Chapter Nine
“What is she?” Nate asked.
“What do you mean?” Liam asked, his eyes on Nory as she laughed with Delta by the beginning of the garden.
“She calms the wolves.”
Liam dragged his attention to his Second, who stood leaning his elbows on the railing, watching the girls. “I think she’s just shy. Maybe the wolves just get protective over the quiet ones.”
“Nah, she’s more than just shy. She’s cold water on a burn. Is she an Omega?”
Liam frowned and looked back at Nory. Indeed, he had never seen Delta string two sentences together before tonight, and now she was over there chattering easily with Nory.
“You have chills,” Nate pointed out. He gestured to Liam’s forearms. “Did you just figure it out?” He shook his head and laughed. “I get it man. Females make our heads cloudy.” Nate went back inside, and at the click of the closing door, Liam exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
Holy shit. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, watching Nory pluck a blade of long grass and sway from side to side slowly as she talked with Delta with this gorgeous, animated expression on her face.
She wasn’t shy here.
Was this what she was like at work? With all the dogs? She’d said she understood animals more than humans, and was that it? Was she a natural Omega?
Was that why his wolf went quiet and let him keep his mind around her?
Was that why he craved being around her? Was that why he got so riled up when he could feel her hurting, or scared?
She had opened Delta up and gotten every one of the Pack members to come over within the first few hours she was here. She’d not only fed all of them, but she’d taught Delta how to do the same thing when she wasn’t around.
Natural soother. Natural teacher.
He huffed a laugh, and ran his hands down his face, left them there on the scruff of his face as he sat there in shock.
Omegas were a balm to the soul, and animals around them naturally grew protective of her aura.
They were also almost non-existent. Dominants would feel the need to keep her happy.
They would be more peaceful around her to maintain her smile and easy spirit.
He’d only met one before, when he was very young.
He laughed again and leaned back into the rocking chair as so many things clicked into place.
No wonder Delta had come to stand next to her and asked for her to stay.
God, Nory had no idea how special she was.
She would be just fine here.
She’s mine.
The whisper of his wolf was so distinct on the words.
She’s mine.
The smile fell from his face as he realized what it meant. The animal had chosen before he had even had the power to say no.
There would be no Arrangements. There would be no peace from the Elders.
That claim from his wolf would bring a storm to territory that was already under fire, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
If the animal chose, there was no cutting her off, or leaving her alone.
There was only devotion.
Bonds didn’t happen often, but they happened.
It had happened here.
Nory turned and waved to him, and he knew he would remember this moment for the rest of his life.
Her smile. The blade of grass that waved from her hand.
Her hair lifting in the breeze. Her eyes sparkling on him.
The orange and pink and yellow hues in the sky behind her as the sun set on Coeur d’Alene Lake Pack territory.
It was her first night here, and inside of him, he knew he was changing. This wouldn’t be her only night here. It couldn’t be.
He would need her for what was to come.
This moment was one he would never forget.
A leaf blew across the porch, and he leaned over and plucked it from its path and spun it slowly in circles by the stem.
He needed to keep this for the memory.