Page 76 of The Alpha's Runaway Bride

Carolyn gave a small, sad smile. She drove Angie to the portal. Carolyn hugged Angie and Apollo tightly and wiped the tears from her face.

“I’ll miss you,” she said.

“No, you won’t, because you have email, a phone, and you’ll come to visit,” Angie said, hugging her back.

Angie walked to the portal and looked behind her once more at the world that rejected her. She waved at Carolyn and quickly ducked through, landing in Sean’s basement. Angie wiped the tears from her face.

“We’re back, Apollo.”

He wagged his tail and gave her a doggy kiss. She hugged him and then they went upstairs.

Everyone gathered around her, asking about the shifter world and wanting to know why she looked like she had been mauled by a pack of rabid dogs.

“It’s a long story and I promise that someday soon I’ll host a big party and tell everyone all about it. Right now, though, I’m tired, and I just want to go home.”

Angie’s SUV was in the same spot in the parking lot where she had left it. Sean said she could park it there since she had been expecting to go back and forth between the worlds. They got in and Angie sighed. It was familiar. They just had to drive the short distance to the house.

Betsy and Thomas greeted her with tight hugs and tears.

“You look awful,” Betsy said.

“You should see the other guys.” Angie laughed. “I’m okay. I’m just tired. I’m going to let Flora know we’re home and go to bed. If I don’t wake up in time, would you mind taking Apollo out later?”

“Of course not,” Thomas said.

Angie made the phone call and then crashed.

Flora was at the house early the next morning with donuts. Betsy had the coffee pot going, and Thomas hovered like a worried hen.

“Sit down. I have something to tell you guys,” Angie said.

They sat down and Flora blurted out, “You’re pregnant.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Damn shifters. Can’t hide nothing from you guys,” Angie muttered, pretending to be grumpy.

“We knew last night but didn’t want to say anything. We could tell you were tired.”

“If you want, we could start over. You can tell us and we’ll all act surprised.”

“Ugh,” Angie said, reaching into the box for a maple-glazed donut.

“I get to be the crazy aunt who is always hanging out,” Flora said, doing a little dance in her chair.

“We get to be the doting grandparents who will spoil the kid completely rotten,” Betsy exclaimed, clapping her hands.

“I don’t know what I would do without you guys,” Angie said.

“What about Noah?” Thomas asked.

“It turns out that sometimes hatred wins over love,” Angie said. “He hadn’t contacted me in more than three days. I tried to see him yesterday at the ceremonial hall where his office is, but I was told in no uncertain terms by one of the elders that I wasn’t welcome there and that I needed to go home. So, here we are. I’m glad you guys are shifters because I have a feeling that I’m going to need a lot of help.”

“We’re here for you,” Thomas said, squeezing her shoulder. “We’re your family.”

“I love you guys,” Angie said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Apollo barked. She leaned down and hugged him. “Of course, I love you, too.”

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