“I’ve missed you all so much!” She says as she looks at all five of them. She turns around to where my father and I stand and reaches out to take my hand. “Krista this is our family.” She croaks.
I smile and give a small wave. “Hi everyo-“ I don’t get to finish my sentence as I’m wrapped in a hug by a red haired girl slightly taller than me. She squeezes me tight and I can’t hug her back as she’s trapped my arms in her enthusiasm. She finally lets go and steps back with a huge, warm smile that I can’t help but smile back to. “I’m Izzy.” She exclaims. “I can’t believe you got us out of there! You’ve gotta tell me everything! I’m so grateful!”
I feel a pit in my stomach as I think about how I done it and force the smile to stay on my face. “Umm yeah- er“ I stutter the words.
“Obviously not now! I bet it’ll make the perfect campfire story!” She bounces. Her frame is very sleek and athletic. She looks around my age and her hair is cut into a bob. She has blue eyes and her face is freckled and round.
I can’t help but smile again as her happy energy is so contagious. I feel a hand take mine and I turn. I’m met with a women who looks to be in her early forties. More or less my mums age with tawny skin and a kind face. She has long black hair and light brown eyes. She holds my hand in both of hers.
“I’m Penelope, but everyone calls me Penny. Welcome home darling.” She says comfortingly as she squeezes my hand. She gestures to the man at her side who is of similar age to her with dark brown hair that is starting to go grey at the sides. “This is my husband, Jason.”
He takes my other hand and kisses the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Krista.” He says politely.
“You too.” I respond.
“Carter told us so much about you. Whenever we got the chance to speak that is! You're every bit as brave and resourceful as he is.” He says proudly.
I warm at the high praise as it’s clear to see he admires my dad.
“Yes but at least she takes after her mother for her looks!” Penny laughs. “Such a beauty.”
I blush as my dad’s booming voice comes from next to me. “Aren’t I pretty too?” He chuckles. “These too are always taking the micky out of me!”
“It’s called being honest!” Penny giggles.
“Brutally honest I’d say.” He murmurs to me so that they can clearly hear. “Anyway, mind if I steal my daughter from you?”
“It was nice meeting you.” I say to the both of them.
“The pleasure is ours.” Penny replies.
My dad puts his arm over my shoulder. “I wanted to personally introduce you to my second in command. The pack Beta.”
We walk towards a blonde-haired man talking to Izzy. His back is to us but he is really tall and built like a pro wrestler. It’s easy to see his huge shoulders and arms from this angle. He’s wearing a grey and red checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up revealing tattoos down his left arm. Dark blue jeans that are tight around his thighs are paired with brown boots. His hair is shoulder length but is loosely tied back revealing shaved sides.
Izzy spots us approaching and motions for him to turn around. As he does, I swallow hard. He’s gorgeous! I put him in his mid-twenties with the brightest emerald green eyes I have ever seen. He has stylish stubble around his chiselled jaw and when he smiles his teeth are perfectly straight and white. His shirt is partly unbuttoned at the top revealing the slightest bit of chest hair on his huge, solid torso and I notice the tattoo on hisleft arm extends onto his chest. At first glance its black and grey with a forest type design but on getting slightly closer I notice small details of colour in places.
My dad drops his arm from my shoulder to pat him on the back. I force myself to stop gawking at the impressive artwork and compose my expression to a polite smile.
“Krista this is Lukas. Lukas, my daughter Krista.” My dad states proudly.
Lukas takes my hand in one of his and bows his head. “It’s an honour to meet you, Krista. We are all so grateful for what you have done for us.” His voice is deep but soft with a slight huskiness to it that sends vibrations through the air. His hand gently holds mine but I can feel the rough callouses from years of hard work.
“It’s nice to meet you too Lukas.” I reply.
His hand stays holding mine for a moment longer before he lets go and straightens his back. His eyes stay locked on mine as if searching for something and I force myself to hold his gaze so as not to seem weak. I’m the alphas daughter after all. I want to show that I am strong like my father despite the fact that this guy must be at least 6 foot 9 and built like a tank.
My father’s voice catches both of our attentions.
“I’ve asked Lukas to show you around and get you settled into pack life. Your mother and I are going to have our work cut out with getting everything back to how it should be over the next few weeks.”
Just then something catches my dad’s attention. A dark-haired man in his thirties, holding a tablet is waiting to speak to him. He nods and holds up a finger to him then kisses me on the head.
“See what I mean! I’ll catch up with you this evening at dinner.” He says as he walks off to the other man.
I watch them for a moment as the guy points up into the trees then down at the tablet. He’s shorter than my dad and slim in his build. He’s wearing a navy t shirt with black chinos. He has a smart black watch on with a phone in his back pocket. I also notice an electronic ear piece around his left ear. He’s the only person who has yet to introduce themselves which I find a little odd as everyone else was so eager.
“That’s Caleb.” Lukas says. “He’s a computer nerd that doesn’t really do people. He’s also in charge of security hence all the tech. He'd managed to stash it all away before the attack and now he's setting his network all back up. He can be a little... paranoid but he means well.”
