“It suits her,” I said and patted the sand-coloured roof. Everyone laughed.
“Are you going to tell me I can’t drive your car?” Finlay asked. The tone he used made it clear to me he was asking as my Alpha. Technically, he wasn’t my Alpha yet. But it wouldn’t be a good way to start life in his pack by pointing out technicalities like that.
“Of course not,” I said, tossing the keys to him.
“I have packed doughnuts for everyone, and coffee,” Mrs Andersen said. She was walking to us holding two large bags and balancing four large to-go cups. Sam and Finlay hurried to help her. “Thank you, that’s sweet of you,” she said.
“I have packed some burgers for you to eat on the way. No fries, as they will just get soggy. But plenty of stuffed potatoes,” Mrs Jones announced as she came walking with two bags full of food.
“Thank you,” I said to both of the sisters. And they knew I wasn’t just thanking them for the food.
“It has been a pleasure, Amie,” Mrs Jones said. As she handed the food over to Finlay, she gave me a hug and her sister did the same.
“Don’t forget about us. You keep in touch,” Jessie said, giving me a hug.
“I will. And get your shit together and ask her out before I have to send someone to mess you up,” I told him. He grinned at me. Then it was CeCe’s turn. We hugged for a long while and promised to keep in touch and she promised to look out for Jessie. I handed my apartment key back to Mrs Andersenand got into the passenger seat of the Volvo. Finlay was already sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I will be,” I told him.
“Ready to go home?”
“More than ready,” I agreed. It was the truth. Even though it was bittersweet to say goodbye to my old life, I was excited to start my new one. I waved to my friends as we drove off. The car smelled of fried food and coffee. There were worse scents to be surrounded by. We drove in silence for a while. I think Finlay let me take in the moment and I appreciated it.
“Want a doughnut?” I finally asked.
“I never turn down deep fried baked goods,” he said. I smiled and fished one out of the bag and handed it to him. “Medow and Aunt Matilda have been busy planning your bloodening ceremony. They will talk you through it this afternoon. If you feel it’s too much or you don’t like something, just tell them. They won’t be offended,” he told me. I smiled as I munched on my own doughnut.
“I’m sure I will like it. When is it planned for?”
“Tomorrow.” He watched me from the corner of his eye as if he was afraid I was going to object.
“Sounds good. I’m looking forward to it.” He relaxed and smiled.
“So is the pack, you should hear how hyped up Cadence is,” Finlay told me with a laugh. It felt nice to know the pack was looking forward to taking me in.
“No objections from anyone or suspicions?” I asked.
“No. You made a superb impression on everyone,” he said. He took a sip out of his coffee and sighed happily. We had talked over the phone every day, but I had missed his calming aura and clean, pine scent. I knew I needed to be careful. I couldn’t let myself or my wolf get too attached. Finlay would find his mate,and when that happened, I needed to be able to accept her as my Luna. I would just make sure we kept things on a friendly level. Around the halfway mark, Finlay announced he had mind linked with Sam and it was time to eat. We parked at some picnic tables by the side of the road and took out the burgers and stuffed potatoes.
“I understand why you spent four days eating at that diner if this is the food they are serving,” Sam told Finlay. We all laughed. I felt my wolf settling down. She recognised her new pack members, and she enjoyed the opportunity to reestablish the social connection we both had built during our three days at the pack. I noticed Finlay looking very pleased about something.
“I can drive,” I offered as we got back in the cars.
“Not happening,” Finlay told me.
“What are you so pleased about?” I asked after we had been driving for a while.
“I like it when a plan comes together. I’m getting a new pack member, a strong one. You will help us build a stronger pack and I enjoy your company. I think I have every right to feel pleased,” he told me. I laughed at his honesty.
“If you put it like that, I would say you are right,” I agreed and relaxed back.
“You look pleased as well,” he remarked.
“I have got a wolf. I’m about to have a pack and a new exciting job. And I think I’m becoming friends with my Alpha. I say I have just as much to be pleased about,” I told him. He chuckled.
“True. It’s a good day,” he agreed. We arrived at the pack house a couple of hours later. Finlay and I had spent the time talking and joking. So when I got out of the car, my legs felt a little stiff, but I was relaxed. I took a moment to scent my surroundings and was so occupied with taking in the moment that I missed the projectile that came flying at me. Cadence came flying out of nowhere and jumped up on me to give me a hug.The sheer force of the pup had me stumbling back before I found my balance.
