made me very happy.”

  “You make me happy, too.”

  He held her tight, inhaling her scent. “I’ll have mate papers drawn up today and ask the NSO to arrange for our wedding. I want to do it right away.”

  “Okay. I don’t want anything fancy. Can we sign these papers and do a wedding in a few days? I would really like Mary to be there, and I need to call my folks. I’m not sure if they can come, but they’d be upset if I didn’t invite them anyway.”

  “Anything you want.” He chuckled. “I’ll make it happen. We can fly your parents here. Don’t worry about money.”

  “You’re the best, Snow.”

  “I just want you to be happy.”

  “I am.” She cuddled into him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mel was nervous as she stood in front of a black SUV watching the road. Snow and a few other New Species were sitting inside the vehicle, where she’d asked them to stay. The windows were all down, though, so they could talk while they waited, and there was a tall wall about a hundred feet behind her. Two uniformed New Species stood on top of it, guarding the area. Others were out of sight.

  Snow hadn’t been happy to leave Reservation but they weren’t technically off NSO lands. Mel had insisted that they go outside the walls. It made it easier for her best friend to meet her if she didn’t have to go through security and be patted down.

  “I see a vehicle coming,” one of the Species on the wall shouted.

  Mel spotted Mary’s car. “It’s her,” she called out. “Just stay in the SUV.”

  Mary parked on the side of the road and got out of her car. She looked nervous, glancing at the SUV and up at the wall.

  “It’s okay,” Mel told her. She walked forward but a low growl, probably Snow, brought her to halt. He had warned her to stay close to the SUV. “It’s all about compromise,” she muttered to herself, waving Mary to come closer. “I am so proud of you for driving this close to Reservation. Get over here.”

  Mary kept her car keys in hand as she approached. “I missed you.”

  Mel hugged her when she got close. “I missed you, too.”

  “Why did you make me drive all the way out here instead of coming to my apartment?” Mary relaxed a little but kept shooting worried glances at the SUV and the wall. “We’re being watched by armed people up there,” she whispered.

  “I know. The New Species are sure I’m in too much danger going back to town because the reporters know my name and who I am. That’s why I had you meet me here. I didn’t think you’d willingly enter Reservation to see me. They have some strict security measures.”

  Mary paled.

  “It’s fine. That’s why we’re here.”

  “Whose house is that? I swear I just saw someone move one of the curtains.”

  Mel glanced to the left. No way was she about to admit there were New Species in that house—and in the woods around it—to protect them in case of trouble. “Brass thought this would be a safe place for us to meet. The house had been empty for a while and the owners agreed to sell it. The NSO bought it but the paperwork hasn’t been filed yet. It’s probably just a breeze from a broken window or something. Ignore all that and look at me instead. You’re safe, Mary. They know you’re afraid of them and will stay back.”

  “They probably think I’m an idiot for that.” Mary stepped back, still shooting nervous glances around her.

  “They don’t. It’s a phobia. Some people have them. Did Sheriff Cooper talk to you? Did he tell you we caught the jerk who broke into our places and how?”

  That snapped her best friend out of her fear and gained her full attention. Anger flashed on her features. “Yes! What were you thinking? You’re nuts for doing that.”

  “I wasn’t alone. I knew Snow and his friends would keep me safe. And they did.”

  “Sheriff Cooper also told me you did it because you were worried about me, and that you’re the one who came up with the idea.” Tears filled Mary’s eyes. “I’m calling you a crazy hillbilly. You purposely returned to your apartment and lured that asshole into coming after you again! That was insane!”

  Mel laughed, not offended at all. “We got him. That’s all that matters. Vermin problem dealt with.”

  “You would say that. What’s going on now? Are you going to stay with Snow for a few days?”

  “I’m marrying him.”

  Mary’s eyes widened.

  “I love him, Mary. I know you’re probably going to tell me it’s too fast and we should w