Page 66 of Wulf's Pack
I slip my arm around Skylar’s waist and get a thrill when she happily turns into me and places her hand on my chest. The dopey, deliriously happy smile is back on my face. Sophia takes the photo and immediately texts both pictures to me. When the ding of a text message chimes from my back pocket, I take out my phone and study the pictures. Sophia is right: The first one she took definitely needs to be put on display. Skylar and I are smiling at each other as if nothing else in the world exists; our love is obvious.
Skylar sucks in a soft breath and swallows thickly. She looks up at me with shining eyes. “I’ve never known happiness before,” she says in a shaky voice. “I never thought I’d have it. Victor made me believe I didn’t deserve it.”
Rage and heartbreak hit me so hard I nearly shift out of my clothes, but Skylar rubs her hand over my heart and releases a hint of her omega power while also pushing the peace she feels through our mate bond. I settle instantly.
Skylar’s eyes brim over, but the smile and wonder never leave her face. “This is more than I ever could have dreamed of.Youare more. You’re my miracle. My reward for enduring so much suffering. My time with Victor was worth it because it brought me to you. Thank you, Wulf.”
She’s killing me. Tearing me apart with so many emotions I can’t breathe. “Don’t thank me,” I croak, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “I’m the lucky one.”
I cup her face and bring it to mine. She welcomes the kiss and slips her arms over my shoulders. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tightly against me as if she’s the only thing keeping my heart inside my chest. This mate bond is intense, but it’s more than that. It’s Skylar. Talk about miracles. I don’tdeserve her. I’ve spent my entire life shirking relationships and responsibility, living care-free, taking my freedom and contentedness for granted. Never again. I have no idea why the moon goddess blessed me with such a gift, but I’ll be damned if I don’t spend the rest of my life earning it.
A sniffle pulls us from our moment, and we break the kiss. Sophia is in the kitchen, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose with a paper towel. She’s trying to give us privacy, but shifter hearing is what it is. After drying her face, she takes two plates from a somber Audrey and turns to us with a smile. “Sit down and eat, before it gets cold.”
I feel a little bemused when I sit down, and Sophia sets a plate of food in front of me. I’ve always been so independent. The idea of someone cooking for me and waiting on me feels absurd, but I don’t argue. I don’t want to insult Sophia and her efforts. “This looks amazing,” I say instead. “But you didn’t have to?—”
She waves off my protest. “Someone had to feed the troops, and I don’t mind. I like to cook. Plus, Audrey makes a great sous-chef.”
She beams at Audrey, who shockingly gives her a small, shy smile in return. It’s the first time I’ve seen the girl look anything but traumatized. The smile lifts my spirits. I don’t even know my new pack members, but the amount of worry for them I inherited the moment they joined is no joke. I’m glad Sophia’s helping her to feel welcome and comfortable.
After Skylar thanks Sophia profusely and gushes over the food, Sophia says, “You’re lucky there’s some left. You’re the last two to make your way to the table. We didn’t want to disturb you two, being new mates and all. Figured you could use the alone time.”
She waggles her eyebrows playfully at Skylar, which, of course, has my mate blushing. “Thanks,” I tell Sophia, saving mymate from her teasing. “We needed the rest.” I look at Benjamin and Isabella. “How are you guys? Did you get any sleep? Sorry the cots we set up weren’t much.”
“Can’t complain,” Benjamin says. “Better than the cage we’ve been living in for the last three years.”
I wince.
“Is that how long Samuel had you?” Skylar asks.
Benjamin nods. “I assume. That’s how long we’ve been missing. We’re still not sure what happened to make us go feral, but a Google search told us we both went missing on a camping trip in Colorado three years ago.”
I study them both. They haven’t expressed an interest in leaving the pack, but they didn’t pledge any kind of loyalty like the others had done. I get the impression they’re on the fence. “Have you been able to contact anyone? Your old kettle? Family?”
Ben and Isabella share a glance, and Ben wraps his arm around Isabella’s shoulders. “We weren’t part of a kettle in New Mexico,” Benjamin says. “We went there for our jobs. I haven’t been able to track my parents or brother down. I can’t remember their phone numbers and couldn’t find anything about them. They used to live in Tucson, but they were always kind of transient.”
“We can ask Oliver if he can help track them down. If not, we’ll hire a PI or something.”
Ben seems touched by the offer. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” I look at Isabella. “How about you? Were you able to find anyone?”
Isabella nods, and her eyes get misty. “I was able to contact my family this morning. I think I shocked them nearly to death. They assumed we were dead. Apparently, Ben and I went on a camping trip one summer for our anniversary and were justnever heard from again. They didn’t have any more answers than we do.”
“And where is your family?” Skylar asks.
Isabella smiles. “My old kettle is in Durango, Colorado. My parents and brother and his family are all still there. My sister is with her mate in northern California.”
“Will you be heading back to Colorado, then?” I ask. “We can get all your travel arrangements taken care of today, if you’re eager to go home. You know I won’t hold it against you if you want to leave. You’ve seen our situation here now and know what we’re dealing with.”
Ben and Isabella share another long look before both shaking their heads. “We’ll go back and visit them once things get settled,” Isabella says, “but we’d like to stay with the pack, if that’s all right with you. We’ve always needed a little space from our families.” She gives me a crooked smile. “Mine’s a bit smothering.”
I chuckle, relating all too well. “Well, in that case, we’re honored to have you stay. Obviously, we’re working on getting everyone living accommodations, but I also know a lot of people in the city who could help you find jobs, depending on what you do.”
Again, they shake their heads. “Finding jobs shouldn’t be too hard for us,” Isabella says. “Ben’s a radiologist, which are usually in high demand wherever you go, and I’m a biophysicist. It’s a pretty niche field, but I’ve got a lot of experience. Someone will hire me.”
Ben scoffs. “She’s being modest. She was one of the leading scientists in her field. She could get a job anywhere she wants. There’s not a lab in the world who would turn her down.”
Isabella rolls her eyes but smiles affectionately at her mate.
