I woofed an agreement.
A tentative smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I guess it is pretty cool, huh?"
"The coolest," Jenna agreed, grinning.
Krystal nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just wait until the next pack run. You'll leave those boys in the dust."
That earned a small giggle from Elle. The knot in my chest loosened, relief washing through me. We'd gotten through to her. Thank the moon for the incredible women in this pack.
I caught Krystal's eye again. She winked, her smile warm and knowing.
This was what being part of a pack meant: supporting eachother through the good times and the bad. Lifting each other up when the world tried to tear us down.
Just as Elle seemed to be relaxing, laughter erupted nearby. I glanced over to see a group of younger boys whispering and snickering, shooting not-so-subtle glances in our direction.
Elle stiffened beside me, her embarrassment flaring back to life. Before she could react, I straightened, my posture shifting into something dangerous as I stalked toward the boys.
I stopped close and snarled at them, letting every ounce of alpha I had in me hit them as hard as I could.
The laughter died instantly. One of them, Tommy, a cocky thirteen-year-old, shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's just… we know why she shifted tonight."
I growled and bared my teeth.
Tommy faltered, shifting uncomfortably under my piercing gaze.
The pack women came up behind me, watching as the boys squirmed awkwardly, realizing they'd messed up.
Krystal stepped forward, a wicked grin on her face as she motioned toward Elle. "You're looking at the future strongest female in this pack. She’s very likely to be your next alpha."
The boys paled, muttering half-hearted apologies before slinking away, metaphorical tails tucked between their legs. If they had been in their wolf forms, their tails would have tucked, for sure.
I watched them go, satisfaction thrumming through my veins. Served them right.
When I turned back to Elle, her lips were parted slightly, stunned silence written across her face. Then, slowly, her expression softened into something more open than I'd ever seen before.
"Thanks," she murmured.
I bounced toward her playfully, hoping she’d shift again so we could run.
And she did. Thankfully. As the women of the pack turned to run with Elle, I caught sight of Nathan, just in the tree line. He’d been watching. He didn’t say anything, but somehow, I got the sense that he appreciated what we’d done more than we could ever know.
Chapter 22
Nathan
I satat my desk in my home office, pouring over the pack's financial reports. Numbers blurred on the screen as laughter echoed from the living room. I smiled. Krystal, Elle, and Bryce were battling it out on their favorite video game. Nothing filled my heart like the sound of my family's joy.
My mind wandered to Rissa, with her warm brown eyes and silky black hair. I couldn't get her out of my head. She was so beautiful, inside and out. Part of me longed to explore what we could be together. But my rational side held back, unwilling to risk more heartache. I had loved and lost too deeply with Mira.
Yet, Rissa made me feel again. She made me want to fall in love again.
The ringing of my cell phone jolted me out of my musings. I glanced at the screen and saw Rissa’s name. Worry jolted through me as I answered. "Rissa? Is everything okay?"
Her silvery laugh eased my fears. "Everything's fine. Gavin's at work, and I was thinking... Why don't you come over?"
I hesitated for only a moment, desire and duty warring within me. "I'll be there soon."
Excitement thrummed through my veins as I hung up. I knew I was playing with fire but couldn't resist the pull between us. Rissa understood me like no one else. When I was with her, the heavy mantle of leadership fell away. I felt alive again.
