Page 99 of Only Human in Strangeville

Davin cast his gaze downward before answering. “Five of my wolves and ten of Katsuro’s vampires. Other casualties were limited to injuries, fortunately. The enemy lost many more.”

“Yeah.” I thought back to the vampire I’d killed and shuddered.

Davin put his hand on my forearm. “We all did what we had to. If we hadn’t defended ourselves, so many more would be dead, or worse.”

I nodded. I knew that. It didn’t help a whole lot right then, but I knew in the coming weeks I’d remember, and it would help me heal.

We sat in silence for a while. At some signal I missed, Davin stood and headed for the area around the fire pit. Nimbus emerged from the underbrush and dashed for the food table. This time the werewolf cooking just put a plate down for him to get to.

Nimbus huffed as if disappointed he didn’t have to steal it but dug in anyway.

“Before we honor our fallen, we have a few things we need to discuss. Who wants to start?” Davin addressed his people.

“We do,” Rachel said. She, Jamie, and several others stood.

I saw Davin’s eyebrows go up in surprise, but most of the others nodded in agreement.

“Hannah,” Rachel began. “We know you and Davin are interested in becoming mates. We know Davin hesitates because of the bonds. However, we, as a pack, find you more than worthy. You saved us from the magic that held us painfully in our shifted forms. You selflessly threw yourself between Davin and Vito to protect him and provide a distraction so he could be defeated, and there are so many other things you’ve done recently to prove to us that your heart is kind, and strong, and more than worthy to be an alpha of our pack. We feel Davin should accept your bond as you should accept his.”

“Besides,” someone else shouted. “He’s fucking miserable without you, and we’re tired of him moping.”

Davin sputtered a protest at that, but he didn’t deny it.

“Davin?” I glanced at him, the flutter starting up in my stomach again.

He stared at the ground and ran a hand through his hair, as if embarrassed. “I am miserable without you, and I will accept all you offer. I just hadn’t thought my pack would support it.”

“Well, we do!” a few of them called in unison.

“So, get on with it! We will need a mating celebration after we lay our fallen to rest,” Jamie continued.

“Right now?” Davin arched an eyebrow.

“I doubt Hannah is quite up to that,” Rachel replied dryly. “But tonight would be nice. Then we can have a celebration tomorrow.”

Davin turned his attention to me, hope lighting in his eyes. “What do you think?”

“Pick me up for dinner tonight, and we’ll decide then?” The pressure of nearly the entire pack staring at me was a little too much to make a decision right then, anyway. Though little thrills of anticipation jolted through me at the thought that I might have my werewolf tonight.

“Sounds perfect.” Davin bowed formally in my direction much as Katsuro might have, then turned back to the sad business of honoring the fallen pack members.

Jamie gave me a ride home after the pack ceremony. Davin promised to be by in a couple of hours, which I needed after crying for nearly an hour along with the wolves.

Oliver met me and Nimbus at the door of the apartment complex. His sun dog, who he called Aurora, was at his side. She’d made it very clear she had accepted him as her person and Oliver was happy to have her. Nimbus and Aurora sniffed. She gave him a reserved look and he planted his paw on her snout.

“My dearest, are you okay?” Oliver pulled me into a hug.

“Yeah. The pack had me out to remember their fallen.”

“Ah.” He tightened his grip on me.

“They also decided Davin should accept my bond, and I should accept his. So, Davin is taking me out for dinner tonight.”

Oliver kissed my forehead. “Excellent. I’ll tell the others. Do you need anything?”

“No. Just a little recovery time.”

“Do you want company, or to be alone?”

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