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I wrinkled my nose. “Now she’s even happier the little minx. And I think she wants to go hunting. But yes, that is how she is. My wolf is always there, just within reach, and she supports me when I’m upset, sometimes actually wants to go and hurt whoever hurt me.”

“Someone hurt you?”

Shoot, not a conversation I was ready to have yet. In the pack they told us that all alphas had connections and if a female ran away, they were obligated through the Shifter Council to return them to the one whose possession they were.

Which was why I hadn’t been willing to tell them who I was running from. Or that I was running at all. We were parked in the driveway now of a nice home with attractive landscaping. The fenced property had to be at least an acre. I came here not even knowing if they lived on packlands, but it seemed it was just a neighborhood with nice size lots.

But Rain asked me a question, and nobody was talking while they waited for me to answer. Politely, no pressure, but quiet.

“No. I haven’t been physically harmed by anyone.” No more than any other person growing up in a pack that believed in corporal punishment. Spanking. Like that. “Your house looks very nice. You all live here?”

“Yes.” Lark answered. “We do. I’m glad you think it looks nice. We bought it together hoping that one day it would be our family home.”

Meaning with an omega. Me, if it all worked out.

“Well, from out here it looks perfect for that purpose.” So much better than any home in my former pack.

“Thank you.” Lark had the most beautiful smile. Full lips revealing even white teeth. If I stayed here any length of time, I hoped he’d allow me to work for him. Do any job he needed done, and eventually learn to bake. It sure smelled a lot better there than the stable, although I was going to miss some of the animals I’d taken care of for such a long time. I hoped someone else would be good to them.

We were still sitting in the car, but none of them seemed to be in a rush to move.

“So, Evren, you had a long ride you said? Must have come from the other side of the country.”

They were fishing, and I was not ready to be caught on that topic until I was sure they weren’t going to return me to sender. “Something like that. Are you all from around here? Did you grow up together?”

Rain’s lip quirked. He knew misdirection when he saw it. Or maybe it was redirection? “No, but when we became friends we decided to be a pack, and it’s gone very well. I have a military background and a business, Warren is firefighter, and you already know what Lark does. So, we keep busy and don’t trip over each other all the time.”

“Sounds like a recipe for house sharing.”

“If we have a family, we’ll change our schedules to accommodate that. It’s why we are working so hard now.”

“Makes sense.”

What didn’t was why some other female hadn’t showed up a long time ago because they were a triple catch.

As if he heard me, Warren said, “And we aren’t willing to settle for less than the one meant for us.”

Did they think that was me? My wolf was already muttering mate, and I was starting to agree. Not because they owned a nice home and had good jobs but because of how it felt to sit here and talk to them. I wished I could let me guard down, but something held me back. Probably years of learning how not to trust anyone.

Chapter Fourteen

Warren

“This is home,” I announced as I unlocked the door to our home. When we picked it, it seemed like a great place for a pack, and we had plans to add on if we were ever blessed with a family.

Now that we were presenting our home to Evren, the place shrank, and I felt like it might not meet her expectations.

Maybe it no longer met mine after seeing my mate and getting that rush of need to protect her and provide for her. If this house wasn’t good enough, we could always sell and get a new one.

“It’s lovely,” Evren said, looking all around after going inside first. We were gentlemen underneath the wolves. I watched her every move. A faint smile touched her full lips. This place wasn’t the mansion she’d probably dreamed of, but there wasn’t a hint of disappointment in her scent.

Maybe this was enough for her. Enough didn’t seem right. She deserved everything.

“We hope you like it.” Lark put her backpack in the hallway near the stairs. The upstairs held her room and en suite. It was ready, but like everything else and me, nothing seemed like the right caliber for her.

“I love it.” Her stomach growled, and she laughed, shaking her head. “Would it be okay if I took a shower and then grabbed a bowl of chili? That bus ride was long, and I had no chance to clean up beyond washing my face and hands. I feel like I’m covered in everyone else’s germs.”

“Of course.” Rain grabbed her bag and started up the stairs. “Right this way. ”