Chapter Sixteen
“DO YOU STILL love me?”
“I’ll love you until the end of time.”
He asked her at least once a week, in a serious conversation, usually as they sat on the porch watching the rain fall.
The grass grow.
The leaves turn green.
They still had the rocking chairs on the porch, but both had been moved to the opposite side for someone else to sit in. The guys had attached a loveseat swing to the roof for quiet moments their alpha and his mate could share together.
Snuggle moments.
“I used to think it was the wolf’s instincts because it grew so much stronger when I turned. I didn’t realize it was the bond between us,” she admitted.
His arm tightened around her. “You would have known all this if we had time to develop our relationship in the human way. I was so careful not to sway you like my father did my mother that I left you alone, confused and bewildered.”
“No, Isaac. You’re perfect. You’re just not a mind reader, and no one can fault you for that, my love.”
Federal law overrode the state’s Turn Limitations law, calling it unconstitutional in depriving people of life.
But not in time for Penny’s change. She was terrified, Caitlin was terrified, the wolves were terrified.
The public, kept informed via her blog, were along for every inch of the wild ride.
Lawsuits were erupting all over the place and people had gone into hiding. It was a little difficult to hide Penny, though, as she was a public figure out in the open who had outed herself.
Thankfully, she had been prepared enough that when she died, she was easily roused with a wolf inside. A gentler monster, one already at ground zero who wanted nothing more than to join her sister, her pack, and her upcoming little niece.
Turned out, gas station condoms should have an expiration date. After one broke, they laughed and ended up throwing the rest away.
Isaac’s large hand cupped her rounded belly.
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m going to be a good parent. I didn’t have the best examples,” she admitted.
“You’re going to make a wonderful momma. Parents teach us, even when they’re shitty. You have so much love and goodness inside you. You have your sister here to help and your pack. I had a great parent and a shitty one, so I know the difference. We’re going to do right by this sweet little pup.”
“A girl,” she murmured. “Born, not bitten. That’s important.”
“A girl,” he agreed. “Born, yes. With your beauty. Your strength. That’s important.”
A car came squealing through the gates.
“Hell has frozen over!” Alex screamed through the open window. He flung open the car door, and stumbled out, hit the dirt, then picked himself up.
Another car came barreling down the driveway, followed by another, driving at a more sedate pace.
Amos came out of the second one. “What is happening to this world?” he asked dramatically.
The twins raced each other up to the porch, where they plopped in the rocking chairs. When the third car stopped, Noah and Penny got out, and Penny was grinning wide, waving at her.
“Explain,” Isaac grumbled.
“Misty… and Joaquin. He is her Spanish lover.”
“What?” Noah barked out.
“Yeah! She finally gave him a chance. That loser. Can you believe it?” Alex said.
Amos was shaking his head. “I called it. Years ago. It’s like I’m psychic or something.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Penny said.
“For him!” Noah barked.
“So weird, dude. Just think. Right now, your sister could be sucking Joaquin’s dick.”
Alex flew off the porch, landing on his back on the ground, rubbing his jaw with a huge smile on his face while Noah shook out his clenched fist.
“So sensitive,” Amos sniffed, holding a hand out for his brother to take.
“Never say my sister sucks dick,” Noah yelled.
“Aww, baby, it’s okay,” Penny said, rubbing her palm up his chest. Then she whispered something in his ear, but, being a newer wolf, she forgot about the sensitive hearing thing.
They all heard it clear as a bell.
“Baby, I’m gonna suck yours later.”
Everyone bit their lip, and looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Jeezus,” Isaac muttered under his breath.
But Caitlin grinned and pointed to her smiling lips, then his crotch, and waggled her eyebrows, mouthing later.
He belted out a laugh and she snuggled up to him.
She loved him. She loved the baby he planted in her. She loved the wolf he gave her. She loved her crazy pack.
Life was perfect.
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed my shifter romance.