Page 96 of Wolf's Endgame

“What kind of questions?” Taking my hand, Cannon walked us back to the main part of town while I told him all the things that I had answered this morning in his absence.

When he pulled me to a stop in the center of the town, outside the gate to the house, he was smiling so brightly that I stopped talking to stare at how gorgeous my mate was when he was happy. I mean, when he was all mean and moody, he was sexy and lickable, but happy…Luna, I didn’t think I was prepared for that. I was almost drooling.

“What is it?” I asked him carefully, his smile infectious, causing me to smile too.

“Don’t you see what you’ve done today?” he asked me softly, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “You led the pack. Like an alpha. No…as an alpha.”

“I did?” I had? I had! With a squeal, I launched myself into his arms and laughed when he swung me in a circle. “Oh Goddess, what if I gave bad advice?”

Cannon kissed me soundly. “Then we’ll fix it.” He kissed me again. “But I don’t think you have.” He beamed at me. “Thank you for looking after them.”

Now I wanted to cry. My emotions were all over the place today. “They’re our pack.”

“Yes, they are.” His kiss was gentle. “Come on, we need to make sure everything is ready.” We walked up the path, the sense of urgency returning as the fight drew nearer.

“We go tonight?”

“I do, yes.” As I tugged on his hand, he didn’t look back. “No. You need to be here. Too many will be left behind. You need to make sure they are safe and you proved today that they will listen to you.”

Cannon pushed the study doors open, almost coming to a stop when he saw Kris, Royce, Nikan, and Leo waiting for him. “A welcoming committee,” he greeted them curtly.

“Where’ve you been?” Royce demanded. “Now is not the time to go on solo missions.”

I caught Cannon’s eye and shook my head slightly. Barbara and her druidness could wait. Was druidness a word? I tried to focus on the solemness of the males in the room.

“I had things I needed to do,” Cannon said, with his eyes on me. “Kezia has served the pack well in my absence.”

When my brother looked at me in surprise, I pulled a face at him, causing him to scowl. “You can see why I doubt Alpha Cannon,” he deadpanned.

“You were absent to get the pack used to Kezia?” Leo asked with a look of understanding. “Clever.” Pride for his alpha was strong.

I almost, almost blurted out that I stepped up because their clever alpha had been duped by a druid who came bearing milk and cookies. But I held my tongue because I was a mature pack leader.

Alpha. Cannon’s warm voice sounded in my head. You’re a mature-ish alpha.

Mature-ish?

We all saw you stick your tongue out at your brother.

Go drink some more milk.

His huff of laughter enveloped me, making me feel warm and tingly.

“Everything’s set,” Royce was telling us both, and I forced myself to pay attention. “We move on your command.”

“How many stay behind?” Cannon asked, his full focus on his beta.

“Twenty-three.”

“Including my mate?”

Royce glanced at me. “Twenty-four.”

“See! Even Royce thinks I should be with you!”

“Royce does not think that.”

I pointed at the beta. “He’s right there. Ask him if he thinks I should be with you!”

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