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Kaylee

Smoothing down the blue dress I’d changed into, I quickly slip on black heels and head to the living room. Lucas should be back from the guest house soon after delivering the new oven. He said he would come home to quickly shower and drive us to the packhouse in time to greet Growling Heart. We’re having a welcome dinner and the usual bonfire, and there will be plenty of alcohol to go around.

“Sorry I’m late,” Lucas calls out as soon as the door to the cottage opens.

“It’s not a problem. You were helping David prepare the guest house,” I say with a shrug, smiling as he kisses my cheek.

“Yeah. Just give me ten minutes to shower and change, and we can head to the packhouse,” he says, moving past me and heading towards the bathroom.

“I put some clothes for you on the counter,” I call out, shaking my head as he yells back a thank you before closing the bathroom door. I sink onto the sofa, groaning in relief at resting my body. Training while now six weeks pregnant has taken much of my energy, but I can’t stop now. I need to ensure that Marilyn and Ramos are killed before more danger can come from them—as much as I hate the idea of killing an innocent unborn pup.

“Ready to go?” The bathroom door opens, and Lucas walks out, wearing a pair of black slacks and a navy blue dress shirt I’d left for him on the counter. He smiles at me, towel-drying his black hair, which has become longer and shaggier these last few weeks.

“I am,” I answer, pushing off from the couch and making my way to the door. Lucas throws his towel toward the basement door, and I roll my eyes. Thankfully, it’s his night to do laundry, so I won’t have to deal with the wet towel later.

Leaving the cottage, I go to the passenger side of my truck, climbing in just as Lucas exits the cottage and closes the door behind him, his dress shoes now on. Within a few minutes, we’re parking beside the packhouse and making our way to the growing crowd as the sounds of happy howls fill the air. We’ve made it just in time to greet Titus, Daisy, and their men.

“How is it that Lucas and you can make it on time, but David is still late?” Amelia muses with a shake of her head, her face full of smiles.

“Maybe because David takes his time in the shower. I remember waiting forever to shower when I stayed at your house for a few days,” I state with a shrug, causing Amelia to laugh.

“He does love his showers. So do I.” My face scrunches up at the innuendo in her words, Lucas coughing awkwardly beside me. Neither of us wants to hear about how Adam, Lace, and Henry came to be.

Marco and Maya are next to join us. Maya wears a long burgundy dress, with Marco in a matching shirt and tailored pants.

“What are we talking about?” Maya asks, her eyes moving between Amelia and me.

“David and his love of showers,” Lucas answers, resting his head against my shoulder.

“That man may be one of our leaders, but I have never seen someone take a one-hour shower until I met him,” says Marco, laughing. Amelia responds that he used to take two-hour showers before they learned they were mates.

“Are they here? Am I late?” David’s hurried voice calls out as he walks through the crowd to join our side.

“They just crossed the border, and you just made it in time,” Amelia answers as she turns to face David. She has a small frown on her face as she takes in the crooked tie around his neck. She reaches out, fixing David’s tie and chiding him that he needs to take quicker showers when visiting allies are arriving. David shrugs, stating it’s only Titus. Amelia lets out an exasperated sigh at her mate, giving him a look I’ve received one too many times—a look that signals this discussion is not over—and I send a silent prayer for David.

Wolves break past the tree line, heading towards us as they lead a caravan of Hummers. I notice Eddison and Ryder in the lead, the two wolves letting out a howl as they reach the first houses near the main road. I smile at them as Royce sneakily joins our group, standing to my left.

[Can we talk later after Growling Heart is settled in?] Royce asks. Turning my head, I see a concerned look on his face and nod. For Royce to want to speak to me privately, something must be bothering him. He gives me a relieved smile before I return my focus to the vehicles pulling up beside the packhouse.

Titus is the first to step out when the Hummers stop moving. He helps his mate to climb out after him, a smile on his face as his Luna stands by his side. Now that the leaders are out, the rest of Growling Heart exit their respective vehicles and move to come and stand behind their alpha and Luna.

“I’m glad to see you again, Titus!” Amelia says, stepping towards the man and hugging him.

“Glad to know we’re still welcome here,” he responds with a smile, pulling away to bring Daisy to his side.

“I know you’ve all met her over our conference calls in the last week, but everyone, this is my mate and Luna, Daisy,” he introduces her. The short, auburn-haired she-wolf moved to hug Amelia, and they rubbed their cheeks together.

“I haven’t said it yet, but thank you for helping us take down Jordan. I’m glad our pack can return the favor and help you get rid of Marilyn and Ramos,” Daisy says with a smile, a hint of bloodthirstiness coming from the small, unassuming she-wolf.

Amelia smiles and promises to discuss our plans tomorrow as David shakes Titus’ hand. Now that the formal greetings of the alpha pair are done, Lucas and I step forward, Titus enveloping me in a bear hug while Daisy moves to hug Lucas.

“Hello, my new little sister-in-law,” Titus greets me, his voice full of laughter.

“I may be a little sister-in-law to you, but I will kick your ass in training tomorrow,” I retort, ending the hug to greet Daisy.

“The pack already has bets on who will end up flat on their ass. You’re the favorite choice amongst the she-wolves,” Daisy states as she hugs me, the two of us rubbing our cheeks together. I can see why she is named Daisy as the scent of oxeye daisies wraps around me. Considering that Titus told me she rejected him, thinking he was just like Jordan and Jordan’s father at the time, I wonder if she, too, can take her mate down in a sparring match.

“Glad to know the she-wolves count on me to kick their alpha’s ass,” I tease, turning to catch Titus talking with Marco and congratulating him on finding his mate. Avery is just behind him, arms wrapped around a burly-looking man with dark umber skin and a clean-shaven head. He notices me staring and waves at me. I wave back, noticing no malice, before looking at the wolves mingling about on the lawn.

Many of my wolves are happily chatting with Growling Heart’s wolves, and I recognize a few who had come to Ivory Fangs months ago when Jordan was still alpha. They ask Ash, who has now joined our group—Devon nowhere to be seen—if our special moonshine will be served today, to which Ash laughs and nods.

I continue scanning the crowd, feeling a sense of peace in the air, knowing that everyone is getting along, and notice that Lucas has gone off to talk with a few Growling Heart warriors. He smiles happily as he laughs with three wolves I’ve never met.

After asking Titus about how close Lucas seems to these wolves, I learn that they helped rescue me by keeping Jordan’s men at bay. Wanting to thank them, I take one step towards the group of four, wanting Lucas to introduce me, but I’m stopped when Amelia announces that dinner is ready and we should all head inside to eat before our bonfire.

Lucas quickly excuses himself from the warriors, coming to my side and wrapping his arms around me.

“Will you introduce me to your friends? I want to thank them for helping to rescue me,” I ask him, melting into Lucas’ side as we make our way into the packhouse and towards the dining hall.

“I will tonight, during the bonfire,” he agrees, kissing my temple. I smile, excited to get to know Daisy, Avery, and her mate this evening. The fun will be over tomorrow, and the grueling training will begin.