Once the deal had been made, I drove back to the homestead. I still had to unload the house. Some would go in the dumpster I’d ordered. Some would go in my car to be transported to the storage unit. A truly tiny pile would soon be moved into our temporary home. Thinking about it made me smile. This was right. Oh, and there were few things I’d enjoyed more than watching Quinn negotiate my purchase. By the time he was done, I had free blinds for the place in addition to free delivery and set up.

I tossed the ottoman in the dumpster. Most of the furniture was ruined either by water or smoke damage. For last few hours, I’d been trekking back and forth. Determination to finish had me lost in my own thoughts. Quinn had called, but I couldn’t reach the phone in time. Standing on the porch, I prepared to return his phone call when I heard the sound of a vehicle on gravel. The house had been set up. The homesteaders had gone back to the Phoenix House to pack. Suddenly, I found myself all alone. I stood at the ready, prepared to shift in an instant if necessary. The vehicle came to a stop at the end of the driveway. I recognized it as a taxi, but still I felt uneasy. We didn’t have visitors here.

Movement to my left caught my eye, I whipped around and saw Howl racing toward me. Relief swept over me. Together, we faced whoever was about to emerge from the cab. The door opened, the cab driver stepped out to open the door for his passenger and then the trunk to remove luggage. Finally, we saw a woman emerge. My entire body sighed. “Aunt Jo?” I jumped off the porch and rushed to greet her. As I neared, her arms opened to me, but the smile at seeing me still couldn’t hide the pain she felt at the loss of her sister. I took a deep breath. “I know,” I murmured as we hugged.

“Tell me everything. I’m here to help.” She studied me while smoothing my stray hairs. Then Aunt Jo glanced at Howl. Her brow arched. “You should know, I don’t plan on leaving until everything is settled.”

I laughed. “Will you be staying with us, auntie?”

Studying the homestead, she shook her head. “I don’t do well with packs.” She glanced down at Howl. “Not everyone is cut out for pack life.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know how to respond to her remark. “So that would make you a…”

“Rogue. I’m a rogue, dear.” She sighed. “And you should be happy I am.” She rifled through her purse and pulled out a bottle of her famous spray. “If I hadn’t gone rogue, this never would’ve been. You can’t imagine the lives that have been saved because of it.” Aunt Jo smiled proudly.

“I’m sensing there’s a story, maybe some family history I’m currently unaware of?” Then I gestured for her to follow me to the porch after I carried her bags to my vehicle. “We’ll figure out where you’re staying soon enough. I need a moment to rest after the back-breaking labor. Shall we sit and talk a bit?”

With a slight nod, Aunt Jo hesitantly sat beside me on the top porch step. “I suppose I need to check in with whomever is running things now, just so I don’t look like a threat.”

I bit my cheek and shrugged. “You already did.”

Her eyes widened. “Savvy! You?”

“Yes.” I grinned. “Won it.”

“Who challenged you? You need to make sure this can’t be contested.” Aunt Jo shook her head while smiling. “I never thought I’d see a female Alpha in my lifetime.” She swiped at her eyes. “I’m so proud of you. You give me hope. Maybe in this new age a woman truly can be anything and have it all.” She glanced at Howl. “Maybe if it had been this way when I was your age, I wouldn’t have gone rogue.”

“Father trained me for this, when it was obvious he wouldn’t have a son.” My head hung as I recalled the night everything changed.

“Your father was a good man. He was a forward thinker. That’s why the Phoenix Pack has prospered.” She sighed. “Before they left, we were all part of the Golden Pack, originally from Colorado. I joined your parents here when they started your pack. I found my mate.”

“Wait. You found your mate?” I frowned. “Then how are you a rogue?”

She glanced at Howl. This time he leaned more heavily against my legs. “I denied him. I didn’t want the future he offered. I couldn’t be less than I am, could never be satisfied as the simple housewife to a successful doctor.” Aunt Jo stared into my eyes. “So, I left, moved to California, studied at Berkeley, and finally created the special perfume—and cologne—which has preserved many a pack.” Her smile seemed sadder now.

“I thought you couldn’t leave your mate. I thought it would be so painful many wolves chose to die with their mate.” I shook my head. Right now, it felt like all my beliefs were crumbling.

Aunt Jo reached out and laid a hand on my thigh. “We knew we were meant for each other. My wolf recognized him, but I couldn’t go through with it. I left.” She shrugged.

“What happened to him? Did he die?” My eyes widened as I tried to process all this information.

“No, but he has mostly lived a half-life, I believe. This is what happens when you decide to love the one you’re with, rather than mate with your true love.” Howl whimpered. Aunt Jo stared down at him. “He refused to take a wolf mate. Instead, he found a dog shifter, and they had a son, I heard. There are problems in the pack. Their leader is greedy, driven, and essentially completely corrupt.”

The dog lay on my feet. He seemed almost sad. I laid a hand on his head. “It’s okay, Howl.” I could feel my wolf growing agitated. “Something you said…about your wolf recognizing its mate. How’s that work exactly?”

Our discussion was interrupted as Lenoir and Shelby pulled up. They jumped out of the minivan and rushed to hug the aunt none of us had seen since we were little. Aunt Jo patted the wood. “Come sit. You’re old enough to hear this too.” She waited until they had settled in before continuing. “Savvy asked about your wolf recognizing its mate.”

They both leaned in, but Shelby was the one who spoke. “Ooooh! Tell me.” Her cheeks grew pink. “I think I found my mate.”

“How lovely for you!” Aunt Jo gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Did your wolf grow agitated? Or even better, did your wolf howl?”

Shelby’s head tilted. “There was some definite pacing in there.” She sighed. “He wasn’t looking at me. He was too busy paying attention to Savvy.” She jabbed me in the side.

“Ow. And I thought you said he seemed to like you too?” I frowned.

“Well, he looked at me curiously. I thought maybe he felt something.” Shelby bit her lip.

“Nobody ever sees us with Savvy around.” Lenoir huffed. Then she stared at Aunt Jo with teary eyes. “I found my mate too. When I look at him, my wolf dances and whines. She only settles down when I’m near him. I can’t handle it, so I give in.” Her head hung. “That’s why I come off as pathetic. It’s better than the alternative.”

“I’m so sorry, Lennie.” My heart hurt for her. Then Howl seemed to sense my sadness, and he began to lick at my fingers. I held his face in my hands. “Thank you,” I murmured as I ran my hand through his fur.

Aunt Jo’s brow peaked. “Want some advice, Lenoir?”

Lennie nodded her head fervently while she sniffled. “Yes. More than anything. This…is torture.”

“Make him see you. In my experience, that’s all it takes. The minute your eyes connect, he’ll feel it. He’ll know. Then everything will change.” Aunt Jo patted Lennie’s hand.

For a moment, I played with my ponytail. Then I slowly caught my aunt’s attention. “Is the wolf ever wrong? Has a wolf ever wanted a human?”

She smirked. “Never. Trust your wolf. She knows what our other senses deny.” Then she licked her lips and looked completely satisfied.