Page 12

12

Kaylee

Watching the bus pull in front of the packhouse, flanked by our warriors, I groan as Marco fidgets beside me. He’s been on edge since lunch and even had to end his patrol early because he couldn’t focus and nearly fell into a ditch. Had someone not been there to stop him in his tracks, Marco would have been seriously injured. His attitude has me believing that Lucas is right—maybe Marco has been given a second-chance mate.

The bus doors open, and David is the first to step out. He makes a beeline for Amelia, scoops her into his arms, and smiles. It’s been over a week since he set out with Kurt and the others to get the Harvest Willow wolves, and they must have really missed each other.

Kurt is the next to step out of the bus, helping the others off one by one and telling them to stand just to the right so that we can get them all settled. I knew Kurt said that most of the refugees had been pups, but I didn’t expect to see so many between the ages of eight and thirteen. They must have been so young when the attack happened.

“Do...do you smell that?” Marco asks.

“All we smell are wolves needing a shower,” Royce answers sarcastically, and I find myself chuckling.

“No, I seriously smell elderberries and apples,” Marco continues. I sniff the air, getting a faint scent of apples from the bus mixed with something else. It’s faint, but it seems to be drawing Marco in.

“Well, whatever it is, you need to keep your composure as Head Warrior,” I warn, watching Amelia step towards the new wolves. I smile at the pups, who look at me curiously as I take the opportunity to step forward, standing just behind Amelia. Eddison and Ash finally step off the bus, and without hesitation, they walk over to me and wrap me in a hug.

“Can we not go on travel missions anymore?” Ash grumbles. I laugh and feel a hand on the small of my back. Turning to look back, I find Lucas glaring and roll my eyes again before elbowing him in the side.

“What was that for?” he asks with a wince, and I glare at him.

“Ash and Eddison are my friends. They won’t hurt me or hit on me, so get your jealousy under control,” I warn. He takes a deep breath, apologizing to my friends for his attitude before stepping closer to me, burying his face in my hair and breathing in my scent.

I wonder what’s going through his mind for a moment while the mate bond hums and settles between us. I’ve never seen him this possessive, and it worries me. Then it hits me—he’s acting like this because I’m his mate and pregnant with his pup.

I can feel him slowly relaxing from breathing in my scent, and after another minute has passed and a kiss on my cheek, he leaves my side to help the others unload the luggage from the bus.

“So, you forgave him?” Eddison asks as Ash glares at my mate’s retreating back.

“Yes and no. It’s complicated right now,” I sigh, turning towards the bus entrance just in time to watch a she-wolf step out. She has long brown hair, and her eyes are full of life as she makes her way to Kurt. He smiles, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as he introduces her to Amelia.

“Who is that?” I ask just as a loud growl sounds behind me.

Turning to see Marco storm toward Kurt and the mysterious she-wolf, I move to step in front of my friend before he can do something stupid. The girl steps away from Kurt, her eyes glued to Marco. She slowly walks forward, without fear on her face, as Marco steps around me and pulls the girl into his arms. Before anyone can move, Marco kisses the girl as we all watch in shock. It seems Marco has found his mate—his second-chance mate.

“Uh...I thought he already had a mate?” Ash asks in confusion.

“Nathaniel killed her for being infertile,” I answer, causing my two friends to stare at me in shock.

“What?” Eddison asks.

“Nathaniel killed her because she couldn’t have pups. I guess the Goddess felt bad for Marco and gave him a second chance,” I explain again with a smile, watching as Marco and the she-wolf talk in hushed whispers, neither letting go of the other.

“So who is she?” I ask, watching as Marco leads the she-wolf inside the pack house. I have a feeling I won’t be seeing him for a few days.

“That’s Kurt’s niece, Maya,” Ash answers, sounding a little sad. “Kurt told us not to have any ideas about her unless she was mated to us. It seems Marco is lucky.” He sighs, looking like a pup who has lost to his rival on the school playground. I pat him on the shoulder, reminding Ash that he will find his mate one day before joining Amelia, David, and Kurt.

“Welcome home, Kurt. I see you now have a nephew-in-law,” I tease, and he growls as I hug him. I laugh, moving to hug David next. Amelia excuses herself to greet the Harvest Willow wolves, some of them already talking about Maya finding her mate in Marco, and I smile. It seems they’ll fit into our pack without any problems.

After greeting everyone, Amelia leads them into the packhouse, and we follow, finding Ivory Fangs wolves sitting in the dining hall in anticipation. As soon as we all enter the large room, my packmates begin greeting the new wolves with smiles and offer to have them sit at their tables. I step in, saying we have a big table ready for Harvest Willow to sit together and reminding my wolves that our soon-to-be new packmates have been through a lot and might want to keep to themselves for the first few days while they settle in.

After making sure everyone is okay with these arrangements, I help the Harvest Willow wolves settle into their seats before turning to the head table and finding Maya and Marco sitting there, already lost in their own little world. It seems Ivory Fangs has gained a Female Head Warrior.

Soon, the wolves who went to bring the luggage to the guest house return. Lucas finds his way to my side, and we go to our seats at the head table while Amelia and David move to stand in the center of the room.

“Good evening, everyone,” Amelia starts with a smile, looking around the room. “We want to welcome our soon-to-be packmates to Ivory Fangs. Kurt has told us about the hardships you’ve all faced, and we would like to let you know that we’ll do everything we can to help you feel at home,” she continues, the crowd mumbling their approval.

“David and I hope that in time, you all can find your place here in Ivory Fangs. If you need anything to help you grow as strong wolves, feel free to reach out to us, Kurt, or our Beta, Kaylee.” I raise my hand at the sound of my name, giving everyone a friendly smile.

Lucas grumbles something about how I need to be safe and not in the public eye, and I give him a slight warning and growl, reminding him to behave—one day, he will be a beta with me if he keeps showing me his sincerity. At this, his eyes light up as Amelia continues explaining that there is more than enough food for tonight’s dinner and to enjoy ourselves. I watch Marco lead Maya to the table full of food, and Amelia and David come to sit at our table.

“You think they will like it here?” Amelia asks as she watches the Harvest Willow wolves tentatively join the line for the buffet.

“I think in time they will,” I answer with a reassuring smile.