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“I don’t want to ruin the moment,” he said, lowering his head in an unusual display of unease. “I just…”
“What is it?” Bill stood back from Loren and faced him, instantly embodying the leadership role he’d taken on. Even his voice changed, deepening an octave.
Micha shrugged. “Just that I won’t stick around long, so there’s no need to work me into your grand Alpha plans.” He laughed, but Loren felt her eyes widen as the true meaning of his words sunk in.
“You’re leaving?” she asked.
“You’re more than welcome here,” Bill said, inclining his head.
“I know,” Micha said with a helpless shrug. “But… I think I need to take off for a while. Think things over.”
Bill nodded as if he understood exactly what he meant. “Like returning to your pack?”
“Maybe…” Micha seemed to shrink beneath the question. After how he’d spoken of his old pack, Loren couldn’t imagine him ever wanting to return. But when he finally looked up, his green eyes shone fiercely with determination. “I’m ready to think about it,” he said.
“Good.” Bill approached him, and for the first time, Loren realized that—despite the differences in their physical builds—they carried themselves the same way, heads held high, radiating steely confidence.
“If you ever need my help, you have it,” Bill said. “In any way. I mean it.”
Micha flashed his trademark smile. “I may have to take you up on that. One day. Don’t worry, though. I’ll stick around long enough to make sure Blondie doesn’t get up to any trouble before you ship her back to high school.” He cast a glance over his shoulder, in the direction of the main compound, presumably where Naomi happened to be.
Bill sighed. “She’ll have a choice to make as well,” he admitted. “So do you.” His gaze shifted to Loren, and she held her breath, relishing his unusual brand of scrutiny.
In so many ways, helping him retake the pack had been just the beginning.
So much more lay ahead, but for once…
She wasn’t afraid of what might come.
* * *
