Page 20 of Howling With Wolves

“She sounds amazing.”

“She is. She’ll visit eventually.” Piper’s hand dropped to her stomach. “She’ll want to see the baby once they arrive.”

“Congratulations!”

“Thank you. I’m excited and scared to death, all at the same time.”

I didn’t second guess the instinct to pull her into a hug. “Can I admit I feel the same way about being mated to two wolves?”

Piper laughed. “I bet. Especially specimens like Anthony and Donovan. You do realize the James Pack is often called the pack of alphas? Those two give off big alpha energy.”

“I’ve heard that. After meeting all of them, I see it. It says a lot about Bastion James that they’re all willing to follow him.”

“Bas is different than other alphas. At least, the other alphas I’ve seen. He has his inner circle, and they discuss everything. He doesn’t make rash decisions. He includes those he trusts. He values their input. Actually, I lied. Now, that I’ve met Rowan, I can say that I know two alphas who are like that.”

“Rowan is Raina’s brother?” I asked. I hadn’t met him, but I’d heard a few things. Everyone thought he was dead before he came back. He’d nearly been burned to death in what they’d believed to be an accident, but turned out it had been attempted murder.

“Yes. He’s great, as is his mate, Sasha. And they have a son, Raine. You’ll meet them eventually. It’s hard not to since both packs live in Rigton County. Rowan and the rest of his people monitor the flow in and out of town, watching for strangers. Especially lone wolves.”

“It was three of his pack who went to check on everything.” I left it at that. Sayingback homedidn’t feel right, and it was no longer my pack. It had never felt like a place I belonged and I’d often begged to leave.

“Yes, West, Cody, and Scott went. They’re on their way back.”

“I’ll have to remember to thank them for checking on things and looking for information.”

“They don’t expect any thanks, Emma. It’s what we do for each other,” Piper assured me. She knocked on the office and pushed open the door before I could reply.

I immediately looked toward my mates. Anthony’s gaze was glued to me, but it was Donovan who crossed and took me into his arms, dropping a soft kiss on my upturned mouth.

“You okay?” His voice was husky and deep, exactly the way he sounded when he was deep inside me.

“I’m…” I couldn’t lie to him. To others, maybe. But never to one of my mates. “I’m hanging in there.”

“We’ve got you,” he murmured as he led me to join Anthony, who immediately tugged me into him for a kiss. I quite enjoyed the fact neither of my mates seemed to be able to keep from touching me when they were near. Since I’d awoken, after I was dumped at their feet, one of them had always been near.

“Emma.”

My gaze moved to Cyan at his call. My brother looked tired. And angry. His shoulders appeared wider, chest larger, and I knew his wolf was pressed so tightly against his skin it wouldn’t take much for the beast to emerge.

“I’m sorry, Cyan. I’m so sorry.”

“Stop,” he ordered in a soft voice, so at odds with his body language. “None of this is on you. It was only a matter of time before he came for me. I should have ended things sooner. If I had…” He paused, shaking his head. “I won’t go down that road. There’s no going back from this point.”

“No,” I agreed. “There’s not. But you weren’t the only one who didn’t see this coming. Jonathan…” I had to stop to regain control of my emotions. “No one could have known my father would torture and kill his eldest son. I don’t… I can’t wrap my head around the same thing happening to Sam.”

“We don’t know that it did,” Anthony told me.

“The only thing we know for sure is, both your parents seem to have survived the explosion. Sam’s whereabouts are still unknown. We’re not completely sure what role Wallace plays inall this, but he made himself look suspicious when he dumped you and ran.” Donovan’s hand rubbed up and down my spine as he spoke while Anthony’s stayed at my waist.

“How do we find out for sure?” I asked, glancing around at them. “Are we waiting for them to make a move?”

“No,” Cyan said, and Bas growled. The two men shared a look that seemed to convey an entire conversation. “We go on the offensive. I’ll head out to—”

“No,” I cut in. “Why would you do that if that’s what he wants?”

“If he has Claire, it’s the best thing to do,” Cyan told me.

“No.” I shook my head frantically. “Our mother would never want you to put yourself at risk like that.”

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