Chapter 19
A few days later, after her family was settled in their new homes and had already hosted them for dinner, Leo took Mira to the clearing in the pack’s territory to see the damage left behind.
It was their day off from the dealership. He was taking a shift on patrol, and she was going to help her mom and sister clean the home of an elderly wolf female who had no family to help her out.
“You okay?” he asked as they walked through the clearing and headed toward the burned area where they’d been attacked.
“Yeah. I just wanted to see it in the daytime. Is that silly?”
“Not even a little bit.”
She gave him a grateful smile and squeezed his hand.
They reached the area where he’d been trapped by flames and stopped. He could still smell the flames even though they didn’t burn any longer. Trees were scorched, and the ground was black. He could hear movement and knew the security team was on patrol.
Standing in silence, he considered all he might have lost and was damn thankful they’d all come out on the other side of the ordeal, safe and whole.
“I wonder how they dropped the accelerant,” she said.
“Brick found evidence of drones on the security feed. And someone got close enough to toss a small Molotov cocktail, which set off the fires.”
“It could have been a lot worse.” She shivered. He put his arm around her and drew her close.
After a little while, he walked her to the alphas’ house, where her mom and sister were waiting for her, and then he headed to the security building.
“Hey,” he said, walking inside and finding Solan, Brick, and Stewart.
“Hi,” Solan said. “I’m on patrol with you. How’s Mira?”
“She’s great. I’m the one who’s having occasional nightmares about her being hurt during the fight.” His wolf was still in protective mode and would probably always be extra-strength crazy about it.
“They’ll pass in time,” Stewart said. “My mom got hurt in a car wreck when I was a kid, and my dad was driving. He said it took a few weeks before he stopped waking up in a panic because his wolf was having nightmares every night about her being hurt.”
“Sounds about right,” Leo said. “I know they’ll ease off, but I may never get over seeing her get hit by that asshole.”
The males nodded in understanding.
He and Solan checked their patrol schedule and were going to hit the east side of town and start with a perimeter walk before hopping in a golf cart and driving around the neighborhoods. After they grabbed their walkies, they moved outside and headed toward the east side.
They crossed the road in silence, walking directly to the edge of town, and then began the patrol. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves that rustled with a light breeze that brought heat and no relief. Leo’s wolf stretched inside him, ready for anything.
“You’re wound tight,” Solan said.
“Can’t stop,” Leo admitted. “My wolf is still on edge, like flames might shoot up again. I know Stewart is right and it’ll ease with time, but I also always want to be ready to protect Mira whenever she needs me.”
“You’ll find a balance between being overprotective and vigilant.
Mira wouldn’t want you to drive yourself nuts worrying about her.
I want to say she’s safe here, that we all are, but the truth is Brent Foley is a menace and there’s no telling what he might do or who he might come after.
Being watchful is something we should all be doing. ”
Leo hummed. “I wish he’d get hit by a bus or something.”
Solan snorted. “Me too. I mean, imagine making your whole personality one that doesn’t like a group of people? We’re shifters for crap’s sake, not criminals. But he thinks we don’t have a right to exist, to share space with humans.”
“Well, the anti-vampire guy—Jason Finnegan—met his end finally. At the fangs of a hellhound. Eventually, good wins over evil.”
“Yeah, but he also took out a lot of vampires along the way,” Solan pointed out.
“No telling how many shifters Foley has killed or hurt. I believe someday he’ll meet his end, and then he’ll have to contend with his actions in the afterlife.
I suspect there will be lots of fire and brimstone where he’s going. ”
“For sure.”
“I remember my dad saying that finding your truemate makes the wolf louder because there’s more to lose.
Before you’re mated, you’re just an island.
Yeah, you’ve got the pack to watch out for, but it’s not the same as being the protector in a relationship.
But the wolf doesn’t just get loud, he gets smarter.
Fear isn’t weakness; it’s just intuition.
Your wolf was made to keep Mira safe, and you will. ”
“You’re a damn good friend, Solan. I hope you find your truemate soon.”
“Oh, me too, it’s been long enough. I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life. Mate, babies, a home full of love. I want it all.”
“You’ll have it, and it’ll be worth the wait,” Leo said confidently.
Because he knew it was true. He hadn’t even been looking for a mate when he and Mira had met, but she came into his life at the perfect time.
