“When I discovered where you were and what you were doing I watched you.”
“You mean stalked me?”
“Some might define it as stalking.” He grinned. “You were beautiful, amazing, confident and strong. I didn’t think you were ever coming back to me, so I joined.”
I was speechless. He was going to give up everything he loved for me?
“Why?” I whispered. “You’re the alpha. You have a Pack and a career and a life…”
“Because none of it means anything without you.”
My knees buckled and I crumpled to the ground. How could I ever have been so stupid to have left this man? No one in my long life would ever love me like he did. No one.
“The Pack. What about the Pack, Hank?”
“The Pack was never supposed to be mine in the first place. It just so happens my amazing mother gave birth to two alphas. I was more prepared than Junior was to take over at the time of my father’s retirement.”
“Junior?”
“Yep.” He grinned and shook his head. “It’s time for my big brother to step up and lead our Pack. He’s been ready for a while, but he would have never challenged me for the position. We’re far more than just two alphas—we’re brothers.”
“So, we’re not staying in Hung?” I asked, unsure what I really wanted.
“Right now I want to leave that decision up to you. But I think Junior will have an easier transition to Pack leader if I go away for at least a little while.”
I mulled over everything I had just learned and realized I felt lighter than I had in years. Could I really love the man of my dreams and still do what I’d become passionate about? Stuff like this never happened for me…
“Hank, my parents…” I couldn’t get it out. It hurt. Why after so long did their death cause physical pain? Maybe because they didn’t have to die.
“I already know,” he said as he wrapped me in his arms. “Granny told me.”
She’d certainly been busy, but I was grateful I didn’t have to speak the horrible story out loud. My Granny loved me fierce, even if she couldn’t keep her damned mouth shut.
“We’ll go,” I said firmly. “We’ll go back to Chicago and let Junior find his place. I have to find out what happened to my parents and…”
“We. We have to find out what happened to your parents and then we will figure out what’s next.”
I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat—so strong, sure and mine. No matter what else life handed me, I knew my first priority would be to take care of the alpha who loved me.
“I feel very attached to you right now,” I whispered as I breathed in his scent.
“I can work with that.” He chuckled and held me tighter.
“I’m also feeling the need to jump your bones.”
“As much as it pains me to take a rain check, and let me be very clear…it pains me,” he said, referring to the impressive bulge in his jeans. “But I think we should get back to town and make sure our people are okay.”
Reluctantly, I slid from his arms and stood up. “I agree, but I will take a rain check.”
“That’s good because it’s definitely going to rain tonight. All night.”
“You sure about that, Big Boy?” I giggled.
“Never been more sure about anything in my life. Can you shift?" he asked as he gently tucked my wildly messy hair behind my ear.
I closed my eyes and drew on the power of my inner wolf. She was there and she was ready. "Yes. I can."
We quickly removed our torn and bloody clothing as the magic engulfed us. A magic so wondrous and rare it always humbled me. My skin changed to fur, my bones shifted painlessly, and my body became what it was meant to be. My wolf—my strong and beautiful wolf.
Hank's wolf was breath taking. His shiny chocolate coat glistened in the sun. He was much larger than me in his Lycan form, but his eyes were the same mesmerizing green. He nipped at my nose as I mooned at his beauty.
"You gonna just stare at me or are you gonna to race me back to town?" His amused voiced bounced through my head and I giggled.
"I'm gonna kick your Wolfy ass," I challenged as I took off leaving him in the dust.
The wind in my fur and the sun beginning to dip on the horizon into the ocean made this day one I would not soon forget. Of course, ripping the head off of a Dragon did figure in, but running with wild abandon next to my mate made me complete. No matter where we went, Hank would always be my home. That's the part that would stay with me. Always.
Epilogue
The shunning of the traitors was anticlimactic compared to everything else that had happened. The vote among the Pack was unanimous. The findings were reported to the Council and approved without contest. The Tinas were gone and would not be missed. No Pack anywhere in the world would accept them. I tried to find it within myself to feel pity, but I couldn’t. Perhaps with time I might, but it was still too raw.
The families of the missing girls were ecstatic to have them home. Hank, Junior and I were the local heroes, but Dwayne…Dwayne was the Second Coming.
All the Weres in our community bowed their heads in reverence when he passed. Even the more conservative Weres caught all of his shows at the drag club. The owner had to make a special dispensation for children because the Weres had insisted the young ones witness the talent of their savior.
Dwayne was in absolute heaven.