Page 42 of Wulf’s Pack
Chapter
Twenty-One
W hen I wake up in the morning, I worry that Skylar will be overwhelmed or even regret what happened the night before, but when she stirs back to consciousness, the first thing I feel from her is joy. And then love. I grin at her, and she matches my smile. “Good morning,” I say.
She covers a yawn. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
I bark out a laugh. “Better than I have in ages.”
She picks up on the innuendo and promptly blushes. Then she’s sitting up and changing the subject before I can tease her any further. “We should hurry and get ready. There’s so much we need to do.”
I let her go, but as she heads for the bathroom, I can’t resist teasing her. “You know, we can get ready faster if we share the shower.”
She whirls around, gaping at me open-mouthed with wide, shocked eyes. I’m 100 percent positive that the grin I give her can only be described as rakish. She lets out a startled squeak and scrambles into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. I laugh and call out, “So that’s a no , then?”
I’m not surprised I get no response.
When we finally emerge from our room dressed and ready for the day—sadly, without having shared a shower—we’re greeted with fresh coffee and a warm breakfast. Sophia is bustling around the kitchen, cooking what looks to be monster breakfast burritos. It smells mouthwatering.
Audrey is in the kitchen with her, and Sophia is chatting away at the younger girl. Audrey is a lot more subdued, but she’s there and helping, which I’ll take as a good sign. After we left Samuel’s place, we could hardly get her to engage with us at all.
Benjamin and Isabella are seated at the table, already enjoying their breakfast. Sophia spots Skylar and me first. She studies us for a moment, and her grin turns knowing. “Well, don’t you two look happy this morning. Get a good night’s rest, did you?”
A smile so big and bright takes over my face that I know I look like a lovesick pup. But I can’t help it. I’m happy this morning. “As a matter of fact, we did.” I smirk at Skylar. “Didn’t we, baby?”
She squeaks again and buries her face against my shoulder. I shouldn’t tease her so much, but she just makes it so fun. Chuckling, I pull her to me and slide my hands around her waist. “Have I mentioned how cute you are?”
She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she likes the compliment.
I swoop down and claim her lips. She shocks me when she allows it and even kisses me back, despite our audience. I break the kiss and grin down at my adorable mate. She smiles back and my heart clenches in my chest, constricting in the best possible way.
“Aww.” A soft click has us both turning our heads.
Sophia is holding up her phone, grinning at us.
“You guys are giving me a toothache,” she teases.
She looks at the picture she just took and presses her hand to her chest. “This one is going in a frame.” She holds her phone up again. “Now smile for the camera this time.”
I slip my arm around Skylar’s waist and get a thrill when she happily turns into me and places her hand on my chest. The dopey, deliriously happy smile is back on my face.
Sophia takes the photo and immediately texts both pictures to me.
When the ding of a text message chimes from my back pocket, I take out my phone and study the pictures.
Sophia is right: The first one she took definitely needs to be put on display.
Skylar and I are smiling at each other as if nothing else in the world exists; our love is obvious.
Skylar sucks in a soft breath and swallows thickly. She looks up at me with shining eyes. “I’ve never known happiness before,” she says in a shaky voice. “I never thought I’d have it. Victor made me believe I didn’t deserve it.”
Rage and heartbreak hit me so hard I nearly shift out of my clothes, but Skylar rubs her hand over my heart and releases a hint of her omega power while also pushing the peace she feels through our mate bond. I settle instantly.
Skylar’s eyes brim over, but the smile and wonder never leave her face. “This is more than I ever could have dreamed of. You are more. You’re my miracle. My reward for enduring so much suffering. My time with Victor was worth it because it brought me to you. Thank you, Wulf.”
She’s killing me. Tearing me apart with so many emotions I can’t breathe. “Don’t thank me,” I croak, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “I’m the lucky one.”
I cup her face and bring it to mine. She welcomes the kiss and slips her arms over my shoulders.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tightly against me as if she’s the only thing keeping my heart inside my chest. This mate bond is intense, but it’s more than that.
It’s Skylar. Talk about miracles. I don’t deserve her.
I’ve spent my entire life shirking relationships and responsibility, living care-free, taking my freedom and contentedness for granted.
Never again. I have no idea why the moon goddess blessed me with such a gift, but I’ll be damned if I don’t spend the rest of my life earning it.
A sniffle pulls us from our moment, and we break the kiss.
Sophia is in the kitchen, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose with a paper towel.
She’s trying to give us privacy, but shifter hearing is what it is.
After drying her face, she takes two plates from a somber Audrey and turns to us with a smile.
“Sit down and eat, before it gets cold.”
I feel a little bemused when I sit down, and Sophia sets a plate of food in front of me.
I’ve always been so independent. The idea of someone cooking for me and waiting on me feels absurd, but I don’t argue.
I don’t want to insult Sophia and her efforts.
