Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Tuesday felt like a completely different day to Kaeli than the others before it. Maybe it was because she knew how well she could defend her mate and the pack when called on, or maybe it was because she could feel her magics working together, two parts of a whole.
She didn’t feel fractured anymore; she felt like she was exactly where she needed to be, and her life was finally falling into place.
Of course, it was all because of her sexy mate. Meeting Solan was by far the best thing that had ever happened to her. She cherished every day with him, and she was definitely falling for him.
How could she not? He was not only oh-so-sexy, but he was sweet and protective, and rocked her world every time they touched.
They left the house after a late breakfast and walked to Leo and Mira’s. They held hands and meandered, not in a hurry, and enjoyed the crisp fall morning.
“Are you happy with the house?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s only a two-bedroom. When I chose it from the unoccupied ones available at the time, I didn’t need more than that. But we’ll start a family eventually, and I guess I was wondering if you wanted to look for another home in town.”
She slowed her walk and faced him. “I like the house, and I like that we live on the same street as Leo and Mira, because I think she and I are going to be great friends. But aside from that, we could always add onto the house if we end up having a big family.”
“That works for me.” He brushed his lips against hers.
They resumed their walk and reached Leo and Mira’s. Solan knocked, and Leo called for them to come in.
In the family room, Mira stood and hugged Kaeli in greeting. “Morning! I know you met Brick yesterday, but this is Jade, his mate. Jade, this is Kaeli, Solan’s mate.”
Jade stood and gave Kaeli a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“Have a seat, guys, we were just talking,” Leo said.
Brick, who had been pacing near where Jade was sitting, said, “Yeah, talking! I can’t believe I leave town for the first time in years, and there’s a literal battle for good and evil, and a rescue on top of it, and I missed it all!”
Solan chuckled as he and Kaeli took a seat on the couch. “It’s wild, right? Everything happened at once—Kaeli and I met, then Foley attacked the dealership, and then Mira got abducted by that asshole poacher.”
Mira shivered. “I’m glad they’re all dead, and I’m glad Brent Foley and his H.A.S. jackasses are gone. Ohio is a better place without him here.”
“Damn straight,” Leo said.
Brick wanted a play-by-play of all the action he’d missed. Kaeli settled back on the couch with Solan’s arm around her and listened as Solan and Leo told him everything that had happened leading up to the rescue at the warehouse and Kaeli opening up the earth to swallow the evil males whole.
With a sage nod, Brick said, “I know you haven’t been here long, but I talked to Adam this morning, and I’d like to offer you a place on the security team.”
Kaeli hummed and glanced at Solan, who smiled encouragingly.
Before she could say anything, Brick continued, “It would be part-time, since I know that you’re still working on your magics, and Cinder said that since you’re dealing with two magics instead of one, it’s not something that can be easily mastered, so you need time and freedom to do that.
But you could work with Solan, and I could keep you close to the alphas’ home and in the hunting territory. ”
“I’d love that. I was actually wondering what I might do with myself, along with learning how to use my magic and being an amazing mate to Solan.”
“Hell, yes, you are,” Solan said with a grin.
“You can start next week,” Brick said.
Solan gave her shoulder a squeeze. Mira and Jade smiled at her, and Leo cracked a joke about not pissing her off because she could throw fire at people with pretty good accuracy.
“You’re one of us now,” Solan whispered in her ear. “My family is yours.”
She thought her heart might burst. What she’d been searching for since she’d been left behind at sixteen was right in front of her. Family, belonging, friendship.
And it was all because of Solan, her sweet, sexy wolf.
Later that evening, they walked to the alphas’ home because Adam had called a mandatory pack-wide meeting in the yard behind the house.
She and Solan had taken the day off, and after spending time at Leo’s, they’d returned to their own house, tumbled in the sheets, and then pillow-talked about the future.
About half-wolf, half-witch babies. About building a home and family.
About both of them finally getting what they’d lost.
They made their way to the backyard of the alphas’ home and found Brick and Jade near the front, so they stood with them. Mira and Leo joined them, and they all waited as Adam and Cinder stood on the back deck and watched over everyone.
After a few minutes, Adam raised his hand, and the quiet murmuring settled.
