Maya drove the truck back to the compound. Her heart thrummed too fast, and her hands were sweaty and slicked on the steering wheel, despite the cool night. Everything had changed, and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever come to terms with things, but she had Chance by her side, and that was all that mattered. She didn’t know if her mother selling the diner was a good thing or not, but she knew a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had options now, where she didn’t before. She still wasn’t completely convinced about the compound and some of the shifters, but if the alpha wanted her there, she knew in pack mentality, that was the most important thing.
“It’s going to be okay,” said Chance, covering her hand with his.
“Yeah, I hope you’re right.”
The last time she’d been up to the compound hadn’t gone so well.
They arrived to find what looked like most of the pack surrounding the meeting house. Nerves churned in her stomach.
“What is this, Chance?” she asked him.
“Go and see.”
The pack members turned to her as she climbed from the truck, but there was no aggression or questions this time. Instead, everyone smiled at her as she approached, some people reaching out to touch her arm and say hi as she passed through. The alpha, Holton, stood on stage, and he beckoned to her.
Maya turned to the shifter beside her. “Chance?”
“It’s okay. I’m right here.”
She trusted him completely. With everything she’d gone through over the past few weeks, Chance had always been there. Where most men would have thought it to be too much, too intense, he’d stayed. Even when things hadn’t been pretty, and she’d wanted to sleep rather than make love, he’d stayed and held her. She wanted this man, and not because he was sexy and dangerous, but because he was loyal and trustworthy. He made her feel like everything would be all right, just as long as she had him with her.
She took the wooden steps which led up onto the platform. Chance was right behind her, but stayed far back enough to let both her and everyone else know this was about her, and not him.
Holton jerked his head again to motion her over. In the entrance to the meeting house, she spotted the red haired woman, Ruby, who was the alpha female, and also the blond beta wolf, Joel. When she cast her gaze out to the crowd, she was able to pick out some familiar faces. She locked eyes with the young woman who’d driven her to town on that fateful morning. Flo gave her a smile and a wink.
Feeling sick with nerves, she approached to stand at the big alpha’s side. Her gaze flicked over the crowd, taking in the numerous shifters standing side by side, all their eyes focused on her.
“Thank you for coming, Maya,” Holton said.
She gave a small smile, her limbs trembling, her stomach hollow.
The alpha turned to address the crowd. “Most of you have heard by now that one of our own, Chance Nickoli, has found a mate. This mating was different than most, in that at first it was believed Maya was human. Now, however, it’s come to light that she is in fact half shifter. I would never expect a shifter to be forced to live without his or her mate, and the same thing applies here. Chance has taken Maya as his mate, and we must all respect that. Chance has sacrificed a lot for this pack, and I won’t ask him to give up anything more, especially not his mate, or his home.” He turned to Maya, and she tried not to tremble under his dark gaze. “Maya, you are welcome to live here with the Dark Ridge wolves for as long as you wish. We will all make sure you are welcome, and I want you to think of this place as your home.”
Something inside her relaxed and she glanced over at Chance, who had a grin splitting his face.
“Thank you,” she said to Holton. “I don’t know what to say.”
“This isn’t a free ride,” he said. “Each member of the pack is expected to contribute, and we will expect you to do the same.”
Maya nodded. “I’m a hard worker. I always have been.”
“You worked in a restaurant, is that right?”
She nodded.
“We need someone to keep check of stock in the compound, to be able to reorder items, and head into town to collect deliveries when needed.”
“I can do that,” she said, thinking she’d be able to meet her mother during trips into town.
He nodded in return. “Good. We can discuss the details at a later date. I’m going to guess you’ll want to get settled in. You have a new place to call home.”
Chance took that as his cue to step forward and join her at her side. She looked up into his face—the face of the man she loved—as he slipped his arm around her waist. “Yes, I guess I do.”
The alpha ducked his head slightly toward her, and raised his voice so the crowd could hear. “In which case, Maya Brookes… Welcome to the Dark Ridge wolves.”
THE END
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