Dylan spared his sleeping mate a glance. Their few miles north put them nearly an hour from the cabin they’d shared during that fateful blizzard the winter before. When Chrystal realized their location, she’d practically vibrated with the need to check on Mama and her pup. Despite her continued cheerfulness, he scented her distress. Seeing her mother had confused her—filled her with a mixture of pain and joy.

Damn woman. Dallas’ arrogance might be well-deserved since the Lone Wolf successfully avoided the Enforcers for more than two decades. Her actions also kept her away from her child for years—a child she'd reared in isolation without any pack connections. Trailing his fingers along Chrystal’s cheek, Dylan could admit the wolf’s choices had protected her offspring—an Omega—from the potential backlash within a pack. Still…his mate had suffered due to her mother’s choices. Hard for him to forgive the loneliness, touch starvation and near strangulation of Chrystal’s wolf. If Three Rivers hadn’t formed…

I might never have met her. With another caress to her hair, he withdrew his touch. He didn’t want to wake her. Their time in New Orleans had seen her truly flower, yet one meeting with her mother knocked her sideways. Why now? The sun edged the horizon, and he drew the covers more securely over his mate.

Mama raised her head from the floor. Her pup was now a gangly youth, and he slept against his mother’s back. The pair of wild wolves had been waiting for them when they arrived at the cabin. Dylan had no idea where their pack had gone or if they even survived. The campground was safe enough for them, at the moment.

Located on the edge of Willow Bend territory, the summer campground remained closed and accessible by the Hunters for running border patrol with Three Rivers. Dylan jutted his chin toward the door and Mama rose. Her pup let out a yawn and he stretched as he stood. Instead of following Dylan as Mama did, the pup leapt onto the bed. At his stare, however, the youth lowered its ears as it settled in next to Chrystal, then rested his chin on her leg.

Lips quirking, Dylan glanced at Mama. She gave him a similar look. They were both up, but her pup wanted to go back to sleep. After some consideration, she turned her back on the bed and paced toward the front room. Trusting the maternal instinct, he nodded, but glanced at the young wolf once more. The pup’s eyes were closed and a light snore drifted from him.

After pulling on his jeans, he padded into the front room. Unlike their first few months in the cabin, the warmer temperatures outdoors let him leave windows open with the screens on. Mama waited at the front door, and gave him a baleful look when he paused to start the coffee before letting her out. The wild wolf was as far from a dog as he was—but she had developed an affinity for Chrystal and continued to return to the campground.

They might have to close it permanently to anyone non-pack so the wolves could continue to experience freedom without restraint. After pouring himself a mug of coffee, he retrieved his cell phone from the mantle in the front room then carried both to the porch.

Coolness with the barest hint of autumn in the crisp air greeted him. It was late summer, and it had been steamy in Louisiana, but home…Hell, it’s home. Green trees, grass, the scent of water in the distance—deer were on the move, too, and a few rabbits. Nostrils flared, he tipped his head. Two, perhaps three, other Hunters had spent time here during their turns keeping an eye on the border.

With Owen still in Hudson River and Dylan only recently returned, it didn’t surprise him to catch hints of Collin and Zane nearest to his cabin. They hadn’t stayed inside, however, and for that, he owed both wolves a favor. Though the pair were bachelors, they understood newly-mated males wouldn’t want the scent of other males where their mate slept.

Newly-mated. The corners of his mouth curved, and he savored the possessive sensation Chrystal was his. He’d never imagined enjoying the feeling of being tied to another permanently. I can’t imagine being anyway else now. Nor did he want to. Sipping his coffee, he finally turned his attention to the phone. Though he and Chrystal arrived well before evening and could have pushed on another few hours to Willow Bend proper, he’d decided against it.

They’d waited this long to bring her into the pack, another night wouldn’t hurt them and definitely would help her. He’d texted Mason and his Alpha agreed that another day wouldn’t hurt. He’d sent a second message, however, earlier in the morning. He was on his way to them.

Weird, but then Mason didn’t stand on a lot of ceremony. It also meant Dylan could afford to let Chrystal sleep for another couple of hours, though she might be mad because he let her miss the sunrise. Sleep was better for her, and they had plenty of time to let her find the shiny later.