“I think we’re all here, so we can get started.
First, I wanted to thank the security team for their amazing work over the last few days.
As most of you know, we faced Brent Foley and Victor Hawthorne, working together once more, and dealt with another attack on the dealership, a near-catastrophe with a rigged house, and the abduction of one of our own.
” His gaze landed on Kaeli and Solan. “If it weren’t for Solan leading the security team in Brick’s absence, and Kaeli’s masterful use of her magics to send the shifter-poacher into the great beyond along with his people, we might still be under siege.
I can report with all confidence that Brent Foley is no longer in the state of Ohio. ”
The pack cheered loudly.
When the noise eased, Adam said, “Life can go back to the way it was before. We’ll open all the roads into town and ease the restrictions.
While we still need to watch each other’s backs and hunt in pairs on the full moons, we can rest easy knowing that the evil that came against us time and again has been defeated, and we are still standing.
Thorn Hollow Pack forever!” He lifted his head and howled, and the pack joined in.
As Solan howled next to her, Kaeli grinned and whooped a cheer.
“Have a good night, everyone,” Cinder called out when the last of the howls had stopped echoing in the woods.
Solan led Kaeli through the pack and introduced her to people. She met the owners of the town deli, which boasted the best sandwiches around, who promised her one of their special mile-high ham-and-cheese sandwiches whenever she came by. And she met Mira’s mom and sister, who Dove had mentioned.
As she and Solan walked toward the house to speak with Cinder and Adam, Kaeli said, “Wow. Mira’s mom has two mates.”
Solan snorted. “You get one, female.”
She laughed. “One is all I need.”
“Damn straight.”
After speaking with Adam and Cinder, they made their way home. Kaeli truly felt the kinship of the pack and what it meant to be mated to a wolf.
They kicked off their shoes and settled on the couch.
“Nightling,” he said, taking her hand. “Would you like to join with me officially as my mate and become a member of the pack?”
She felt breathless. As her heart leaped in joy, she said, “Yes!” No hesitation, no doubt, just freedom to be with the male her heart and body craved.
“We can plan it for this weekend, or we can wait a little longer if you’d like. There’s no rush.”
“How about Saturday?” she said after checking the weather app and finding clear skies and mild temperatures for after sunset.
“Perfect.”
He told her what to expect, from hanging out with the females ahead of time, to Solan preparing the bonfire and Adam presiding over the joining ceremony.
“We’re already mated,” he said, brushing his fingers over the marks on her neck, which made her shiver. “But this cements it with the pack. You’ll be a member and under Adam and Cinder’s authority. Then he’ll call for a shift and hunt, and the pack will go for a nice run in the territory.”
“I’ll get to see you shift!”
“Yep. And I’ll hang out with you. We can walk around together. I can’t wait for you to see me in my wolf form again.”
“I can’t wait too.” She turned in her seat and faced him, resting her head on his outstretched arm.
“I’m so happy, Solan. You make this house feel like a home, and I haven’t had a home before.
I think what I had growing up with my mom was the facade of a home.
It looked good from the outside, but it was a mess inside. ”
“You make this house feel like home, too. And I haven’t had that since my parents were killed. I wish you could have met them. I know my mom and dad would have loved you because you’re my truemate.”
“Why do you call me Nightling?”
“It’s what my dad called my mom. I was so young when they were taken from me, but when I met you, so many memories have slowly surfaced, and that was one of them.”
“I like it,” she said.
“I have another idea,” he said.
Her body heated at his dark gaze. “Do tell.”
“A date. Friday. Out of town, somewhere special.”
“I thought you had an idea involving no clothes and orgasms.”
“Oh, I have that idea, too,” he said. He rose to his feet and grabbed her arm, and in one swift move, she found herself over his shoulder again, his hand firmly on her thigh to hold her in place.
“I think you like carrying me like this,” she said with a laugh.
“Hell yes. I get to take you where I want, and I always want to take you to bed.”
“Same. Hurry up, Solan! I’m ready for my sweet and sexy wolf mate.”
“You got it,” he said, rushing toward the bedroom, their laughter morphing into moans and cries of pleasure as they came together. Again and again.