Page 114 of Crystal and Claws

The four of them shook their heads. Cat didn’t understand the relationship between werewolf packs, but she guessed they usually didn’t expand to include random strangers easily. She had the smallest idea of what Mateo would do for family, and it was crazy to think that another pack was now included in that.

“Let me just make a call,” Mateo said.

As Mateo made his call, Cat hugged Annie fiercely. “Will you come back?”

Annie pulled away with a sad smile. “I don’t know.”

Cat wanted to say another thousand things but couldn’t. “Stay in touch?”

Annie nodded once as Mateo directed them to a car that would take them to the plane and bypass security.

As they were walking away, Cat hugged Mateo again. “Thank you for that.”

“Don’t thank me. They really are family.”

“I know.”

“Welcome home,” he said as another car pulled up for them.

“Welcome home,” she echoed and kissed him amidst the exhaust fumes and the crowds. In this liminal space for travelers, she never felt more rooted.

The End