“Vic!” Tabian barked. “Put him back!”
“No! They’re best friends and they party together!”
Destiny couldn’t stop laughing, and beside her, the other women were in different states of giggling as well.
Tabian looked pissed, but he rolled his eyes and shook his head and returned to his conversation with Bridger at the truck.
The boys popped the hood of a white truck parked next to Dodger’s now and were talking about some cold air intake or something. Destiny didn’t really know much about cars, but it was so nice listening to the low rumble of their relaxed voices while the fire flickered on.
Dodger caught her eyes and smiled, then sauntered over her way and she sat up straighter as he came to stand behind her chair. He massaged her shoulders gently and leaned down to her ear to whisper, “You look pretty tonight.”
Her cheeks heated with a blush, and she brought his warm hand to her cheek and nuzzled it. “Thank you.”
“I’ll probably start moving your dad toward the truck,” Mom said. “It’s getting late. Are you staying here tonight?” she asked Destiny.
“Yeah. I want to hang out here for a while longer if that’s okay?”
“I figured,” Mom said through a smile.
“I’ll keep her safe,” Dodger promised. “I don’t want you worrying about her when she’s here. It’s not like the government run territories where humans aren’t allowed.”
“Oh, I know you’ll protect her. I see the way you positioned yourself between her and each male she met tonight until you were satisfied that their wolves were calm. I saw the way you constantly checked on her if you were more than five feet away. I’m not worried. Behren?” she called. “Are you about ready?”
Dad was in deep conversation with Liam still, but it didn’t look tense anymore. They were both standing with their arms crossed over their chests, stance relaxed, and if Destiny was seeing this correctly, Dad looked like he smiled over at mom. “Getting tired?”
“Sure am.”
“I’ll warm up the truck.”
Destiny said her goodbyes to her parents, and a warm and fuzzy sensation consumed her as her dad lingered in the hug and said, “I like your people just fine.”
Mom gave her a squeeze and then made her way toward their truck, parked on the outer edge of the firelight.
As she watched them drive away, she realized she really liked these people as well. Delta and Nory had been kind and inviting tonight. They were both chill and funny, and self-deprecating. Nory seemed very aware of being human, but Destiny appreciated how she could throw jabs right back at the boys, and she noticed how they gentled when they were close to her.
Nory really had paved a way for Destiny to be more accepted here, and she appreciated not being the only human.
Tonight had been eye opening but also had settled something inside of her soul.
Despite what this Pack had been through, with being stripped of their homes, and the challenge of rebuilding on the edge of the human world…despite the destruction to their new homes, and the unsettled business with the new Pack…happy moments did exist here.
Destiny could appreciate that.
They weren’t acting like victims or crying over the things that had occurred. They were out here laughing, teasing, and talking, and making sweaters for little hamsters, and being kind to the humans here.
No doubt she would learn that this Pack had many layers and could be complicated, but at the heart of it, these people, Dodger included, were resilient.
Chapter Sixteen
“Why the home?” Destiny asked, waiting for Dodger to unlock his door.
“What do you mean?” he asked as he pushed the door open and held it for her.
“Nory said the Pack’s old Alpha burned Liam’s last home, and now the new Pack burned Liam’s new home, and destroyed part of Nate and Delta’s cabin. Why is that the move with werewolves?”
“Because it hurts us the worst. They went after the dens that housed our females. Packs circle around females naturally. They are to be coveted. We haven’t ever had females before other than our old Alpha’s mate, but she was terrible. Building a solid foundation is difficult for werewolves, and they targeted the things we value the most—the homes that keep our females sheltered.”
It made sense. Also made sense on why the other Pack wasn’t interested in going after this home. Until now, it had just been him in here. She looked around his small prefab home, and a smile confiscated her lips. She hadn’t known what she’d expected. Perhaps a bachelor pad with a mattress on the ground and a single phone charger plugged into the wall, and a small tv on an overturned laundry basket.
