Page 9 of Homecoming

From where she’s standing, Kat lurches forward to make a grab for him, but too quick, he slips her grasp and they hear him call out with the only few words he knows.

“Daddy… Daddy—Mommy!”

Dropping to his hands and knees on the patio outside the pool room, he instantly shifts; changing from a small boy to a slightly larger black wolf pup. Hurriedly, the youngster scampers away across the garden. The boy’s red shorts are still wrapped around the wolf’s fur body. His deep blue eyes are almost luminescent as he bolts across the grass, and with his tail held high, he’s gone in no time to seek out his father.

“Shit!” Kat rubs her head and sighs.

“We need to go.” Darius brushes her hair from her face and collecting up his shirt from the back of the chair, he hands it to her. “Here, put this on. He’s going to go straight to Digby. You should be dressed. He was already tearing his hair out because you didn’t come back with Riley; us being here without telling him is going to make him even less happy. C’mon we need to—”

It’s too late and before the last word falls from his lips, Digby, Noah, and Riley, followed closely by Marco, are at the door to the pool house.

“Fuck,” Darius growls. “Whoa… Diggs, before you say anything, we were just coming to find you.”

“Kat… Oh my God,” Digby gasps in delight as he wafts Darius away and ignores him. “Oh my God, where the hell have you been? I’ve been so worried.” His smile lights up the whole of his face as he sighs loudly. “I didn’t think you were ever gonna come home. I thought perhaps you were maybe avoidin’ me? When Riley arrived back alone with the pups, I was so worried. But now you’re here… It’s fine—everythin’s gonna be fine. Oh, and Evelyn… Oh my God, she is so beautiful. You’ve made me so proud. Kat, she’s stunnin’. A real mini you. But why didn’t you come home to us sooner?”

“Digby, I’m so sorry.” Kat frowns awkwardly as she picks up the towel from the floor and holding it, fidgets nervously with the soft fabric. “I’m really sorry. I just needed some time.” She looks up and her eyes meet with Noah. “I just needed some time to get my head together. I didn’t mean to worry you. Now, are you going to come here and kiss me or what?” She smiles and grabbing his hand, pulls him towards her.

Digby moves away from the door and as the jaded concern drops as his face it fills with a grin that stretches wide across his lips. His body floods with a surge of oxytocin and scooping her up in his arms, he’s overcome with feelings of love and desire.

Kissing her passionately, he whispers, “C’mon… everyone will be thrilled to see you. Evelyn’s with QT and the boys… Oh wow… I couldn’t believe how much they’ve grown since the last time I came to the mountain.”

“Yeah, they really thrived being up there. All that fresh mountain air, I guess—that and being wolves, playing and being themselves, it really did them a world of good. And they’ve learned so much. Noah took great care of them—he took great care of all of us. We have so much to be grateful for.”

Taking a firm grip of Noah’s hand, Kat links her fingers through his and as he waits just inside the door next to Digby, he takes a breath.

Kat looks at the two of them standing side by side and after all this time, she’s immediately taken aback by their striking similarity. Noah’s slightly taller than Digby, his hair longer, and his features more rugged from working outdoors in the sun.

“Uh… I think I should go to the house and maybe get dressed before I catch up with anyone? I don’t have my clothes and it could be a little embarrassing. That’s why I came straight to the pool house. I needed to take a shower after my shift and with the party going on… well I couldn’t exactly just walk through all those people naked, now could I? Plus I didn’t want all the attention Luna would have brought.”

“Okay, I tell you what… Why don’t you wait here and rest up for a while. I’ll go back to the house and fetch you some clothes. Then we can go get some barbecue food. How does that sound? You can take some time before you have to see everyone. Though they’ve all been so keen to see you since the pup was born, but I guess they can wait a little longer.”

“Digby’s right,” Darius smiles. “Why don’t you rest here, and we’ll take care of everything else?”

“I’m fine. I just need something to wear, but I do think I should feed Evelyn soon. It’s been over a week and the milk I sent with Noah must be gone by now.”

“Uh yeah, sure. I’ll go and fetch her and send QT back to the house for your clothes. Perhaps we can show her off officially to the pack before you feed her?” Digby smiles as he gently kisses her cheek. “Kat, I’ve got this, and I want you to know I’m here for you. Whatever you need, however much time—I’ve got your six on this. Please just don’t shut me out again. I can’t help you if you keep shuttin’ me out, but believe me, I’m really gonna try because I gotta be honest, it hurt—when you didn’t come home. I couldn’t believe Luna would just leave her pups like that.”

“I know. That was cruel of me and I’m sorry, but I really wasn’t ready to come back. Digby, I really am sorry.”

“Well, we’re here to support you now. And we’ve been doing some research on how to take care of you. You don’t need to worry about anythin’. You just need to concentrate on rest and recovery.”

He turns, smiling at Marco, who nods. “Digby’s right. We’re here for you Kat. All you have to do is tell us what you need.”

“Thank you—all of you. I really couldn’t have gotten through the past months without your help and I swear, whatever comes our way, we’ll deal with it.” Kat smiles. “I missed you guys so much and I’m sorry it wasn’t the homecoming you were hoping for but… everything just feels a little strange right now. I need some time to settle and get my bearings after that long shift, so please be patient.”

Digby takes a long sniff of Kat’s smell. Her floral scent is sweet but not like roses—more citrus—like oranges and lemons, but also tainted with a spiced musk. He kisses the top of her head and wraps his arms around her, holding her close as Darius strokes her hair and Noah grips her hand tightly.

“Do you still need me to bring a bottle for Evelyn? I was going to give her one soon but now you’re here, maybe you want to feed her yourself,” Noah frowns.

“Yeah, I’m going to let Luna feed her and try to establish a routine again.” Kat brushes a hand on his cheek and kisses his lips before she turns back to Digby. “I missed this—being with you all.”

“I know but you’re home now and that’s all that matters.” Digby’s voice cracks as he chokes on his tears. “C’mon, guys, let’s get out of here and give her some space. I won’t be long.”

Kat sighs and closes her eyes as all of them, except Darius, leave. A lone tear rolls down her cheek and drips with a splash onto her arm.

“Are you alright?” Darius questions as he brushes the wet salty streak from her skin.

“Um-hm,” she nods silently.

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