They continued their patrol on the east side of town, then returned to the security building to patrol the streets in the golf cart, ready to help if needed.
Leo loved turning a wrench, but it was days like this, when he got to see the pack and be part of keeping everyone safe, that he really felt like he was part of something amazing.
* * *
As they headed back to the security building after their golf-cart patrol around town, Leo’s wolf finally seemed to be easing out of the hard edge of protectiveness that he’d carried since the fire.
On the way, they paused to help a young wolf whose car had broken down at the side of the road. Leo was able to figure out what was wrong and get him on the way home without much trouble.
Moments like that reminded Leo why patrolling was important. It wasn’t just about catching threats, but showing the pack that people were around to help.
Once they reached the security building, Leo was missing Mira something fierce.
“You can go get your mate,” Solan said. “I can tell your wolf is practically champing at the bit to get out of here.”
“You sure?” Leo asked.
“Yeah. I’ll do the report and turn our gear in. Go. Have a good night.”
“Thanks, man, I owe you one.”
“I’ll add it to the many favors I’ve collected from you over the years.”
Leo jumped out of the golf cart and headed for the alphas’ house, where Mira was waiting. He found her on the back patio with her mom and sister, with Cinder and her mother-in-law.
“There you are,” Mira said. She hugged him tightly. “I missed you.”
“That’s so sweet,” Layla said. “Young love.”
“New love,” Cinder’s mother-in-law added.
“Ugh, I need to find my truemates,” Selene said.
Mira smiled at her. “You will. I bet coming to Thorn Hollow is going to change your life the way it changed mine.”
“I sure hope so,” Selene said. “I’m ready to find them. I haven’t been out on a date in ages.”
They said goodbye and headed home. The sun had set, and the stars were out in full force. Mira slipped her hand into his as they strolled down the quiet road.
“You smell like lemons,” he said.
“Cleaner. I did Mary’s kitchen cabinets, and boy, did they need a good scrubbing. It’s very glamorous work, you know.”
“You definitely look glamorous to me.”
She told him about a video call with her adopted family, who were thankful to hear they were safe and looking forward to a visit from them in the fall, when they were going to fly out to meet them at a festival in Salt Lake City.
Adam and Cinder were going to join them and were taking the vampire master’s private plane, so they didn’t have to deal with security at the big airports.
“How do you feel about everything?” he asked.
“Well, pretty good, I guess,” she said, thoughtfully.
“I miss my adopted family, but I’m so glad to have my biological family with me.
And they’re getting better about calling me Mira, but I’ve also kind of gotten used to being called Calypso.
It’s like having a nickname that only one side of the family uses. ”
“I’m glad you’re making peace with things. And I’m really glad they’re here in town.”
“Oh, me too. I’m so glad I get to spend time with them, and from what they’ve told me, they’re really happy to be settled in one place.”
“I’m sure they’re most happy that you’re with them again.”
“Definitely.”
For a while, they walked in silence, the rustle of leaves and trill of insects filling the air. His wolf stretched inside him, calm and content now that Mira was with them.
She stopped in the middle of the road. “Dance with me.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” she said with a grin. “No music, just us.” She lifted her arms like she was already swaying. “Come on, Leo. Live a little.”
He laughed, but his chest actually ached with how much he adored her.
She was his wild female, carefree and lovely.
He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
She rested her head on his chest and they began to sway to the rhythm of the night—the insects, the leaves, the steady beating of their hearts.
She hummed softly, some melody that was playing in her head, and it was magical. He tightened his hold on her, grateful for stolen moments like this.
When she tilted her face up to his for a kiss, he lowered his mouth to hers, savoring the softness of her lips.
“You make me feel safe,” she whispered when the kiss ended.
“It’s my duty and honor to protect you.” He dipped her back and kissed her throat, bringing her back to her feet. “Sweet mate. The other half of my heart.”
They danced awhile longer, lost in each other, the stars shining down on the very best thing that had ever happened to him.
He didn’t know what the future held, but as long as he and Mira were together, that was all that mattered.
Tomorrow would bring whatever it brought, be it joy or hardship. But as Leo held Mira close and kissed her once more beneath the stars, he knew one truth above everything: they would face whatever happened, together, always.
* * *
Thank you so much for reading Leo’s book!