Page 50 of Loved By the Wolf

“She came into the building looking for me and startled the sentries,” I explained to Jill. “They were already tense as Dad was sharing news about what Pac has been up to. They were on edge and snarled when she came rushing inside.”

“Oh, Becca, it’s okay,” Jill said. “You’re safe here. Brandon, let her go so I can take her in. I think I need to talk to her first before you and the pack show her who you are.”

I didn’t want to let Becca go. Not when she was in this state, but what Jill said made sense. “Okay, I’ll be out here. Come see me when she’s ready.”

Jill nodded and took Becca, who was still shaking, into her house.

I was pacing outside the house when Luc found me. “Is she okay?”

“I’m not sure. She’s inside with your mate.”

Luc eyed me. “I’ll hang out here with you until they come out.”

I just nodded. This wasn’t how I wanted to show Becca who and what we were. I had a whole day trip planned where I would take her to the river, explain to her what I was going to do, and then shift to show her my wolf. Now everything was a mess. What if she ran off and wanted nothing to do with me anymore? Was I going to lose her after finally accepting her?

She came out of the house then, looking more beautiful than ever. Her face was a bit puffy, and her eyes were vulnerable. She looked fragile. I ran over and stood in front of her, afraid to touch her in case she ran away, but she walked into my arms, encircling me in a tight hug. Over her shoulder, I saw Jill slowly exit the house and walk over to Luc, their eyes on us.

“Jill explained everything,” Becca said softly. “By the third time, it finally sunk in. Especially after seeing all those wolves in your parents’ house.”

I squeezed her closer. “It wasn’t how I wanted you to see us for the first time. I had a whole day planned out around how to tell you.”

She leaned back to look me in the face. Taking a deep breath, she said slowly, “Why don’t you show me now?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, while Jill is here.”

I waited a moment, searching her face. Satisfied by the firm expression, I said, “Okay.” I let her go and stepped back a few feet. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure. If this is who you are, I want to know the whole you.”

Without giving myself a chance to second-guess the decision, I shifted in front of her, and as I changed, my eyes never left hers. I saw them widen in fear and almost stopped the transition, but then Jill walked up to Becca and hugged her from behind, whispering. Slowly, the fear left her eyes, and in its place was wonder.

“You’re beautiful.” Her words were no more than a whisper, but I could hear every word.

I walked up to her hand and licked it, my muzzle peeling back in a smile at the squeal that left her lips. When her hand came to rub my head and behind my ears, I whined and nuzzled closer. She kneeled and looked me in the eyes, the fear still lingering but something stronger pushing through.

“I see you’ve prematurely grayed,” she teased, “and you’ve gone all white on your muzzle. I’m sorry if I did that to you.”

I started laughing, as only Becca would say that at a time like this. I shifted and pulled her into my arms, giving her a deep kiss and pouring all my love for her into it. All I could think about was the time I’d wasted in not being with her.

A cough sounded behind me, and I smelled them all before I saw them. Turning, I found my whole pack had come out, and everyone had shifted. It was quite a sight to see a sea of wolves in front of you, and I turned back to Becca to see how she was taking it. She wasn’t looking at me, though, or even at the wolves; she was looking past me to someone or something else. Turning, I saw Mom walking toward us in her human form.

She took Becca’s hands in hers and said, “Becca, my son loves you, and we love you too. You are family now, and we welcome you into our pack. I already love you as a daughter and hope you can accept your place with us.”

With Mom’s announcement, it was now or never. I turned to Becca and held both her hands. “Becca, will you have me as your mate?”

Her eyes widened in shock, then delighted surprise. “Will you sit under the stars with me and just enjoy life?” she returned.

I smiled. “Yes. Always.”

Becca smiled and walked into my arms, whispering, “Then yes. For always and always.”

I squeezed her tight and swung her around amidst a sea of howling.

Becca

I was eatingbreakfast when Jill came in the next morning. “Becca, Thomas is here to see you. I told him to wait in the living room and that you’d be out soon.”

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