Page 181 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

I squeezed Maddie’s hand and gave Imogen a weak smile. “I’m going to go help Maya with my clothes,” I said.

I walked into our room just as Reid said, “Oh shit. Nope. No. I am not touching anything in THAT box. I enjoy being alive.”

“Why not?” Maddie asked, rushing around me to peek inside of it. “Oh, this is the fun box!” she declared.

“I’m out. Bye, Haven, I’ll see you later,” he said, lifting his hand in a wave as he scurried out the door. “Come on, Nolan, let’s see if Wes has any cookies today.”

“Why is that the fun box?” I asked, walking over to Maddie.

“Because of this!” she exclaimed, lifting out a piece of black lace lingerie.

My cheeks turned bright red, and I snatched it out of her hands and hid it behind my back.

“Maddie!” Maya scolded, and I could hear Imogen giggling behind me.

“What? I’m not stupid. I know what mates do.” She shrugged. “I mean, no, I don’t want to think about my brother seeing his mate in these, but I can also admit that Haven would look fucking hot in any of them,” she added as she continued to dig through the box.

“Please stop,” I groaned, grabbing the box from her and taking it into the closet, where I set it on the ottoman in the center of the large space. “Why did you buy these?” I directed at Maya.

“Because, like Maddie said, you’ll look fucking hot in them,” she said with a smile as she continued organizing the clothes in the closet. “Wesley will go crazy and won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”

“I don’t think that’s a problem she needs to worry about!” Maddie called from the bedroom. “But the lingerie will still be a hit!”

Maya shook her head and pulled out a small box. “Here,” she said, handing it to me. “It’s just something small. Something to put on your bracelet.” I opened the box, and nestled inside was a tiny, rose gold crescent moon charm, with Swarovski crystals embedded into the curve. “It’s because you’ll be the Crescent Lake luna,” Maya said.

“It’s beautiful,” I told her, looking at her with a smile. “Thank you,” I added, taking her hand and squeezing it.

“Of course!” she said. “You’re my best friend, and I can’t wait for you to be our luna. And you better let me design your gown if you have a wedding.”

“I don’t know if we will, but if we do, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I replied, giving her a hug. “Just no glitter.”

CHAPTER 61

WESLEY

I spent almost a whole day running laps around the training yard, stopping only to get drinks of water or take a piss. My dad finally told me I could stop just before sunset, so I made my way back to our house.

Our house. I loved saying that. Thinking that. Knowing I would make it a home with her. My lycan agreed with me, his tail wagging and his tongue hanging out at the thought of our mate waiting for us at home.

Her scent greeted me as I mounted the porch steps, and I paused with my hand on the doorknob.

There was so much still going on, so much up in the air in our lives, but I took the time to savor the moment. To absorb the feeling of knowing I was coming home to my mate for the first time.

I opened the door, and her scent hit me heavier than before, as sweet as ever. The way it mixed with mine and swirled into every nook and cranny of the house filled me with pride but also gave me a sense of comfort. Especially knowing it would only grow stronger with each day she spent there with me.

Nolan looked up from his laptop on the couch as I walked in and shut it as soon as he saw me. “How many laps did you end up doing?”

“I stopped counting,” I said. “Haven?”

“In her studio,” he said, standing up with his laptop in hand.

I smiled, and my lycan preened, happy to hear she was already putting our gift to good use. I had promised to build her a real, designated dance studio on the pack grounds, but I hoped she’d want to keep the first one I’d made for her as well.

I made my way down the hall and heard Nolan leave just as I stepped into the studio. I paused in the doorway, though, so I could take in the sight in front of me.

My mate—my beautiful, perfect mate—dancing away in the special room I made just for her. She had her hair pulled back in two French braids, and she wore only a sports bra and leggings, her feet bare. Her steps were graceful and fluid as she moved around the room to the music playing from the new phone I’d ordered for her. Her scent was the strongest in that room, telling me she’d spent most of her day there.

The song ended, and she held her pose. She didn’t once look in the mirrors the entire time she danced, so I knew she didn’t know I was there yet. I moved in behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her back against my bare chest. My head dipped into the crook of her neck so I could get even more of her sweet scent.

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