She sniffled, pondering my words. I wiped my nose with my free hand. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both Chandler and I were drawn to Vivi back in college. She was a werewolf’s mate. None of us knew it rationally, but maybe on subconscious level we were never meant for the mundane world. You made us special.”
She shook her head and glanced at Cole. “When did my daughter get so wise?”
“Beats me.” He grinned, lifting our hands to press a kiss to the back of mine. “She’s been running circles around me since the day we met.”
The door opened behind us, and Chandler came out, following his nose. He frowned. “Mom?”
She walked away from me and hugged my brother. He stared over her head, his questioning gaze locked on mine, and I chuckled. “We better get up to the house. My mom has some grandchildren to meet.”
Mom turned around with wide eyes. “Grandchildren? Already?” She looked up at Chandler. “How is this possible? You’ve only known Wendy for a few months.”
He shot me a look before leading mom up to the house. I had no trouble hearing him explain about Wendy being a werewolf and shorter gestation times. Was it always so overwhelming? I felt like a superpower had been awakened and my senses were on overload.
Cole wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my hair. “You’ll get used to all this.”
I looked up at him with a smile. “Are you sure you’re not hearing my thoughts?”
“Not right then, but I recognized that look on your face.” He leaned on me, keeping his weight off his leg. “I’m going to need some help getting up to the house.”
I hooked my arm around his waist, and together we kept navigated the path up to the house. The stairs were tricky, but we managed them with just a couple of shits and goddammits.
Chandler and Mom waited outside for Wendy to return. The wolves were still running with Asher. Vance wasn’t back yet, but I didn’t hear anymore gunshots so hopefully the any last mercenaries she brought along left after she did.
Inside, Brock and Brianna were snoozing in the playpen, and Bart and Ben were passed out on either sofa. I peered around the room and found Gage’s boys, Henry and Hawk, asleep on an air mattress in front of the television set.
I helped Cole to one of the easy chairs and he popped the leg rest up, elevating his foot. I sat on the armrest. “Does it hurt?”
“Hell yeah.” He patted my thigh, squeezing my leg. “But you’re safe, and your sister is out of that lab. That’s all that matters. My leg will heal.”
I kissed the top of his head. “Want some Advil?”
“Would love some. Thanks.” He tipped his head back to kiss my lips.
I brought him a glass of water and the whole bottle of Advil. The door opened, and Chandler and Wendy came inside with my mom close behind. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the sleeping bundles in the playpen.
“Brock is the one in the wolf blanket and Brianna is in the jaguar one,” Chandler said.
Mom looked up at him. “They’re shifters, too?”
He nodded, his jaw tense. I understood his gut reaction to brace himself, but he didn’t understand that this woman wasn’t the same guarded one who raised us. This was the powerful psychic who had distanced herself from us because she’d believed her secrets would keep us safe. She was sort of like Chandler that way, actually.
Mom crossed the room for a closer look, and my brother came to my side. He nudged me and pointed to Mom as she cooed at the side of the playpen. “Who is this and what did she do with our mother?”
“Right?” I looked up at him. “Mom’s been keeping all kinds of secrets from us.”
Chandler met my eyes. “I’m sorry I never told you what happened to me up in Lake Tahoe. After I was bitten I…I was angry and…” His voice trailed off, and he sniffed the air. His eyes widened. “You’re…”
I held up my hand bearing the new scar. “Yep. No more weak human for you to protect.”
He blinked. “Is this what you wanted?”
“Yes.” I glanced at Cole and back to my brother. “I mean, it’s not like I always wanted to grow up and be a werewolf, but now that I know this world exists, I can’t go back to pretending it doesn’t. I’m embracing it.”
Chandler shook his head, his expression softening. “You’re amazing.”
“Wait until you see what Mom can do.” I didn’t tell my brother about my telepathy. Not yet anyway. Until I got a grip on how it all worked, no since making him worry I could read his mind.
Cole chuckled beside me. “She took me out, that’s for sure.”
Chandler looked over at Cole, taking in his leg. “What happened?”
“This is nothing.” Cole gave a dismissive wave. “You should see my truck.”
“Mom thought he was attacking me and tossed his wolf about a hundred feet away with just a thought,” I explained.
“Holy shit.” Concern lined Chandler’s face. “I guess I have a few questions for Mom.”
He walked over to the playpen, and I bent to press a kiss to the top of Cole’s head. “I’m going to check on Serenity. Then we should probably get you home.”
He looked up at me and shook his head. “My truck’s not going anywhere. We can stay here tonight. I’ll call a tow in the morning.” He stared at his leg. “I won’t be healed yet, but I’ll be more mobile at least.”
“Wait, we don’t heal instantly like Wolverine?” I rolled my eyes, teasing him. “I wish you would’ve told me this sooner.”
He pulled me down into his lap and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck, oblivious to the room full of shifters.
He rested his forehead on mine and smiled. “We still heal faster than humans.”
“Good.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Because I’m curious how much better sex will be now that I have heightened senses.”
A growl rumbled in his chest as he nuzzled my lips. “Every person in this room can hear you, even when you whisper.”
“Shit. I forgot.” Heat crept up my face as I laughed and kissed him again.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Asher’s deep voice had me jumping back like a teenager caught necking in the back of her mom’s car.
“Hi, Asher,” I said.
His dark eyes moved between me and Cole. He didn’t smile or frown. I couldn’t read him, but something made me lower my eyes, dipping my head. An instinct. And then I heard it, between a snarl and a whimper.
My wolf.
She recognized Asher as her Alpha. I had no rational explanation for knowing that, but I did.
Asher lifted my chin until I met his eyes. Finally, he smiled. “Welcome to the pack, Madison.”
His simple words sent a wave of complex emotions through me—devotion, love, belonging, and pride all braided together—binding me to this man and all the other pack members, most of whom I barely knew. And from the depths of my soul, my wolf howled.
Tears stung my eyes as I struggled to find my voice. “Thank you. I can hear her… My wolf.”
Asher nodded slowly. “This is your family now. She’s home, and so are you.” His gaze shifted over to Cole. “And next time you decide to leave the pack during a full moon without telling me why, I’ll throw you into your truck myself.” He shook his head. “We’re strong as a pack. No lone wolves. You could’ve been killed.”