Page 35 of To Challenge a Wolf

When the big group began moving again, Vivian came close enough to walk beside Rhett.

“You kept your distance for a minute,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to see a blond wolf the size of a miniature horse.”

His chest rumbled with a laugh. “Guess that completes your acclimation.”

“Also worth mentioning—it’s not just the shirt. Those aren’t your jeans. Or your shoes.”

“Do I have to call you Sherlock now?”

“How’d it go?” she said quietly but firmly.

“We made it home, and the rogues won’t be back. Mission successful.”

Her bow lips pursed. “Is that all you’re going to tell me?”

“Let’s go inside. There’s a lot to tell.”

Vivian continued to study him a moment, then looped her arm through his and walked with him.

“How’s Ember?” Aaron said as they neared Rhett’s porch.

Ann said, “Jeremy, Lucy, Ember, and the pups are all down in the safe room. When the rogues set off the cameras on Rhett’s land, we thought we shouldn’t risk the time it might take to help Ember down the ladder. Arlo and Jeremy lifted her down.”

Aaron growled approval.

Once inside, the first wolves barely made it past the door. Ezra seemed to cave in when Willow wrapped him in her arms. She rubbed his back, and he held onto her with his face pressed to her curly black hair. Ann and Robert shepherded their son and daughter-in-law farther inside, hands linked and fingers twined.

Meanwhile April and Malachi had disappeared toward the long line of vehicles in Rhett’s driveway. When they entered the cabin, Malachi had changed to his human form and was fully clothed. Smart to keep a wardrobe change in his truck. For a minute everyone milled around the wolves and ask questions, mates seeking out their wolves—Sydney running her hands down Cassius’s arms to check for injuries, Nicole wrapping herarms around Patrick in a long hug. Malachi lifted his mate into his arms, cradled her to his chest, and growled gentle comfort as April began quietly crying.

If Rhett were to give anyone in the world a break from his eye-roll response to tears, it would be this woman. Since she’d joined them, he found himself not only respecting April but also liking her as a person. He hated the pain in her scent as she clung to Malachi. The fraught look in Malachi’s eyes proved Rhett could never hate April’s pain half as much as the alpha did.

The pack grew quiet. Their scents were filled with love and understanding toward the mate of their alpha, whose kind heart was still hurt, still healing.

Soon April lifted her head to look around the room. She swiped at her tears with one hand and gave a wobbly smile. “Thanks for giving me a minute, y’all.”

“Of course,” Ann said, and voices and growls chimed in agreement.

April patted Malachi’s chest. “You can put me down, Mal. I’m okay.”

The alpha hesitated, then set April on her feet. When he looked up, his amber eyes glowed. “How are all of you?”

From a corner of the room with his arm around Rebecca, Arlo said, “We’re fine. We’ve been worried for y’all out there, but you seem to have made it through unscathed.”

“It’s over,” Malachi said.

Yes, it was. Rhett felt himself blink, and in the instant saw a dozen alternative scenarios. The rogue called Dyer pulling his gun sooner rather than first throwing punches. Rhett farther away—by mere feet, but it might have been too far. But then his mind’s eye reminded him how fast Malachi had moved, and he was no longer sure his involvement had been needed. Or maybe it had, because even now some deep-down kernel of knowledgein his wolf brain knew the moment his form changed was some vital gift, some act of fate.

As if he weren’t confused enough, Vivian remained beside him. The buoying essence of black tea and praline still filled his senses. She had rushed out into the night to walk him home. Vivian had done that, alongside April, Kelsey, Ann…mates of other wolves. And she still stood at his side with her arm tucked through his. It didn’t make sense, but it felt so fortifying, he didn’t mind her closeness. In this moment, he might even want it.

Nine

They were safe. Rhett was safe.

She’d hardly known what she was doing when she dashed outside to see him safe and whole. She’d nearly pulled a Kelsey—thrown her arms around him, held on with all her might, pressed her face to his chest, and inhaled his gamey metallic scent. Of course she refrained, but it had taken effort. She’d just spent one of the longest hours of her life.

She moved with the group from Rhett’s foyer to the open-concept dining and living room where the rest of the pack awaited them. Everyone crowded around: the wolves, their mates…and Vivian, who was no one’s mate. Well, tough. She wasn’t about to move away from Rhett. He hadn’t pushed her away. If he tried, she’d push back.

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