39

S eeing her here, on our land, among our pack, is a moment I will tuck away and save forever. The awe written all over her face when we arrived made me feel a sense of pride that I haven't felt in a very long time.

I've always cared for my pack and what we created here, but I don't think I've really allowed myself to enjoy it or take credit for it for so long. My arranged marriage was causing me more unhappiness than I even realized. Bringing her out here only happened a few times because she hated it so much that all she did was bitch. She never saw the beauty in our land or people. To avoid those feelings, I, unfortunately, had to avoid my pack.

What’s that thing I heard those human men say once...“Hindsight is always twenty-twenty?” Or something like that. It's incredibly true and humbling.

As the pack comes to greet us, I see the flicker of fear on Leera's face, but I don't even acknowledge it. I know everyone will love her. They won't even be able to help it. She'll smile or laugh, and they'll be another casualty to her beautiful soul.

I see my men bringing up the rear of the group, still in wolf form, and I know exactly what they're doing, and she sees them coming.

A giggle escapes her. “Are those the guys?”

A grunt is my only response as they sprint past the rest of our pack coming to greet us, stopping just before they barrel into Leera, who squeals with excitement.

“Wait, wait, wait! I want to see if I can guess who is who! Is that okay?” she turns to ask me.

“Sweetheart, you can do whatever you please with my men; actually, no. No, you can't. But yes, guess away.” I swear, Benny's wolf snickers at me.

Her cheeks turn pink, and her eyes narrow at me for a moment before she returns to her task at hand.

“Sorry, boys, it's a little obvious,” she says as she points to the twins' gray wolves, causing them to whimper.

Next, she points to the large black wolf. He's the only wolf whose tail isn't wagging. “Slate, is that you?”

His wolf nods and walks away, clearly ready to move on.

She's down to a large cinnamon-colored wolf and a brindled wolf. Both wolves are wagging their tails and seem to be smiling. She looks back and forth between them for a moment before she closes her eyes and slowly turns to the brindled wolf. “Andrei?”

Benny and I share a look that says I'll most definitely be asking what that was later.

Andrei bows his head and then lays down.

Then there's just Benny, and I should warn her, but I don’t.

Before she can turn to fully face him, he barrels into her and licks her entire face.

“OH, MY GAWD! BENJAMIN...what is his last name again, so I can yell at him properly?” she screeches.

“Bucur,” I laugh.

“BENJAMIN BUCUR, YOU CAN NOT GO AROUND SLOBBERING ALL OVER PEOPLE!” she hollers at him, but she's laughing.

Just as Benny prances off, the pack begins to reach us.

Miss Tilly pulls a handkerchief from her pocket and hands it to Leera to clean up the drool dripping from her face.

The pack gathers around us, offering a respectful distance, allowing me to introduce Leera at once, “Hello, everyone! I want to introduce you to my mate, Leera. The Goddess has returned her soul to me within this lifetime, which was confirmed by Elder Meredith,” I announce to clear any confusion as most of the pack knows my history.

Elder Meredith looks across the span of faces and simply nods.

Leera's blushing, smiling, and offering sweet little waves to the pack members.

Everyone is smiling. “Please, let us help prepare for the full moon ceremonies. Leera and I will make our rounds and do our best to meet everyone through the course of the day.”

Everyone smiles, waves, and begins to lead the children away, but I always play with the children when I arrive. “If it's okay with the parents, I would still like to play with the pups for a bit before I get to work.”

The parents laugh and tell their young ones to behave themselves as they walk away.

With the parents out of the way, I look back to the children to find them in awe of Leera, who's also staring at them with hearts in her eyes.

“You're so pretty, like a princess,” the young girl who hugged me the last time I was here compliments Leera, causing her to blush all over.

“Thank you,” she squeaks. “I'm Leera. What's your name?” she asks as she kneels to the children's level.

“My name is Penelope,” she answers, taking Leera's hand and leading her to a log off to the side. “We should sit here; the boys like to wrestle with Alpha when he gets here.”

It's at that moment that I realize that she is the only little girl in the pack. I smile at them perched on the log before mayhem ensues. I allow myself to be tackled to the ground by little people and pups alike. When they've got me down and covered, I shift, and my wolf breaks through the pile of children and pups to play.

The smile on Leera's face while she watches us and chats with Penelope shoots straight through to my heart.

Is this what having my own family would be like?

Would Leera want to live with the pack and be part of our community?

Could I feel this kind of freeing happiness every day?

I don't know how long we wrestle, and I don't care. We go until the pups are pooped out, and we all collapse onto the ground, earning us a few more snickers from the girls.

My wolf is panting, but we're happy. Leera makes her way over and scratches us behind the ear, and fuck, if it doesn't feel amazing.

“You're just a great big softie, aren't you?” she asks in a mushy baby voice that would be patronizing if she wasn't so damn cute.

I decide to follow Benny's lead and lick up her whole face.

“OH! ROMAN RAZBOINIC!” she squeals again.

Penelope wags her finger in front of my snout. “Uh, uh, uh, you're in trouble now.”

Leera's laughing again.

Using my muzzle, I pull her into me. She plops onto the ground, and I wrap myself around her. She rubs her face all through my fur, giving back my slobbery kisses before sinking into me.

Little Penelope’s mother comes to collect her to help with chores, and Leera smiles and waves in return.

“I can't wait to meet my wolf. I'm sure you can't either. Not you, Roman, but your wolf. Will my wolf look the same as your last mate’s? Or will she reflect me?”

I can feel my wolf's love for her as much as my own. Even with me getting Leera back, it still doesn't change the fact that he has gone so long without her wolf. I hadn't thought about whether the wolf would be the same. Since our wolves usually match us physically in some way, and Leera and Imogen are so different, I would assume the wolves would be different too. It's the souls that continue moving on.

I allow myself a few more minutes to nuzzle her before nudging her to hop up. Once she's up, I nod towards the rock where I had someone from the pack drop off a cloak for me. I don't think Leera's ready for me to just walk around stark naked...yet anyway.

Once I've shifted and donned the cloak, I turn back to her. “Let's help everyone get ready for this evening,” I suggest, as I drop a kiss to her knuckles.