Page 31 of Golden Valley
“Before what?” Morgan moved back and looked into Ricky’s eyes.
“Before I was here last time,” he whispered.
“Three months is too long to stay in one form.” Much too long. “Was the pregnancy that hard on you?” Morgan asked, running his knuckles along Ricky’s forearm.
“Not really.” Ricky cuddled closer into him, the physical demonstration of his mate’s trust made Morgan feel like the strongest Alpha on earth, triggered all his protective instincts, and melted his heart. “At least I don’t think so.” Ricky tipped his chin up and made eye contact with Morgan. “Everything happened so fast. It’s like I was in a daze the entire time.” He lowered his gaze and fiddled with the buttons on Morgan’s shirt. “But now the haze lifted and things are clear.” Looking up again, he said, “Does that make sense?”
“Of course it does.” Morgan knew nothing about Psi pregnancies and not much more about female ones, so he had no yardstick by which to measure Ricky’s experience, but his mate’s feelings were valid regardless of his own understanding. “I’m sorry the pregnancy was so draining.” He combed his fingers through Ricky’s hair. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t there to make it easier on you.”
“That part was my fault. And like I said, I don’t know if it was being pregnant or being away from home for the first time or—” He let out a deep breath and then lowered his already quiet voice. “I think it was because I wasn’t with you.” Hazel eyes met his again. “Is that silly?”
“Not silly at all,” Morgan said, his voice rough. He curled his palm around Ricky’s nape and moved his thumb back and forth over his pulse point. “Now that I think about it, I wasn’t thinking straight these last couple of months either.”
“You weren’t?”
Morgan shook his head, remembering his desperate drive to find Ricky when he left Golden Valley followed by the soul-draining chill that encompassed him when Ricky turned him away. If he had been operating on all cylinders, he would have handled both situations with more logic and grace.
“But you’re better now?” Ricky wrapped his arms around Morgan’s chest and held on tightly. “Because even though Golden Valley is new to me, now that I’m with you, it’s like…”
“The clouds parted and you can feel the sun?” Which was the best way Morgan could describe the warmth that had chased away his internal gloom.
“Yeah.” Ricky laid his head on Morgan’s chest. “Just like that. Being here with you feels like home.”
Carding his fingers through Ricky’s hair, Morgan turned his attention to the happy shifters on the other side of the room, basking in their affection for their grandson. “Betty, Baxter, can we leave Alex with you for a little while? We’d like to go out back and let our wolves explore.”
Usually, dozens of pack members gathered on the grounds around the Alpha house until well after dinner. But before coming downstairs, Morgan had called Lillian, told her he would be showing Ricky around, and asked her to let the pack know. People were still wary of Ricky so, not surprisingly, a good number of them had cleared out.
Thankfully, some had stayed and met Ricky. They were initially nervousness in his presence, but they clearly were trying, and after several hours together, eating and talking, most of the tension had eased. Morgan had no doubt they’d share their experience with their friends and family, and the next day they’d have more company as other pack members gathered the courage to meet his mate.
His pack had been deeply wounded, just as he had, but they were good people. They’d give his mate a chance, and once they did, they’d love him. Morgan couldn’t fathom anyone being around his Omega and not seeing his sweet spirit and lighthearted personality.
But that was something to be dealt with the next day. For now, the house was empty, save for Morgan’s own family. Even if only in his head, he relished the realization that he again had afamily.
“Go on, go,” said Betty, waving her hand in the air while her eyes remained locked on Alex. “We’ll keep this little angel busy.” She lifted Alex’s feet and moved them back and forth and he giggled. “Is Grandma funny? Yes, I am. Yes, I am.”
Leaning close, Ricky whispered, “Part of me wants to stay here and record this so I can tease my mom later, but I really want to see your wolf.”
“We’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch your parents acting goofy with Alex.” Morgan hunched down and pressed his mouth to Ricky’s ear. “Come play with me, mate.”
Immediately, Ricky’s pulse spiked and his floral scent deepened. “Yes, Alpha,” he rasped.
Morgan wanted to flick his tongue against his Omega’s ear, but one taste would ramp up a hunger that couldn’t be curbed quickly or in front of others, so he held himself in check. “Let’s go.” He stood up, keeping his arm securely around Ricky’s waist. “The moon is calling.”
***
Morgan waited for Ricky to shift, took a few moments to massage his scruff with his human hands, and then changed into his animal skin. The transition was nearly instantaneous and then he was looking down at a wolf half his size. In their animal forms, shifters’ mass generally correlated with their power. Ricky was a young, slight Omega, so as expected, he was a smaller-than-average wolf. What Morgan hadn’t anticipated was his own reaction to the adorable tawny animal.
The petite, trim wolf tucked his tail, rolled onto his back, and whimpered as he stared up at Morgan. His defensive instincts for his mate went on high alert and his powerful body took on a new and critical purpose: he could shield his Omega from danger and keep him safe. Chest rumbling, he lowered his muzzle and licked Ricky’s head, chest, and down his belly. When his mate relaxed, his tail flat on the ground and his eyes hazy, Morgan nudged his flank and then stepped back.
Head tilted to the side, Ricky whined and wiggled, indicating his displeasure with the end of the tongue bath. He looked so adorable that Morgan almost gave in, but his mate had wanted to play and they had limited time before they’d need to return home. So he pushed his snout against Ricky’s side and chuffed.
Apparently realizing the decision had been made, Ricky bounced up and yipped excitedly. Pleased, Morgan darted away from the house and toward the thick trees, his attention split between the path in front of him and the precious wolf at his rear. He finally had the privilege of showing his mate the pack lands he would now call home.
Morgan had spent a decade keeping Golden Valley healthy and prosperous for the good of his pack members. That evening, as he witnessed his mate’s awed expressions in reaction to the well-maintained homes and the bustling town center, his joy at running through clean, dense woods, and his satisfaction at hunting in their plentiful forest, Morgan felt truly and genuinely proud of his hard work.
When they returned to the land surrounding the Alpha house, Morgan caught sight of an almost forgotten line of trees. On the surface, they looked no different from the hundreds of other trees surrounding the property, but if he was remembering correctly… Veering to the left, he guided them by memory and flicked his gaze to his right where Ricky ran beside him. As he had all night, Ricky followed his lead, unfazed by the detour.
Before long, they reached what he believed was the right spot so he slowed and pushed between two wide trees. The space was tighter than he remembered, either because the trees were fuller or because he was bigger, but his memory was correct that this was the hidden entry to his favorite resting spot. Once they wound through three layers of trees, Morgan and Ricky stepped into a grassy clearing, encircled by the thick forest but open to the starry sky. Morgan shifted into his human form and then Ricky did the same.
