Page 15 of Howling With Wolves

Which meant he did know something. Part of me wanted to follow him out, but I refused to leave Emma. I’d be patient and speak with Bas and Cyan.

“Come meet Michael and Piper,” I said, taking Emma’s hand and leading her away from Raina and the rest of the group. “Michael and Piper live by us. We hang out together outside of pack gatherings.”

“He’s your closest friend outside of Donovan?” I nodded even as she glanced around. “Where did Donovan go?”

“He slipped into the kitchen to get drinks for us. He’ll be back in a minute.”

Emma nodded, and I slipped my arm around her waist when she tensed as we joined Bas, Cyan, Michael, and Piper. I knew it had more to do with Cyan than anyone else.

“Emma, Michael and Piper,” I introduced them.

Michael smiled at Emma. “It’s good to see you up and around, Emma.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you both.”

“Good to meet you, too. If you’re feeling up to it, maybe we can go shopping tomorrow. Pick up a few things for you. If you want,” Piper offered.

“That would be great, thank you.”

Emma glanced over at her brother. “Have you found out anything?”

Cyan glanced at me then back down to my mate. “Why don’t we talk privately?”

She nodded, clutching my hand then glanced around for Donovan again. He appeared from the hallway with two beer bottles and a glass of wine. He assessed the situation with one look as he walked over. He handed me a beer then offered her the wine.

“Hope red is okay,” he said, wrapping his free arm around Emma and tugging her against his side.

She nodded, but his lips met hers before she could raise the glass and take a sip. It wasn’t a chaste kiss, either. By the time he pulled away, my chest was rumbling. Emma immediately turned to me, putting her free hand on my chest. I leaned down and claimed her mouth in a kiss that didn’t stop until my wolf and I were both satisfied she’d been reminded she was ours, too.

“Should we have a private chat or just give the three of you privacy?” Bas drawled, and I finally let my mate breathe.

“That was hot,” Raina said as she came up beside her mate.

“I’ll show you what’s hot,” Bas promised, and she laughed, grabbing his face and kissing him.

“Later, mate,” Raina growled. “Let’s chat first.”

Bas led the way toward his office with Raina at his side. Cyan, Donovan, Emma, and I followed. Emma’s hand was inDonovan’s while I kept mine at the small of her back. Safe. Protected. That’s the way she’d always be. Eventually, we’d assess her skill level and begin training with her. Every member of the pack trained. When you lived in a wolf pack, you never knew which direction danger would come from. All you could count on was, it would come. Rogue wolves, lone wolves, aggressive humans. For all the respect we’d earned, there was always that one who thought they’d prove we weren’t the alpha pack we were. That was a lesson all of us enjoyed teaching.

“Shut the door,” Bas directed as he pointed us toward the couches at one side of his office.

I pushed it closed then joined Donovan and Emma on one of the sofas, placing myself on the other side from him. Cyan sat on the one across from us while Bas took the chair he normally did, tugging Raina onto his lap.

“I won’t beat around the bush,” Cyan started. “My contact says they’re still sorting through the rubble where the building blew. They’ve accounted for several of your father’s men, but for neither of your parents.”

Emma stilled between Donovan and me.

“I won’t give you false hope, though,” Cyan went on. “The pictures of the damage I’ve seen make me doubt anyone could have survived. I’m sorry.”

All the air seemed to go out of my mate, and I lifted her, placing her across my lap. Donovan moved in closer until we sat hip-to-hip.

“I’m okay,” she whispered, but the tremor in her voice said differently.

“I know you haven’t met any of the Rigton wolves yet, but several of them left earlier today to see what they can find out.”

“That’s my brother’s pack,” Raina took up when Bas paused. “Scott, Cody, and West went. They’ll drive straight through and call as soon as they get there.”

“My father’s pack is…” Emma paused as laughter filtered through the door. “Let’s just say, there was never any easy laughter around him.”

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