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I needed to see them.
This isperfect.
From his place behind me now, I hear Ryker clearing his throat. My mom lets go of me, joining my dad again.
As soon as I’m free, Ryker slings his arm over my shoulder, tucking me into his side.
I just manage to resist the urge to roll my eyes. It doesn’t matter that these are my parents, or that we’re going to be fully bonded by tonight. Ryker is a possessive wolf who needs to stake his claim, especially with the full moon so close.
And I don’t mind one bit.
“Surprise, sweetheart.”
I glance up at him. Well, that explains the strange anticipation I thought I caught in his gaze earlier. “You did this?”
“Pack’s family. Mine’s here. Once I took over for my dad, all of Mountainside became my family. When you came to live here, you became my family, too. But I know you still have another family in Lakeview. I thought you might like it if they were here tonight.”
I don’t know what to say. ‘Thank you’ just seems so inadequate, and Ryker’s stubborn enough that he wouldn’t accept any thanks from me anyway. He would just say he’s only doing what any good mate would.
He’s not a good mate. He’s the freakingbest.
So, instead of thanking him, I kiss his cheek and say just that: “You’re the best.”
His dark gold eyes twinkle. “I know.”
He’s a stubborn wolf without a single modest bone in his body and, Luna, he really is the perfect male for me.
From the way my parents look on in open approval, I’m sure they’re thinking the same exact thing.
I know I made them worry about me. My gentle mom has spent my whole life terrified that someone would discover my secret and use it against me. She was so afraid that a male would force me to mate him, trapping me in a loveless relationship that I could never get out of.
That’s what happened to her after all. For more than three years, she was stuck with Jack Walker, and she only managed to escape him because they weren’t bonded.
When the Luna named me as Ryker’s fated mate, she was so relieved. An Alpha would be strong enough to keep my secret, she felt. And if I nearly gave her a heart attack when I slipped up and showed off that I was an alpha in front of his pack council, she didn’t lecture or scold me. She only wanted what was best for me, and starting over in Muncie had been the best for me at the time.
I believed Ryker rejected me. Of course I had to leave Accalia. I was also sure my secret had been exposed so Lakeview was out. I didn’t even dare return home to see them, just in case.
But now I know the truth about what happened, I’m hours away from bonding myself to him, and my parents came all this way to be here for me because, no matter what, they’ll always want what’s best for me.
I’m ready to swallow my pride and admit that that’s always been Ryker Wolfson…
I don’t know how long I’m gazing lovingly up at him. Long enough that it seems like we’re the only two people left in the world—until my mom starts speaking in her Midwest accent and I remember that they’re still there.
Whoopsie.
“Your Aunt Corinne sends her blessings for your mating,” my mom tells me. “She’s holding down the fort back home, but she says to tell you that she expects to pop into Lakeview as soon as you can. You can even bring your mate, too, since the boys are interested in meeting him.”
That sounds like Aunt Corinne all right. She’s my dad’s older sister and an omega, like my mom. She’s also the one who taught me that, like alphas, omegas come in all different shapes, sizes, and attitudes. Back home, whenever I slipped up and some of my alpha side came to the surface, the packmates who believed I was an omega never second-guessed it since I was usually just being as blunt and heavy-handed as my aunt.
She’s awesome, and I’m a little disappointed she couldn’t come, too.
But then my dad leans around my mom, giving me a teasing wink. “She didn’t just send her blessings. We’ve got a big ass cake to celebrate your mating in the backseat of the car.”
Yup, I think to myself as my heart goes from full to bursting in a split second. That’sdefinitelymyAunt Corinne, and even if she couldn’t be here, I can’t wait to see what she baked for us.
My mom’s calming nature. My dad’s contagiously good mood. My aunt’s delicious baked goods.
And a mate who knew that having my family here tonight as eleven years of hopes and dreams finally come true.
