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Dust settled on the runway,and Flora released the death grip she had on his forearm. “I’ll never get used to flying.”
“I don’t mind being your distraction.” He made a show of wiping his lips.
Pink crept into her cheeks, and he knew she was remembering all the ways he'd kept her mind off the flight.
He’d love to remind her again, more slowly this time than the last, but that wasn’t on the agenda for the day.
They were officially back in Moon Ridge, and he was damn happy to be home.
Draven let out a chuckle and gathered their things. They’d been a mess when they’d left the Goddess’s realm and had to stop in Lune to purchase clothes, along with new phones. And sweets—Flora insisted they get candy for Kade and Mateo.
He’d learned his enforcers stayed as long as they could in the forest searching for Draven and Flora, but when the unrest in Moon Ridge grew to a fever pitch, his father called them back. It wasn’t until he’d called his father that he found out they’d been missing for almost two months, even though in the realm the days didn’t pass as quickly; for them, it had been half that time.
Guilt twisted in his gut as the plane door cracked open. While he’d been happily exploring life with his mate, the elders and pack tribes had held court to decide his fate. They were still deliberating, but according to his father, it wasn’t looking good. The only thing that might sway them was Draven’s testimony and possibly a visit from the Goddess herself. But he wasn’t holding his breath for Rieka to show up.
Flora ran her hand up his forearm and back down, entwining her fingers in his. “Are you ready for this?”
Draven’s lips tightened into a half smile. He couldn’t lie to her or protect her from the political bloodbath they were about to enter, no matter how much he wished he could. “It’s not going to be easy. It’s not just the elders anymore. It’s the pack tribes and Alphas of every pack worldwide. They all view hybrids differently, and with the witches and vampires on the verge of war…I’m worried about how they are going to react to the Goddess bestowing me as an Alpha and claiming us as the future of wolves.”
He had no idea what it meant to be Rieka’s heir intended; only that it was important. She seemed convinced that they would need to pave the way for hybrids and wolves alike moving forward, but she didn’t exactly leave them an instruction manual. Still, he was an Alpha now and while he hadn’t expected it, the dominance and need to protect those who claimed him as theirs made him feel whole. Like he was meant for the role. Their world was changing; he only hoped he could shape it to be for the better with Flora at his side.
The howl of a wolf pulled him from his thoughts, and Draven stepped toward the plane door. Waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs were two wolves, one shaggy gray and the other brown and speckled with lighter undertones. He’d recognize them anywhere.
Tears pricked the back of his eyes, and Draven struggled to blink them back. He’d known they’d gain access to their wolves, but seeing them in front of him in the light of the southern sun without a moon in sight brought on a slew of emotions he wasn’t prepared for.
“Is that…?”
Draven nodded in response to Flora’s question, and his wolf yipped a howl in his chest.
His mate gave his hand a squeeze and when he looked down at her, he saw nothing but understanding in her eyes. She tipped her head in the direction of his oldest friends, and Draven didn’t hesitate. He tugged his shirt over his head and slid his pants from his hips. In one swift jump, he leapt from the top step and by the time he hit the ground below he’d shifted.
Mateo and Kade pounced on him the moment he landed, and the three of them tussled on the ground like they were pups again, basking in the excitement of their first shift. It didn’t matter that they’d run together more times than he could count; it was different now. Their wolves were as much a part of their friendship as they were, and he needed them.
His wolf pulled back and stood to his full height, puffing out his chest. It was a power play, one he didn’t make lightly. With any other wolves he wouldn’t push, but he needed to know that Mateo and Kade were with him, that they’d protect Flora if anything happened to him.
His enforcers met his stance and bowed before him, bearing their necks to his wolf. Draven’s chest seized, and his wolf let out a howl, claiming them as his. Mateo and Kade answered with a howl of their own, and the bond between Alpha and pack snapped into place.
Draven smiled.“You honor me with your loyalty.”
Kade nodded stoicly, and Mateo huffed a laugh.“As if we weren’t going to follow you into battle.”His gray wolf glanced toward the plane.“But only if you brought home a Luna with you.”
“You know he did.”Flora trotted down the steps from the plane, a goddamn vision as her white wolf with the moonstone peeking out from the thick fur at her neck.
Kade and Mateo trotted over to her, and Draven sensed their urgency to welcome their Luna into their pack. That didn’t stop his wolf’s hackles from rising instantly, zeroing in on their every move as they approached his mate.
They lowered their heads and bowed before Flora, and Draven’s wolf let out a low growl, though he might as well have lifted his leg and peed on her with the dominance he forced into its timbre.
“For fuck’s sake Draven, they’re your best friends. Keep your wolf in check,”Flora scoffed, and though it came off playful, he knew she was putting him in his place.
Kade snorted.“Damn, she’s already got you by the balls, boss.”
Draven padded over, shoving Mateo and Kade away from his mate. Flora may look exquisite in her new role, but Luna or not, he would be the only man bowing before her.
Flora stepped into him and gave him a reassuring nuzzle.“Don’t worry. I’m still yours.”She sent down their private mate bond.
“My wolf doesn’t like the attention of other males on you.”
“They don’t hold a candle to you. But they are family, and you and your wolf will treat them as such.”
