Page 188 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

HAVEN

“So… all of you are werewolves?” my dad asked.

He looked around at Wesley’s parents and Maya, Nolan, and Reid as we all sat in various spots around the living room of Harrison and Emily’s apartment.

“Or lycans,” Reid clarified from the arm of the couch with a nod. “It’s sort of the same, but also not.”

“Helpful,” Nolan scoffed from his armchair. “So very helpful.”

“Thank you, I try.”

Nolan just rubbed his temples and caught my eye, and I had to pull my lips into my mouth to stop my laugh from escaping.

“Lycans stand on two feet and look more humanoid,” Harrison explained with a look at Reid. He sat on the loveseat with Emily, his arm slung across the back of the cushions behind her. “Only those with alpha blood are lycans. Werewolves look like gigantic wolves when they shift into their animal form.”

Dad nodded and looked at each of them again. My mom sat next to him on the couch with a thoughtful expression on her face.

“No wonder you boys always ate so much when you visited us,” she mused. “I knew from Scott that boys had exceptional appetites, but you four were always something else!”

Emily chuckled and nodded. “Tell me about it! And I had to feed two of them three meals and snacks every day!”

“And you and Wesley are soulmates?” Dad asked, turning to me, and I nodded. “See Shirley? I knew they were meant to be more than just pen pals!”

“And they were pen pals!” Maya said emphatically, glancing up at Reid from her spot on the floor.

“Oh my Goddess, they were pen pals!” Reid exclaimed, his eyes brightening.

“Shut up.” Nolan laughed, shaking his head. “You two are ridiculous, and Wesley will not find that as funny as you do.”

Reid rolled his eyes and sighed. “Wet blanket,” he muttered under his breath. “I’m hilarious.”

“I just have one more question,” my dad said, putting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward.

“What’s that?” Harrison asked.

He took a deep breath, then looked Harrison square in the eye. “Can I become a werewolf too?”

Reid, Nolan, and Maya started to laugh, and I smiled and shook my head. Of course, that would be my dad’s question.

“No,” Harrison said, shaking his head. “Turning others is not one of our abilities.”

“Damn it,” my dad exclaimed. “I was really hoping I could be one too!”

Everyone laughed again, and Nolan said to me, “Well, they took that better than you did.”

“Yes, well, their boyfriend didn’t say ‘Don’t freak out’ and then shift into a ginormous monster in front of them. This way was much better. Take notes,” I said, turning and pointing to Reid, “in case your mate is a human, too.”

“No mate for me,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Really?” I asked, surprised by his declaration. “I thought mates are a really big deal for werewolves?”

“They are. Just not for me.” He shrugged. “I—”

The door to the apartment slammed open, and Wesley stormed in, power and anger rolling off of him in waves. Reid and Nolan both lowered their heads at the aura emanating from Wesley. Even my parents flinched.

His eyes landed on me as soon as he entered, and I stood from my chair, my heart pounding as his emotions all crashed into me at once. He’d told me he’d block them from me while he questioned Lennox, but that wall was down, and I felt each emotion profoundly. Anger, confusion, urgency, and, most of all, relief. Relief that I was still perfectly fine and safe.

“What is it?” I asked as he moved towards me. “What did he say?”

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