Page 30 of Wulf's Pack
My voice trails off, and I rub the back of my neck, feeling entirely too awkward. For someone who’s never cared what people think of him, I’m sure desperate for their approval.
“It’s very nice,” Sophia says.
“Perfect,” Elise agrees with a nod. “Thank you for taking us in like this.”
I relax when it seems they’re all happy with the arrangements. “You’re my pack,” I say. I let out a big breath and rake my hands through my hair. “You’ll be safer here with us, and it’s probably better for building the pack bonds.” As much as it terrifies me, I need to get to know my pack. I can’t meet theirneeds if they’re strangers to me. “Why don’t you all go pick your rooms, and I’ll see if I can scrounge up something to eat. My room is the last one down the hall, but the other two rooms are open. I’m sorry you’ll have to share the bathroom.”
“We don’t mind,” Matthew assures me.
They all grab their bags and head down the hall, leaving Skylar and me standing together in awkward silence. I pick up all of her shopping bags and lead her down the hall. “You can have my room. I’ll take the couch. We’ll have to share the bathroom, though.”
Skylar is quiet as she follows me into my room. It’s a bit basic. A king bed with night tables on either side and a dresser with a TV mounted on the wall above it. Several game consoles are spread out on the dresser. The color scheme is black and red. I’ve never realized how masculine the space is until I see my tiny, beautiful mate standing in the middle of it.
After taking it all in, she stares at the bed a moment, then meets my gaze. “You don’t have to take the couch,” she says. “I haven’t slept alone in years, and sharing with you won’t be anything like being forced to share with Victor.” She gulps, and her next words come out quiet and shaky. “I trust you not to…act inappropriately.”
My wolf is relieved that she’s allowing us to stay with her, but I can’t stop stressing about her situation with Victor. I want to ask her about sexual assault, but I don’t want to force her into telling me anything she doesn’t want to. I have to trust she’ll let me in when she’s ready. “If you’re sure. I can couch it. It’s not a big deal.”
She wraps her arms around herself and takes a breath. “I’d rather you stay, if you don’t mind. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable either, but I hate being alone. I have nightmares.”
I can tell it took a lot for her to admit that. Moving slowly, so as not to startle her, I pull her into my arms and squeeze her in a firm but gentle hug. “I don’t mind staying with you. I’d prefer it. You might just have to push me back to my side of the bed a lot until I get used to not sleeping in the middle.”
That earns me a smile, and I grin back at her. Kissing the top of her head, I give her one more squeeze, then step back. She immediately reaches for my hand. I’m more than happy to tangle our fingers together.
We find ourselves back in the kitchen and are able to put together enough sandwiches to feed everyone. I’m relieved when I realize we can all sit at the table. I have exactly six chairs. We all find seats, and everyone waits for me. When I realize they’re all waiting for their alpha to dish himself first, I groan. “No. None of that. I can’t do formalities. Please. I’ll go insane.”
They all look startled. “But you’re our alpha,” Preston says, confused.
My shoulders droop. I can’t take all the tension and walking on eggshells. “Look, I don’t know what your former packs were like, but I want this pack to be comfortable with each other. We’re a family. Maybe I’m in charge, but I want you to treat me like I’m one of you. I don’t want to be singled out. You can respect me without being nervous, can’t you?”
When none of them speak, I groan again. “Am I going to have to start farting all the time to get you all to loosen up around me?” I take a huge bite of my sandwich and say, “Because I will,” with my mouth full.
For a second they all look scandalized, but then Preston snorts and Skylar giggles, then we all burst out into laughter. It’s just the break in tension that we need, and everyone digs into their dinner. “Please don’t do that,” Skylar says. Her giggle is the best sound I’ve ever heard.
“Yeah.” Elise chuckles. “You really don’t want to set that precedent with these guys.” She points at her husband and Preston. “We’ll all be gassed out of here by morning.”
“I’m a dad,” Matthew says. “Farting is my right.”
“At least Preston is back in his human form,” Sophia says. “There is nothing worse than his big, smelly wolf farts.”
Elise nods grimly. “It’s true. He clears the room on a regular basis.”
Preston rolls his eyes. “That is not my fault. You know my wolf gets indigestion.”
I grin. Maybe this pack thing won’t be so bad. “So what you’re all saying is that I need to change the air filters often.”
“And invest in some Febreze,” Sophia suggests.
“I’ll pick some up when I go shopping tomorrow. We’re going to need a lot more groceries to feed us all, and if there’s anything any of you need, just make a list.”
Elise wipes her face with a paper napkin. “Sophia and I can do that, if you’d like. Her schedule is up to her, and I don’t work until two tomorrow.”
My first instinct is to tell her no, that I can do it, but when I open my mouth to say just that, Skylar squeezes my hand and speaks to me through our pack link.Let them. They want to feel like they’re contributing.
I snap my mouth shut and glance at my mate. My luna. I trust her instincts, so I nod. “Sure, if you don’t mind,” I tell Elise. The way she lights up, I know allowing her this task was the right call. “I’ll leave you some cash.”
“Oh, that’s okay. We can?—”
I cut her off. “I’ll cover it for now. I’m the one who’s disrupted your lives. We’re not set up like a regular pack yet, so allow me to do this. We can figure out financial logistics soon enough. I’ll get a pack bank account set up, and we can all pay a smallpercentage of our earnings into the fund for things like groceries and stuff.”
