Page 70 of Protected By the Wolf

I felt my heart flip in my chest with a fierce hope, and I followed her inside to find my parents.

Lira

After healing Bruno’s father, we spent the rest of the day cleaning up the carnage. All the potions we had made were stored away for safekeeping, because we all knew there was going to be another onslaught soon.

“What do you think is going to happen now?” I asked Bruno.

“I think we’ll need to concentrate our efforts on finding Esmi. We haven’t found her or her coven.”

“What do we know about her?”

“She’s one of the most powerful witches around. Think Miti, but someone who is evil.”

I shuddered. Miti could do anything, which meant Esmi was a witch to be feared.

“This was only the first wave,” Bruno said soberly. “I’m sure Esmi has already been notified about who and what you are. They are most likely rethinking their attack plan right now. We will have to prepare for anything.”

“I’m on board with whatever is next.”

Bruno squeezed my hands. “I know you are, sweetheart, and I love you for that, but I also don’t want you to get hurt. I couldn’t stand it.”

I pulled back. “You’re not going to coddle me, Bruno. I’ve been coddled enough, and I am finally able to help the people I love. I want to do this. You saw the flames I made!”

I laughed. “I did.”

She scowled at me. “Just because they were tiny?—”

“I agree, Lira.” Giving her a light kiss on the lips, I said, “I love that you are drawing fire to your hands now. I laughed because you tried to set Pac on fire, which could have led to the forest getting caught on fire.”

She winced. “Yeah, I should have thought through that a bit more.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. Any of us would have probably done the same in your situation.”

Miti joined us then. She had a determined look on her face. “Lira, you are well respected by us all. Never doubt that.”

“Of course, you heard us,” Bruno said, giving Miti a smile.

“You two weren’t exactly quiet,” she pointed out. “Anyone walking by the sitting room could hear you.” Before either of us could respond, Miti continued, “We continue your training tomorrow, Lira. Charli is going to join us here.”

“She can leave the house?”

“For short periods, yes. You are more important than the house now.”

I looked around at everyone leaning in to help clean up. We were all working together as a family—as a pack. Contentment settled in my heart. I had found my pack.

Lira

It took a week to get Sugarville back in order before the humans could come home. Theo was showing real progress now that some of my power was flowing through him. We couldn’t tell if his internal injuries were fully healed, but Miti didn’t think he would ever be a hundred percent again. At the end of the day, he would live, and that was all that mattered.

Finn was behind bars, and we celebrated the downfall of Pac and the fact that we didn’t lose many lives by throwing a party. They were small wins worth celebrating before we prepared for the impending war with Esmi.

I had invited everyone to the Wu mansion, seeing how the house was warded and could keep us safe. It also had plenty of space to accommodate the whole McCullough Pack. Charli had pointed out that the main house was only one of many houses on the property. She said the other houses were not quite as big, but they were very habitable and still within the protection of the wards. Luc agreed that moving the pack here until the war was over was a good idea, so this was now our current base.

I felt arms circle around me and leaned back, loving the feel of Bruno’s warmth wrap around me.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“Much better now that you’re here.”

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