They made their way back to the pack house, in no particular hurry. She raced Kendra for a while, enjoying the warm air against her fur, the pure joy of speeding through the forest, at peace with the land. When they arrived back, some of the wolves simply curled up in the den to sleep, while others turned off to go to their own homes, or turned back to their human selves so they could drive home.
She turned and dressed, chatting with Alisha as she walked out to the cars. Her parents were standing next to her dad’s beat-up sedan.
“Why don’t you come back with us, have some lunch,” her mom suggested.
They’d eaten a huge breakfast before heading out for the run, but of course, she was starving. Knowing her mom, there’d be a roast in the slow cooker, timed perfectly for their arrival.
“Sounds great, Mom, I’ll meet you there.” She kissed Rosa’s cheek and followed behind them in her not-so-beat-up sedan. Using the hands-free on her phone, she texted her best friend, Cindy, who was still at work, and made plans to get together the next day. She pulled up to the house she’d grown up in and finally felt at home again.
When they’d eaten half the roast and a boatload of potatoes, Frank wiped his mouth with his napkin and looked at her.
“Feeling like you’re all set to hand over the presidency?”
She waggled her hand. “Mostly. I’ve had inquiries from some hierarchy wolves around the country interested in going to Arizona. But so far, none that I think are strong enough to be alpha there. A couple who might be strong enough to take over an established pack, but none I would trust in this situation.”
Her mother nodded. “Even if you don’t bring any of the Mesa Pack wolves back, it’s tricky to start a new pack from scratch.”
“Exactly. I for sure wouldn’t let any of the rogue Phoenix Pack back, but there are some of the Mesa Pack that would like to go home, and that requires care.”
“Have you put out a call for alphas?” Frank asked.
“No, I figured if the right person, or pair, doesn’t come to the forefront before I leave, I’ll let Marco handle it, since he’ll be the president needing to monitor and deal with the new pack.”
“Seems fair,” Rosa agreed.
“It’s a hell of a thing,” Frank said.
“I know, it’s still hard to comprehend, even though I was there.” She shook her head in amazement, still horrified by what she’d learned. She wasn’t sure she’d quite come to grips with the whole thing, even now. Maybe that was why she still felt off. Most of the year had gone just as her previous term had several years ago. Uneventful.
“It…sucked,” she acknowledged. Though her hierarchy, even her fellow alphas like Zach and Hillary, would understand what she was feeling, at least in theory, she supposed her parents were the only ones she was willing to actually share it with. “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, hopefullywillever have to do. Judging each of those wolves, deciding who had to die, who could go to a pack they had relatives in, who needed to go to a stronger pack, capable of keeping an eye on them, but also helping them to get back to a healthy place. I never thought I’d have to determine so many fates.”
Frank reached out, put his hand on hers. “No one doubts that you made the right decisions. No one questions the choices that you made.”
Rosa looked at her with a mother’s eyes, full of sympathy and pain at the idea that her baby might be hurting. “Do you? Question your decisions,” she asked softly.
She gave Rosa a watery smile. “No, I’m good on that part. It sucked, but I’m not second-guessing myself.”
Satisfied, Rosa nodded. “That’s my girl.”
“What about this guy out in Montana?” Frank asked.
“Adam,” she said, reaching for her water. “He’ll be okay. I just wish he could be…” She shook her head. “I wish he could be better than okay, but I don’t see that happening if he refuses to join our world more fully.”
She took a drink, then looked at them when they remained silent. “What?”
“You just look sad,” her mom said.
“Well, I am, I guess. I hate that something so awful happened to him and that he’s not living as good a life as he could be. But he has no reason to believe me that it would be better. I can’t force him into it.”
“He’ll find his way,” Rosa assured her. “Speaking of finding their way, did I tell you that your cousin Ashley met her mate while on vacation in Rome?”
“What? No! An Italian wolf? Or man?”
“A wolf. From Florida.”
She laughed. “That’s awesome. Have they figured out who’s moving where?”
“Not yet, but that reminds me. Your father and I are thinking of selling this house. Getting something smaller.”
