Page 61 of Redeemed Wolf

We’d constructed a huge bonfire in the middle of the field behind the community center, large enough that the heat warmed my body where I stood ten yards away. The sun was just letting out its final golden rays, shifting into midnight-blue sprinkled with stars, but the kids showed no sign of slowing down. All the kids from both packs were busy on the play structure, playing a game I didn’t recognize. I couldn’t figure out the rules, but it seemed to involve running back and forth touching the wooden pillars then racing to the top of the tower and shouting “I win!” even though the game continued anddidn’t seem to have a clear winner. Malachi was busy telling the others what to do, acting like their leader already, but I noticed that he did it in such a way as to be fair to give each of them a turn. He would be a good Alpha one day, I could see it already. Even Pax, usually so quiet and mild-mannered, was running and laughing at a pitch that had my wolf wincing.

Their explosive joy made me feel lighter than I had in a long time.

I couldn’t wait for my own kids to join them. Kris was asleep in my arms, his head on my chest, his breathing slow and even, and I rocked back and forth without even making the decision to do so; it was just the way my body moved now, always aware of what my family needed. I hummed a tune under my breath as I watched the absolute joy surrounding me.

Shan came to stand beside me, his eyes on the kids. “Thanks for this. They’re having a blast.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I just know they’re going to be begging for a play structure at home now.”

I laughed. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you could all make it. I hope everyone’s comfortable? If you need anything, just ask.”

He waved me off. “Are you kidding? Private bathrooms with bathtubs and all the hot water we could ever want? Brody might never leave.”

An unfamiliar warmth kindled inside me at the casual praise. “You know you’re all welcome to come for a visit whenever you want. I’ll owe you forever for everything you’ve done for me and my family. Anything I can do to repay you, it’s yours.”

Shan turned those rich brown eyes on me and offered me a generous smile. “Don’t be ridiculous. You put yourself in danger and brought our family home. We are more than even. Besides, it’s not a competition.” His smirk told me that Tristan was probably still keeping score.

I might not have become a part of Grim Wilds in the way I’d hoped to in the past, but this was so much better.

When the kids’ energy began to flag, the parents went and retrieved their children to take them to bed. There was plenty of whining, but then Damon reminded them they were all coming to his guesthouse for a sleepover, and that led to another round of cheers. Damon, Isaac, and Stuart had volunteered themselves as overnight sitters, since Stuart was pregnant and said he would rather sleep than party with the adults.

Andy looked to Amelia, his eyes full of gleaming hope, to make sure he was allowed to go too, and she nodded, urging him to go along. That poor child was still learning to trust that he was home and wasn’t going anywhere. We still had no idea what kind of shifter he might be. Sometimes I swore I smelled wolf, but it must’ve just been rubbed off on him from the others, because other times, he smelled more feline. Time would tell, but no matter what animal he became, we made sure to let him know that he would be loved and accepted.

Once the kids were gone, the party took a turn toward being more rowdy. Joe brought out a keg of wolfsbane beer, and I could almost feel any lingering tension in the air dissipate.

Everyone had come for the party, even Melissa. She’d been working for Joe in Fairhome ever since he picked her up. He said he was glad to have a human in his employ, but this was the first time she’d felt comfortable enough to join us out here in the woods. She sat straight down next to Morgan in front of the fire, full of questions about what it was like to live as a human among shifters, like they had their own secret club.

Carter locked eyes with me across the fire, and he made his way toward me, a note of heat in his gaze that was impossible to ignore. He looked even sexier with our daughter in his arms. As soon as we put the twins to sleep tonight, I had every intentionof trying for another pup. We’d both agreed that we were ready for more.

“Hey there, hot stuff,” he said cheekily, nibbling coyly on his bottom lip.

Tristan snorted in laughter where he stood beside me, but I put a hand to his shoulder and shoved him off, not subtle at all in telling him to beat it. “Hey, sexy. Come here often?”

Carter’s giggle was beyond adorable. We both lowered onto one of the log benches we’d set up around the fire. These little babies of ours weren’t that big yet, but I swore they got heavier the longer you held them, defying the laws of physics. I groaned at the change in position, glad to sit for a bit.

“Having fun?” I asked as Carter leaned his head on my shoulder.

He sighed contentedly. “You know what? I really am. I never had friends like this in the city. It’s nice. It’s like a whole support system right next door. I didn’t even know I was missing this until I found it, but it must’ve been my wolf’s relief after being disconnected from his pack for so long.”

My eyes panned across the pack he’d mentioned. Pacey was standing across the fire with a beer in hand. I was glad to see he’d drawn Greg into a conversation. The ex-guard—ex-human—had been having a hard time adjusting to his new life. He hadn’t chosen to be one of Eric’s experiments, but it was that or death, and he’d justified that he would be in a better position to help us from the inside. That didn’t make him any more comfortable in his skin, but until we could find a lab for Carter to try deciphering some of his father’s notes to work on a cure, he was stuck. He seemed grateful to be living in Overlands, though. At least here everyone accepted him as he was now.

On the bench beside us, I heard Melissa talking with Morgan. She was looking over at Greg, her friend from another life. “This is all so crazy, you know that, right? Werewolves are the stuff ofmyths and legends—or more like nightmares.” She didn’t seem afraid, though. She’d been more curious about us than anything. “Are you positive you’re human?”

“Yeah, why?” Morgan asked.

“Oh, no reason… just wondering about the whole, you know, wolf-human sex thing. All the… bits are compatible?” That was when I realized she wasn’t look at Greg, but Pacey, and he was staring right back.

How had I not noticed their connection? Was I so blinded by my own mate that I couldn’t see what was right in front of me? “You should totally go for that,” I said, interrupting their conversation.

Her eyebrows jumped, cheeks heating, but she didn’t break eye contact with him. “I should?” Her voice was a bit raspy, breathless as her chest hitched on an inhale.

“Definitely. He hasn’t shut up about you all night. Honestly, you would be doing us all a favor if you just gave in already.” That wasn’t exactly true, but I knew my Beta, and there was no way he would push himself on Melissa if he thought she wasn’t interested. They just needed a little nudge.

“Sure. Thanks,” she said, shoving her drink at Morgan and standing from the bench.

Morgan laughed but didn’t take it personally. He understood all too well the draw of a bond with a shifter. He hopped up from his spot and made his way toward his own mate, Jude, who was rolling his eyes, caught in a conversation with Tristan.

“Huh,” Carter said, an adorable frown on his face.

“Huh, what?” I asked.

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