“This looks amazing,” I say instead. “But you didn’t have to?—”
She waves off my protest. “Someone had to feed the troops, and I don’t mind. I like to cook. Plus, Audrey makes a great sous-chef.”
She beams at Audrey, who shockingly gives her a small, shy smile in return.
It’s the first time I’ve seen the girl look anything but traumatized.
The smile lifts my spirits. I don’t even know my new pack members, but the amount of worry for them I inherited the moment they joined is no joke.
I’m glad Sophia’s helping her to feel welcome and comfortable.
After Skylar thanks Sophia profusely and gushes over the food, Sophia says, “You’re lucky there’s some left. You’re the last two to make your way to the table. We didn’t want to disturb you two, being new mates and all. Figured you could use the alone time.”
She waggles her eyebrows playfully at Skylar, which, of course, has my mate blushing. “Thanks,” I tell Sophia, saving my mate from her teasing. “We needed the rest.” I look at Benjamin and Isabella. “How are you guys? Did you get any sleep? Sorry the cots we set up weren’t much.”
“Can’t complain,” Benjamin says. “Better than the cage we’ve been living in for the last three years.”
I wince.
“Is that how long Samuel had you?” Skylar asks.
Benjamin nods. “I assume. That’s how long we’ve been missing. We’re still not sure what happened to make us go feral, but a Google search told us we both went missing on a camping trip in Colorado three years ago.”
I study them both. They haven’t expressed an interest in leaving the pack, but they didn’t pledge any kind of loyalty like the others had done. I get the impression they’re on the fence. “Have you been able to contact anyone? Your old kettle? Family?”
Ben and Isabella share a glance, and Ben wraps his arm around Isabella’s shoulders.
“We weren’t part of a kettle in New Mexico,” Benjamin says.
“We went there for our jobs. I haven’t been able to track my parents or brother down.
I can’t remember their phone numbers and couldn’t find anything about them.
They used to live in Tucson, but they were always kind of transient. ”
“We can ask Oliver if he can help track them down. If not, we’ll hire a PI or something.”
Ben seems touched by the offer. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” I look at Isabella. “How about you? Were you able to find anyone?”
Isabella nods, and her eyes get misty. “I was able to contact my family this morning. I think I shocked them nearly to death. They assumed we were dead. Apparently, Ben and I went on a camping trip one summer for our anniversary and were just never heard from again. They didn’t have any more answers than we do. ”
“And where is your family?” Skylar asks.
Isabella smiles. “My old kettle is in Durango, Colorado. My parents and brother and his family are all still there. My sister is with her mate in northern California.”
“Will you be heading back to Colorado, then?” I ask. “We can get all your travel arrangements taken care of today, if you’re eager to go home. You know I won’t hold it against you if you want to leave. You’ve seen our situation here now and know what we’re dealing with.”
Ben and Isabella share another long look before both shaking their heads.
“We’ll go back and visit them once things get settled,” Isabella says, “but we’d like to stay with the pack, if that’s all right with you.
We’ve always needed a little space from our families.
” She gives me a crooked smile. “Mine’s a bit smothering. ”
I chuckle, relating all too well. “Well, in that case, we’re honored to have you stay. Obviously, we’re working on getting everyone living accommodations, but I also know a lot of people in the city who could help you find jobs, depending on what you do.”
Again, they shake their heads. “Finding jobs shouldn’t be too hard for us,” Isabella says. “Ben’s a radiologist, which are usually in high demand wherever you go, and I’m a biophysicist. It’s a pretty niche field, but I’ve got a lot of experience. Someone will hire me.”
Ben scoffs. “She’s being modest. She was one of the leading scientists in her field. She could get a job anywhere she wants. There’s not a lab in the world who would turn her down.”
Isabella rolls her eyes but smiles affectionately at her mate.
“That’s amazing,” Skylar says.
I can’t help but be impressed as well. A doctor and a scientist. “Couple of smarty-pants,” I tease. “But then, that’s a hawk thing, isn’t it? Intelligent and ambitious? You sure you want to stay with our little ragtag bunch?”
Neither of them hesitates to nod. “It feels right,” Isabella says.
Ben grows serious. “Everyone in your pack is looking for a fresh start, and we all have troubled pasts. It’s comforting to not be alone in that respect.
Here, we’re not going to stick out because of our bad experiences.
We’re not going to be coddled or pitied.
We’re all in the same boat. I’ll bet the others feel similarly. ”
I didn’t think about it like that, but it makes sense. I’ve been worried that I’ve got a whole pack full of traumatized shifters that will need a lot of support. But I hadn’t considered the best support for them all could be each other. And who better to help them all heal than an omega?
It’s Skylar who speaks up. “This pack has the potential to be something really special.”
We finish our breakfast, but when we try to take over the cleanup, Sophia chases us out of the kitchen. “You’ve got too much to do, Alpha,” she insists. “Audrey and I can manage here. You go check in with Elise and Matthew. They’ve been busy, and they’re excited to catch you up.”