Caring for her was his right as her mate. Though Sovvan hadn’t been mated, Delta Crescent’s second Omega was. Johan Carde, a male wolf who seemed every bit as aggressive as his Hound mate, was the southern pack’s second Omega. He was younger than Sovvan and Chrystal, barely twenty, and already mated to a wolf nearly twice his age, but Claude Germain was a tough Hound and reminded Dylan of Zane in a lot of ways like his patience, his stillness, even his temperament. He’d been the one to invite Dylan out for a drink in the Quarter while Sovvan and Chrystal spent time with Johan. If not for the presence of three Hounds guarding the Omegas, he’d never have gone.

The drink, however, proved to be most illuminating. Claude wanted to talk to him about what it was like to be mated to an Omega. Most of it, Dylan already learned the hard way, but there were other aspects he hadn’t considered. For instance, when Chrystal reflected the negative or weakest aspects of Willow Bend, it might change her some. He could help—their mating bond would ground her. Of course, Claude had added with a sly look, Dylan needed to beware Chrystal reflecting his weaknesses back at him.

Not really a problem. I like myself almost as much as I love her. Whatever happened over the next few days, it wouldn’t change a damn thing for him. Mate. Pack. Alpha. He had his priorities straight. Leaning against the railing, he checked the time of the message and then glanced at the eastern sky. It was clear, the sun’s rise kissing it blue.

Mason would probably make it to them before lunchtime. Satisfied, he took another sip of his coffee just as he heard the squeak of the floorboard behind him. Junior padded outside with a grumble followed by Chrystal’s lighter step.

“You should still be asleep,” he told her, glancing over his shoulder in time to see her drowsy expression before she wrapped her arms around him and pressed against his back. She’d found his shirt and pulled it on, but her legs were bare. Rubbing her hands lightly where they locked together over his abs, he relaxed into her embrace.

“I would be, but the man of my dreams slipped away.” The smile in her voice pulled another grin from him. “So since he left me, I came and found you.”

The tease scored and he twisted around to face his mate. Her deep, soulful eyes held so much mirth in them, he refused to growl. “Tell me more about this man in your dreams…”

Raising her eyebrows, she tipped her head to the side. “Planning to eviscerate him?”

“Definitely.”

“Then I’m not going to tell you.” Only the kiss she planted over his heart stifled his next growl.

“Mean.” She accused him of that occasionally, and he had to agree, but he loved her willingness to tease him. “At least tell me he’s ugly and has warts.”

Laughter bubbled out of her. “It wouldn’t matter if he were beautiful and dazzled all the ladies…I have the only wolf I want. Besides, I’ve heard rumors of you being a quite the charmer yourself.”

Once upon a time… “I was young and stupid. It took me a long time to find you, though.”

“Okay, now who’s sucking up?” Perhaps his mate had spent too much time with Sovvan. The clever tongue on that wolf could neatly dice even the sturdiest of egos.

Touching a finger beneath Chrystal’s chin, he nudged her to lift her gaze to him before he pressed a kiss to her lips. “I will suck you up anytime you wish…”

Warmth spread where she dug her nails into his sides. “You say the dirtiest things sometimes.”

“I could be dirtier.” The admission cost him nothing, but her blush was worth everything.

“I want to stay here, but we should probably get dressed.” Playtime was over. She snuggled closer, and rested her cheek against him as her gaze sought the horizon. Yes, she’d found her shiny for the day and he didn’t begrudge the sunrise her attention.

“We can stay. Mason’s on his way here.”

“Right now?”

“Yes,” he told her, but tightened his grip when she would have pulled away. “But he’s still hours away, so watch your sunrise or do you want your camera?”

Biting her lip, she glanced at him. “Camera…and maybe coffee?”

Chuckling, he pinched her ass. “Go on, I’ll pour you a cup.” He didn’t have to tell her twice, she danced back into the cabin and Dylan sighed. God, he loved her. Every silly inch of her.

Three hours later, Chrystal romped in her wolf form and played with Junior. Mama sprawled in the sun on the porch while Dylan spent some time splitting logs. They’d had breakfast, showered, and his mate shifted to stretch her legs. Unlike most wolves, she still wasn’t as comfortable with her wolf as Dylan and it took her time and concentration to shift—less time with each attempt. She hadn’t practiced as much in New Orleans, far too self-conscious of the time it took her to change. Even when they’d been invited on a gator hunt, she’d demurred—arguably more because she didn’t like hunting as much as she did simply playing.

