With a nod, I take a step back and give her a second with her pups and Ruby.
Ace doesn’t take his eyes off me, watching me in his fathomless way, even as I sense he’s listening very closely to his mother. He has always been my wildest wolf, the one I could never truly capture, but he’s the first to leap toward me.
He all but lands in my arms, but of course I can’t hold his five hundred pounds and we would have gone down in a heap if Roman wasn’t standing right behind me, catching us and keeping me upright, holding on to us both.
Before I can think or say anything, Ace licks across my shoulder at the point where the dress has slipped down. A shot of icy energy bursts through me sharply enough that I would have fallen over but for Roman’s solid chest against my back.
The crash of Ace’s energy into mine is like a shot of electricity to my heart, overwhelming me, just as Reaper’s initial bond with me nearly knocked me down.
Unlike with Reaper, for a few seconds, Ace’s thoughts and memories rush through my mind. All the times when I was unsure of his bond with me. But one thing is consistent: his love for me. It’s unconditional. Despite my struggle with my dark power, and my constant fear that Ace would be the first, and perhaps only, of my wolves to leave, his loyalty never wavered.
Tears slide down my cheeks as I hug Ace to me while Roman supports us both—even as Ace’s back legs drop to the ground so I’m only hugging the top half of him.
“I love you so much,” I sob. “Thank you for all the years you’ve been part of my pack. It got me through so much.”
“I love you, packmate.”
My eyes fly wide to hear Ace’s voice for the first time. It’s an unnaturally deep rumble that reinforces that he is the wildest of wolves. And one of my best friends, and I can finally talk to him about everything.
As our energy settles, this new bond between us calming, the strong stream of emotions from Ace also slows. I think he’s about to drop back to the grassy ground when his power brushes my mind again.
“Ruby is pregnant.”
I become still, staring deep into his violet eyes.“She is?”
He lets out a howl, and I can’t help it; I’m crying happy tears again.Damn, I’m not sure how this is my life.For so much good to come after so much bad makes all the pain and loss and fear worth it.
“I’m so happy for you,” I say out loud, giving him one last hug as I breathe in his energy.“You’re going to make an amazing father. I will be with you as much as you need.”
He licks me again before he drops down to all fours.“Thank you, Nova. I will be loyal to you for the rest of my long life.”
I can’t reply, feeling grateful that I’ll have a long life with him.
Ace trots back to Ruby and allows the others forward.
Temple is next. She doesn’t dive at me the same way Ace did, but she lifts her front feet up onto my shoulders. She licks the spot next to Ace’s, and I realize that two faint shimmers have appeared there, just like the one on my palm. Temple’s memories are less intense, but no less emotional. She shows me the days she was very young and I would nap with them in a huge puppy pile. Her memories are of warmth, safety, and love. She shows me that’s how I’ve always made her feel.
“The same for you, my beautiful girl,”I tell her.“You have been my comfort so many times over the years. I wouldn’t be here without you and your brothers.”
She licks the tears from my jawline.“I love you, Nova.”
Her voice is lighter than Ace’s but still rumbly enough to remind me that she’s a killing machine.“I love you, too, Temple. Always.”
When Temple drops back to her feet, Luca steps up. He also lifts his front paws to my shoulders, placing his lick beside the others, and I hug my neediest wolf close. Roman remains behind me, his comfort and presence making this moment more perfect.
In Luca’s memories, I see a lost wolf in need of a family. He missed his mom more than the others did, and in that regard, thought of me almost as a mother as we grew up together. His heart is light and pure and innocent in a way that I didn’t feel with the other two, and I can do nothing except hug him tightly and whisper my love for him through our bond.
“Thank you,”he tells me.“Thank you for being my pack. My family. My comfort. I want to spend many more years building our pack.”
Swallowing against my tears, it takes me a few moments to answer.“I’ll always be here for you. I love you, Luca. My sweetest boy.”
He licks away my tears as Temple did and eventually drops down to all fours.
Blitz is next, darting over from where he’d been standing with Reaper and Wild Girl. Ingrid has settled onto the horse’s back, all of them watching closely.
Like Ace, Blitz chooses to leap at me, and I catch him while Roman catches me. Thankfully, Blitz isn’t as heavy as Ace. His lick is faster, as are most of his movements, and even his memories flash through my mind at super speed. I see now how he always moves so quickly, and why he seems to be flitting about in a wary way. It’s how his energy operates, but beneath his stealth and speed, there’s a pure heart.
Blitz’s love feels like the warm, afternoon sun. It’s calming. It’s familiar. It’s filled with memories of days at the park and nights fighting and hunting low-level demons.
