Page 101 of Fated to the Wolf Billionaire

They’d settled, whether from the mate bond Reed and I now shared or the fact that giving them a name had helped me come to terms, I didn’t know. And I didn’t really care, to be honest. I still had a lot to learn, but I felt centered with it all. In a strange way, him giving up control had helped me find mine.

I flexed my fingertips into a cup shape, pulling moisture from the air and letting it gather in my palm. It was soothing, a calming feeling to play with water now that I wasn’t constantly fighting it. It was fun and playful, not angry and destructive.

Though it could still rage if the need arose.

“Showing off now, are we?” Reed startled me, and the water droplets went flying, splattering the front of his shirt and the back of the jet seats opposite us. He chuckled, then kissed me on the temple as he settled into his now-damp seat beside me. He traced a fingertip over the ring of bruises around my neck, and from the hum of happiness in my chest, I knew my hot alpha was far too pleased with himself and how he’d marked me up.

“Not showing off, just practicing. The more I access the power, the quieter it is. It seemed like a good idea to stay in touch with it since we’ve been on the plane so long.”

“Probably wise,” he murmured, stroking the base of my throat where his bite rested, which heknewsent a thrum of desire humming through me.

Tease.

“We’ll be landing any minute, so it’s time to buckle in.” He abandoned my mark to reach across me and buckle my seat belt.

“Aren’t you tired of taking care of me? You’ve been waiting on me hand and foot for days.”

“Never. That I can promise you.”

We were making out in our seats like teenagers when the wheels touched down.

Luckily, his staff was discreet.

It didn’t take us too long to get to the Maiden’s Enclave, since we’d flown into a teeny-tiny regional airport instead of the big one in Bucharest. But still, pulling up to those familiar front gates sent a frisson of unease through me.

We’d done our part. We’d completed the mission—Gael was on his way with the omega stone from King Cysernaphus as we sat idling in the driveway—but still, how would the pack feel about the fact we’d bonded without them? Let alone the fact that I’d let a vampire bite meafterbonding with Reed?

No ceremony, no tradition, nothing for them to be a part of, and Reed was one of their best friends. It was my only regret, that his pack couldn’t be there to support him on our bonding day, even though I’d kept that tidbit to myself. We were happy, and I didn’t feel the need to borrow trouble, as my mom would say.

She wasn’t expecting to see me until summer, when I made my annual pilgrimage home for a week. So, for now, I’d kept all the changes to myself. Reed had volunteered to go home with me to meet my parents, but we’d both agreed it was for the best if they didn’t know what we were.

I’d had enough childhood trauma; I didn’t need to dredge it all back up by telling my mother her worst nightmares weretrue.

“Are you ready? Everyone’s excited to see you. The women especially. They want to see the ring.”

I’d forgotten about the ring. Which was an absurd thing to forget, because it was absolutely massive and beautiful. An original piece from the thirties, it was made up of smaller teardrop-shaped diamonds set in a twined gold band.

Apparently, my mate was a closet romantic, because he’d bought the ring in New York City after opening his first restaurant there. He’d held it all that time, believing one day we’d find each other.

I cleared my throat, trying to get myself together, despite the butterflies about facing the pack again. “I’m ready.”

He kissed my knuckles, right next to the ring, and then climbed out of the car to come around and hold my door. We had no driver, not to the enclave, not for pack business.

We’d barely made it to the gate when a young, blonde maiden addressed us. “Welcome back! Hold on, I’ll get the gate!”

“Thank you, Dakota,” Reed said, clearly remembering her even though I didn’t. I must have looked confused because he leaned down and whispered, “She’s the one who let me in the night I drove up with you passed out in my arms.”

Well, that explained why I hadn’t remembered her.

The gate swung open, and we stepped through to the courtyard. Where all our closest pack mates were waiting, as well as most of the maidens we knew—Priestesses Marciana and Lisanne, as well as Galyna, who was trying to keep Elodie from falling off her crutches with excitement.

“Congratulations!” Olivia shouted, racing across the space to wrap me up in a hug. Within moments, we were surrounded by well-wishers, everyone trying to hug us and congratulate us at once.

They were so enthusiastic, Gael’s wry voice behind us was nearly lost.

“What’s a guy gotta do to get a welcome like that?” Leigh flew from the crowd, throwing herself into his arms and planting a kiss on his lips.

Priestess Lisanne surprised me by stepping forward, holding two swatches of fabric to my arm and squinting at them. “We’re throwing you two a bonding party tomorrow night, while the moon is full.”

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