“Sorry.Yeah, that’s the one.So many sexy Greek dudes turning into flowers.You smell like yourself, but it’s overpowering, like plunging your nose into a field of hyacinths.Your scent is lovely, but that’s a given.I guess this one thought so too.”
The little wolf went back to the mom, and she gave them a lick of greeting as they huddled behind her legs.The mom wolf was still looking at me with big, searching eyes.
“Didn’t you say she has a pack, Dom?”
I heard him shift his weight from one leg to the other.“I thought she did.There is a pack here.You’ve heard them howl too.”
“Yeah, but you guys said their territory is on the other side of the river.”
“It is.”He paused, taking another step closer.“It’s shallow enough to cross in a few spots.We’d have noticed her if she’d been on this side all along.”
“Do you think she’s looking for a pack?”
He chuckled.“Like you were when you stumbled into the woods?”
I got to my feet.“I was trying not to be murdered by a serial killer.”I sighed.“I had no idea I was running away from one.”
We were both silent for a while after that, and Dom came closer to me and put his hand on my back.The mom wolf didn’t run, but her body language changed, her ears flattening, her head lowering.
“We’re not going to chase her away.If she wants to stay here, that’s fine.The area is safe again.”
I nodded.“Is there any way to tell her?”
“We’ll just leave her in peace, maybe put out some water.When the pups grow up, they might leave, but until then…”
“Until then, they’re all safe.”
My hand went to my belly, and I only realized I’d done it after the fact.Such an odd habit.
37
2 months later
My plan was to go on parental leave in two months, but it was getting more and more difficult to go through an entire shift.It didn’t help that there were more non-pack werewolves at the hospital now.On the one hand, I appreciated the safety net their presence would offer Marcus.On the other, it was actually unsettling that the packs had pulled off that many transfers of doctors and nurses in such a small amount of time for a single omega.It made all of us even more protective of Marcus.
I was in the car, heading back to the house after doing the grocery shopping when Vi called.Sometimes I wondered whether she could secretly read minds and knew that I’d been thinking of the pack just then.
I considered dodging the call, but she’d just call Linc or Dom instead.I hit the answer button.
“Ellie!”
“Aunt Vi.”
I could hear her sneer.“You’re making me sound old.How’s my grand-nephew-to-be?”
“Do you think having a grand-nephew makes you sound younger?”
She clicked her tongue.I pulled down the sun shade.November had just started, but there were still sunny days, even if the leaves were losing their green and turning to reds and golds.
“Careful now.Seriously though.Everything okay?No one has seen Marcus in weeks.People do wonder how he’s doing.”
By people, she meant herself.Dom’s mom too.Dom’s brother was still in a tizzy over how to break the news of a nephew to his wife.Linc’s parents, honestly, were so much easier to deal with, not least because they were half a continent away.My mom had offered to move in with us though, and my sister had hinted at a baby shower.I had no idea whether Marcus would be okay with that.I didn’t know that I was.He still didn’t have our bites.
“He’s not been feeling like leaving the house, Vi.We’re certainly not going to force him.”
She hummed.“Anything I can do?Or anyone.I know you like being alone out there and apart from the pack, but that doesn’t mean we won’t support you if there’s anything you need.”
I sighed.“I’ll bring it up with everyone.”
