Page 56 of Heroes & Hitmen (Windy City Wolfpack #1)

Charlie takes a cautious sip of her coffee, then glances at Blake before speaking. “We just wanted to check on you. After last night…” her voice falters as she trails off, swallowing thickly. “Everything at the ceremony was… crazy.”

“Insane,” Blake adds, wide-eyed. “Like full on, is-this-really-happening levels of crazy. And then afterward, Jordan went missing.”

My heart stutters in my chest, concern taking hold despite her betrayal. “Missing?” I croak.

Charlie nods solemnly. “No one’s seen her since the ceremony. Her car’s gone, and she left her phone and all her stuff behind. She obviously ran away, but where would she even go? It’s insane.”

A strange silence falls over the room as I wrap both hands around my mug, staring into the swirl of steam.

“It’s probably for the best,” I say softly.

Charlie and Blake exchange a confused glance.

“What do you mean?” Blake asks, furrowing her brow. “I thought you two were besties?”

“Did something happen between you?” Charlie questions.

I shake my head, not wanting to get into this with them. It’s between me and Jordan, anyways.

“I… yeah, but it’s not something I’m ready to talk about. I’m not sure I’ll ever be. Right now, I just need some time to process everything.”

My sisters nod sympathetically, Charlie reaching over to set her hand on mine. It’s a gesture of comfort that does nothing to dull the ache in my chest left behind by Jordan’s betrayal. I’m sure I’ll get past it someday, forgive her, and move on… but not today. The wound’s too fresh.

“Wherever she is, I hope she’s okay,” I add. “I hope she’s happy.”

And I mean it. Because as much as she hurt me, I still love Jordan. I always will.

An uncomfortable silence descends, but Charlie’s quick to break it. She nudges me with an elbow, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, you and Ares… you sealed the bond?” she asks, wagging her brows suggestively.

I feel a blush rise to my cheeks as I nod in affirmation.

Blake lets out a girlish little squeal, shimmying in place. “Oh my gosh! Was it amazing?”

“Did it hurt?” Charlie cuts in .

“Or did it feel good?” Blake asks, blinking at me. “Don’t act like you’re not dying to spill all the details. C’mon, give us something, girl!”

I smile into my coffee. “It was… yeah, amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I say with a soft chuckle.

“Ugh, you are so withholding right now,” Charlie groans.

I roll my eyes. “I’ll tell you guys everything eventually. The whole messy story. But for now, all you need to know is that Ares and I are fated, we sealed the bond, and we’re… happy.”

My sisters swoon, and dammit, I swoon right along with them. Because saying those words makes it real, and I didn’t even realize how badly I craved something real in my life after all the lies. Something that’s just mine .

After a few more sips of coffee and some half-hearted protests, the girls take the hint and clear out, pulling me into tight hugs before exiting the apartment. The second the door clicks shut behind them, Ares steps out of the bedroom, still wearing my apron.

“So how’d it go?” he asks as he strides down the hall toward me, that slow, sexy grin spreading across his face.

I smile right back, unable to contain it. “As if you weren’t listening in.”

He has the audacity to try to play innocent for all of two seconds before a telltale smirk curls his lips. “Old habits die hard, babe.”

“Creep.”

He grins wider, but it fades almost immediately. “Hey, about Jordan…”

I shake my head, holding up a hand to stop him. “I’m not ready to talk about her.”

His Adams apple bobs with a swallow, expression softening. “Fair enough. I get it, family’s hard.”

“Especially mine,” I mutter, stepping over to the couch and dropping back down onto it.

Ares follows, crouching down in front of me and bringing a hand up to rest on my knee. “Maybe I can cheer you up?”

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. “What are you plotting?”

Rather than answering, he pulls out his phone and unlocks it with a mischievous little flourish. “Wanna meet mine? ”

It takes a second for his words to register. “You want me to meet your family?” I blurt, blinking at him. “Like, right now?”

“Unless you want to get all dolled up first,” he says, gesturing vaguely at my oversized sweatshirt and damp hair. “But personally, I think you look hot as fuck.”

I roll my eyes, heat rising to my cheeks. “You’re a menace.”

“But I’m your menace,” he fires back, grinning. “And you love it.”

He is, and I do.

Before I can protest, Ares taps his phone screen, initiating a video call. “Brace yourself,” he murmurs. “They’re loud.”

The call connects, a handsome stranger’s face filling the screen. Aside from the dark hair, he looks a lot like Ares– this must be Archer, the older brother he’s told me so much about.

Archer’s brows are furrowed, as if he’s bracing for bad news. “Ares. Everything okay?”

“Better than okay,” Ares replies, swiveling the phone toward me. “Meet my fated mate.”

Archer blinks. Then, slowly, a smile spreads across his face. “No shit?”

“Yup,” Ares confirms smugly, planting himself beside me on the couch and slinging an arm over my shoulders. “We sealed the bond last night and everything. We’re out of the Alpha’s crosshairs, so our plan is to stay here until my contract ends, then come back to Stillwater in the spring.”

“Damn,” Archer breathes, rising so fast that the picture on the screen jolts wildly. “Give me a sec.”

The picture continues to wobble, joined by the muffled sound of voices as he hustles into another room.

A moment later, the frame shifts again, now showing a cozy living room where a whole group is gathered.

Ares points out his parents Reid and Serena, both sporting warm smiles, his sister Andie who can barely contain her excitement, and his sibling’s mates, Nash and Meredith.

They all crowd around, saying some version of hi or welcome to the family or we’ve heard so much about you , the warmth in their voices hitting me in a place I didn’t even know was hollow.

For the next few minutes, I’m bombarded with questions– nothing invasive, just the kind that let me know they’re excited and curious and ready to claim me as one of their own.

Serena tells me she can’t wait to host a family dinner with all her kids and their mates.

Reid gives a subtle nod like I’ve passed some silent test. Nash and Archer joke about betting money on when Ares would finally settle down.

Meredith asks about my favorite books, already trying to rope me into her local book club, and Andie says she can’t wait to take me out dancing.

I just sit there, smiling and laughing and trying not to cry.

By the time the call ends, my chest feels warm and stretched wide open. I pass the phone back to Ares carefully, like it’s something sacred, and he nudges my foot with his.

“You okay?”

I nod, unable to say much more. Because for the first time in a long time, I don’t just feel claimed.

I feel wanted .

I didn’t just find a mate, I found a family.

And the best part?

This is only the beginning.