The wood, however, would be needed in winter so he took the time to cut the logs. It also proved a good stretch for his muscles and kept him from trying to coax his mate into a longer run. They were closing in on lunchtime and Mason was due anytime. As if on cue, Dylan’s phone rang and he set the axe aside to stride over to the porch.

Mason’s contact information flashed on the screen before Dylan answered. Mama raised her head to give him another baleful look. The maternal wolf amused him. She didn’t like to be disturbed. Of course, she didn’t have to keep showing up at the cabin. At the edge of the woods, Junior and Chrystal raced in circles darting and charging at each other, narrowly avoiding colliding.

“You close?” he said by way of greeting when he answered the phone.

“Fifteen minutes.” The hum of the motor accompanied Mason’s words. “I thought I’d give you time to dress if necessary.”

Dylan laughed. “Thanks for the thought, but we’re good. You hungry?”

“Starved and I’m bringing food. Occurred to me I don’t know what Chrystal likes, so I grabbed burgers, Chinese and chicken.”

One of the facets of the Alpha that always impressed Dylan was his genuine desire to look after them all. Still, he couldn’t help razzing him a bit. “Damn. No pizza?”

A beat of silence followed his question, then Mason chuckled. “She’s not a picky eater?”

“Not even close.” He didn’t bother to continue the bluff. “I think years of TV dinners and making do with sandwiches lets her enjoy all types of food. One thing she enjoyed when we were down south was trying all the different meal options.”

“Gumbo.” The wistful longing under the word was almost audible. “New Orleans is the best place to find it.”

His mate had much the same reaction. “Thanks for picking up the food. We brought back some extra beignets you may persuade her to part with.”

“Tempting, but let her have them.” Another personality quirk Dylan shared with his Alpha was the need to look after all those around them. Since Chrystal loved the treat, Dylan would never try to pilfer any and Mason was the same.

“We’ll see you in ten then…”

“Wait, is she close enough to hear?”

Dylan glanced at the woods where Chrystal and Junior kept trying to pin each other. The wagging tails betrayed their fun and their yipping raised such a racket, every prey animal within a two-mile radius had probably vanished, but no way she was listening. “Nope. What’s wrong?”

“Is she ready?” All trace of humor and play fled his Alpha’s tone to be replaced by a sober consideration.

“I don’t know how to gauge readiness,” he answered as honestly as he could. “She seems more comfortable with herself.” Or had, until she’d encountered her mother the night before, but he kept that nugget to himself for the moment. “She and Sovvan spent days together, talking, exploring and I watched her…I watched her flower.” His beautiful mate had come into her own in a sense, and her self-confidence grew with every passing day in most areas. Shifting in front of others was one area she still seemed reluctant to experiment with, but as long as she trusted Dylan, he was happy enough to make her as comfortable as possible.

“Fair.”

When his Alpha didn’t say anything more, Dylan added, “And I don’t know how it will be for all of us when you do bring her over. I personally feel fantastic in the mating bond. I haven’t noticed anything other than a deeper sense of her. I know when something bothers her, even if I’m not scenting her.” Maybe too honest, but Mason had asked. Another piece of advice Claude had given him was to trust his instincts where his mate was concerned. Like an Alpha was never really Alpha to his or her mate, an Omega wasn’t always Omega to his or hers. That meant Dylan might be the one person who could help her ground out the worst of the negativity because he would always see her.

“I want her in the pack,” Mason said after another considering moment, his car close enough, Dylan could track him in the distance. “We’ve given her time, you’ve had time to help her learn about the basic structure, and she’s spent time with Delta Crescent’s Omegas…”

“…but she will be safer with us.” And out of Three Rivers once and for all. The idea she was still subject to Luciana, even though the other wolf had made no attempt to pull Chrystal to her, didn’t sit well with either of them.

“Exactly.” The possessiveness in Mason’s voice didn’t ruffle Dylan. His Alpha was as possessive with all of his wolves.

“Then let’s do it. We’ll handle whatever comes next.” A yowl interrupted and he checked on Chrystal to find her pinning Junior. The youth squirmed beneath her, but he couldn’t dislodge her. When the pup finally conceded, Dylan grinned wider as pride flooded him.

Even six months before Chrystal wouldn’t have been remotely successful, but she’d learned.

They both had.

“We’re ready, Mason.”

“I’ll be there in five.”

It was finally time.