Page 45 of Wicked Wolf

She was bonded to that family, and now she was going to start bringing that family into her den. Her plans for moving in with Brie were over because she was a newly mated woman now who needed a place of her own. When Jesse was ready, he and Quinn would become Redwoods and move in with her. She hadn’t wanted to bring them over now because Jesse needed to be at full strength before he cut his bond with his Alpha, and she didn’t want to live with them among the Talons because she wasn’t a Pack member.

It was all really confusing, and honestly, she felt like nothing was ever going to be okay again if she thought about it too hard.

She’d given up a chance at happiness, at least that’s what Quinn had told her. Did she really believe that though? Would she have ever found another mate? Some wolves never found mates and were forced to find other ways of making a mating bond or a future. She had a mate. One that fate had picked. It was just that Quinn hadn’t wanted her…at first.

Now he seemed to be okay with her bloodline and who she was, but she couldn’t trust that, could she? See? So confusing. One day it would all make sense because if it didn’t, she wasn’t sure how she’d be able to function. As it was, she knew she wasn’t at full speed.

Others gave her the benefit of the doubt because she was newly mated, but that wasn’t it. She wasn’t tired because she was up all night having glorious sex with Quinn. No, she was tired because she couldn’t sleep since he wasn’t there. They didn’t even sleep under the same roof. In fact, other than that first night, she and Quinn hadn’t made love again. She knew he was giving her space, but now she felt unwanted.

Again.

Apparently, her wolf and her brain were going crazy because she honestly didn’t know what to do next beyond trying to make it through the day.

The first step would be to make her new, small house on the Redwood Pack land her home.

Their home.

She just hoped she was making the right choices because there was no turning back now.

When she’d told her parents that she was ready to move out, both of them looked like they wanted to say something but had held back. They weren’t pushing her out, but they wanted to keep her safe somehow. She knew they were worried about her, but there was nothing she could do. Instead, they helped her find a small cottage on the edge of the Jamenson area of the den and let her live her life. The fact that they supported her and helped her when she needed it meant more to her than them voicing their concerns. They had the same ones as she did, so there was no point in worrying over things she couldn’t change.

Finn and her dad had helped her move in some of the antique furniture they had in their storage units. Some had belonged to her grandparents while other pieces had belonged to her birth parents. It hurt deep down inside that neither set was alive, thanks to the war, but now she had a piece of them in this new world she wove.

Quinn and Jesse would be there in about half an hour to see the new place and have a meal. They were all trying, so that had to count for something. She just hated being in a state of flux. Not having her footing made her feel as if she was constantly trying to figure out what to do next, but things would settle down soon. The Pack was working with the Talons and with her and Quinn’s mating, things would only get better on that front. Jesse would one day be fully healed, if the way he was slowly getting better was any indication.

Only her mating with Quinn was the truly scary thing.

Well, that and the fact that those bastards who’d cornered her on neutral land still gave her wary looks, as if she’d turn green and cackle like a Hollywood witch or something.

They had been punished by her father for attacking—or at least trying to attack—without cause, but they were still resentful. She just hoped they didn’t do anything stupid. She honestly didn’t have the energy to deal with the insecurities of a few wolves that didn’t understand her powers. Okay, fine, she didn’t understand them fully either, but she was learning. She was going to her Aunt Hannah weekly to learn to center. She’d even helped Jesse with his illness using her powers.

She wasn’t a weak, unskilled witch.

She was learning.

Tired of her rambling thoughts, she ran her hand through her hair then walked out to her front yard. Quinn and Jesse would be there soon, and she didn’t really want to start decorating or putting anything out until they lived with her. It seemed odd to do so without them since this would soon be their place. The fact that she’d picked it without them was weird enough.

The scent of two familiar, unwanted wolves reached her nostrils, and she planted her feet while trying to look casual. Two of the wolves who had tried to attack her with the Talons were prowling toward her in human from. The glares on their faces didn’t bode well.

Damn it, she did not have time for this, and she didn’t want Jesse to see anything that might happen if she had to use her wolf or her powers to get out of the situation. He might be a pup, but he was going to be her pup. She’d protect him with everything she had—even herself.

“What can I do for you boys?” she asked, her voice smooth. She wouldn’t put her wolf up front unless she had to. No use beating these boys down until they made the first move.

“We just want to welcome you to your new home,” the first wolf sneered.

“Yeah, then say get out. You should have gone to live with your new Talon mate,” the other one said.

She raised a brow. “I don’t think so, boys. I’m going to be the Enforcer, in case you’ve forgotten. I’m a Redwood. Quinn will be one soon as well.”

“You should have gone to your man and joined his Pack. What kind of pussy is this Quinn if he’s letting his woman lead?”

She let out a breath. She hated ignorant fools. Every Pack had them. Even though most of the Redwoods and Talons were good and reasonable, some weren’t. It was just the way of every community.

“You know what? I’m going to be nice and let you two walk out of here on your own two feet. I’m not in the mood to kick your asses today.”

The first wolf snorted. “Like you could, witch.”

That did it. Fuck him. Fuck all of them. She held out her palms and let her magic roll through her. It felt like a warm spark tingling through her system, but not an unpleasant one. No, this one was like she was waking up after a long sleep, eager to get on with her day. She’d been practicing so hard, and now it felt like things were actually working in her favor. Twin flames danced in her palms, and she growled at each of the wolves in front of her.