Marcus grinned and headed off. Connor turned back to Leyden, caught his mate watching him with obvious pride.
“What?”
“You.” Leyden’s hand found the small of Connor’s back. “Commanding the room without even trying.”
“I’m just…”
“Being yourself. Which is exactly what they need.”
Before Connor could respond, the entrance filled with new arrivals. Davis’s distinctive laugh boomed across the hall, followed by familiar faces - Scott, Maria, Thomas. Connor’s former pack mates from his old territory.
His throat tightened. He hadn’t seen them in six months, though he and Davis talked weekly.
Davis swept through the crowd like he owned the place, pulled Connor into a crushing hug. Connor returned it without hesitation, wrapping his arms around his oldest friend.
“Look at you.” Davis pulled back, gripped Connor’s shoulders. “Thriving.”
“I could say the same.” Connor studied his friend. Davis looked lighter somehow, less burdened than he’d been during Connor’s last months in his territory. “Pack treating you well?”
“Pack’s excellent. Better than excellent.” Davis glanced at Leyden, nodded respectfully. “Mind if I steal Connor for a minute? Old friends catching up.”
“Take your time.” Leyden squeezed Connor’s shoulder before moving to greet Scott and the others.
Davis guided Connor through a side door into the quiet hallway. Leaned against the wall, expression going soft.
“You look happier than I’ve ever seen you.”
Connor’s chest warmed. “I am.”
“Leyden’s good for you. Can see it in everything - how you stand, how you talk, how you interact with your pack.” Davis’s smile turned genuine. “I knew he would be. That’s why I let you go.”
“You didn’t let me go. You released me properly.”
“Semantics.” Davis waved a hand. “Point is, watching you find your place, find real happiness... It made me realize I’d been settling.”
Connor’s eyebrows rose. “Settling?”
“All those casual hookups, meaningless encounters in bathrooms and clubs.” Davis’s expression turned thoughtful. “Kept telling myself it was what wolves do, what alphas do. But seeing you and Leyden build something real, something based on actual connection...” He trailed off, rubbed the back of his neck. “Made me want that too.”
“Davis.” Connor’s kept his voice low. “Did you meet your mate?”
“Maybe.” Davis’s smile turned shy - an expression Connor had never seen on his confident friend’s face. “A beta from the Clearwater pack. Named Jordan. We’ve been talking. Taking things slow, getting to know each other before jumping into bed.”
Joy burst through Connor’s chest. “That’s incredible.”
“It’s different. A good kind of different.” Davis met Connor’s eyes. “You showed me there’s another way to do this.” He gripped Connor’s shoulder. “Thank you for that. For being brave enough to be yourself no matter what anyone else said about you.”
Connor swallowed hard. “I never thought I could have this. Love, acceptance, a place where I belong.” His voice cracked. “You know more than anyone how I spent so many years convinced I was defective.”
“You were never defective. You were just waiting for the right person to see you clearly.” Davis pulled him into another quick hug. “Now get back in there. This party’s for you.”
They returned to the main hall where the celebration had reached full swing. Leyden caught Connor’s eye from across the room, tilted his head toward the small stage at the far end.
Right. The speech.
Connor wove through the crowd, pack members parting to let him pass. Gentle touches on his arm, warm smiles, murmured congratulations. His pack. His family.
Leyden took Connor’s hand as they climbed onto the stage. Matthew appeared with a microphone, handed it to Leyden with a respectful nod.
