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“I’ve got it from here.” Grey sipped milk and began. “A few years ago, my sister was mated to that piece of shit. Excuse my language.”

I waved him to continue.

“She didn’t want the mating, cried and begged not to go, but our pack alpha insisted. She was part of a trade between different packs, and if he’d backed out the whole thing might have fallen through. Or so he claimed. All I knew was that he showed up with a brand new BMW motorcycle the next day and seemed to have a lot of money to throw around for a while.”

“Oh no!” I reached out to pat his hand. “Genny was your sister.”

“My twin sister, and although he denied it, I know he killed her and made it look like an accident.”

“Everyone pretends that’s true, but I believe they know, too. Your sister was so nice, and she deserved better. Did you know they were trying to mate me to him?”

He nodded. “Yes, I heard. And I knew Genny would want me to save you. So, I showed up at the pack as a friendly visitor the day you left. I only missed you by a few hours apparently. I was going to help you escape.”

“Wow. I thought nobody cared.” Blinking back tears, I withdrew my hand. “I’m so glad you told me It makes me feel so much better. But how did you end up here?”

“He followed you and I followed him. And when he got here and actually had found you, I had to stop him.”

“So he ripped out his throat,” Rain asserted with satisfaction. “We wanted to save you ourselves, but he got to the criminal first.”

“Thank you.” It wasn’t enough, but I couldn’t think of any better words. “For me and for anyone else left in the pack who was being victimized by him. You didn’t see anyone else?”

“No. He left the pack on his own. He never even admitted you’d run, claimed he was going to meet you for a romantic elopement.”

I gagged a little at the words “romantic elopement.”

Then we invited Grey to stay for dinner. He didn’t stay, wanting to get home to his pack, where he was now alpha and no omega females were for sale. After his twin’s tragic passing, he’d challenged and won the leadership. We didn’t ask, but I suspected his previous alpha had not survived the challenge. Something abut the way he told the story.

Chapter Twenty

Rain

“I can’t believe he’s gone.” Evren leaned against me. My ego hoped it was because I made her felt safe. Really it was because she was about to fall over out of relief. I wrapped my arm around her and she looked up at me.

If I had to kill that man instead of the other wolf who did, I would’ve, just for one of these looks.

She looked at me like I set the stars in place.

“He’s gone,” I repeated. “You never have to worry about him again, mate.” I froze. The word had flowed from my mouth so naturally. Her being my mate was second nature.

“Mate,” she said. “Is that how you all feel?”

“Yes,” Lark said, coming over. He took her hand. “Since the moment we saw you getting off that bus. We knew you were ours.”

She turned to look at Warren. He was still reeling from the chase and the aftermath. Our tethers were pulled taut with everything that happened. “Warren?” she asked.

“Yes, mate. You are mine. You are ours. If that’s what you want. The last thing we want to do is tie you to us when your other captor has only been removed from your life a few minutes ago. We don’t want to hold you or cage you. We want you to be ours, whatever that means for you.”

“I knew it too. This home. The bakery. The three of you. It all feels like home. Of course there’s scent and my wolf speaking to me, but I knew I was home the second we got here, maybe before that.”

“How about we do something normal tonight?” I suggested. “A movie. I’m sure Lark can bake up some cookies and treats. Have a nice evening at home, getting to know each other better.”

She sagged against me a little more. “That sounds great. Lark really overworked me at the bakery.”

Lark paled. I’d never seen him so worried. “Did I? Evren, I’m sorry. I wish you had said something. I…”

Then Evren laughed. A loud, free giggle from a woman who no longer had to be scared of shadows and alphas and haughty egos. “I’m only kidding. I love the bakery.”

Lark scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “That’s it. No cookies for you.”