Page 3 of Wolves of the Golden Sun

The warm summer air hits my face, cooling the tears trailing down my cheeks.

I didn’t think it would be so hard. As I hop on the back of the ATV, fitted with a trailer with the last of my boxes, I cling tight to Rafe’s back, taking comfort in his scent.

Dark roasted coffee relaxes my brain as the three of us, Jonah jogging alongside, head to the new house.

A house I love, with a tiny garden already in bloom. Full of flowers that are beautiful, not medicinal, not tied to any part of my former life.

As the turquoise lake comes into view, I dry my eyes on the back of Rafe’s T-shirt and fix my face into something less somber.

Jonah brushes his finger down my arm as he keeps pace next to us.

“It’s OK to feel sad for what’s gone,” he says, and I bite my lower lip, trying to keep my chin from wobbling.

I take in a lungful of fresh mountain air and decide that once I set foot in the new house, I will not mourn the cottage I never wanted.

The life that boxed me in.

The job that took Rafe from me.

It’s the past, and that is that.

Rafe turns the motor off and helps me off the ATV. I grab the first box off the trailer and head to the front door.

“It’s purple!” I run the rest of the way to the house. The freshly painted purple door shines in the afternoon sun.

“Put the last few touches on it myself this morning,” Jonah says with a smile.

“I love it!”

I hadn’t asked for it. I didn’t even know I wanted the front door painted, but seeing it that perfect purple-blue shade, like the lupin blooms of early spring…

“I fuckinglovesurprises!” I squeal and carefully open the door.

“Then you’d better hold on to your pants,” Rafe says as I enter.

The box falls, plates within clanging with dull, muffled thuds from between the bath towels I wrapped them in.

In the living room—well, I should say, taking up the entire living room—is agiantcreamy-beige sectional couch with a chaise at one end and the L-shaped piece at the other.

And where the two sides meet is the deepest, most perfect spot for cuddling or impromptu nesting.

I could already see myself curled up in the corner with a cup of coffee, my guys on either side of me…

The sofa is so massive, it’s big enough for at least five Drago-size shifters.

So, ten regular shifters.

“Where the hell did this come from?” It’s brand new, which meant a sofa this big, this gorgeous wouldn’t be in the pack budget. “Please tell me you didn’t splurge on this perfect fucking couch?” I say, hopping into it and sinking in like they made it from actual clouds. “Oh, my god!” I squeal as the corner envelopes me. “It feels like a fucking marshmallow!”

“You know me better than that, Will. Jonah and I just finished putting it together after it arrived in twenty-three separate boxes via helicopter.”

My eyes go wide. “Helicopter! Eden sent me a housewarming gift?”

I reach in my back pocket, snagging my phone to shoot her a quickThank you! I fucking love ittext.

“Actually, the delivery note said it was from the Queen of Cypress City.”

Sunny.

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