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“Wise words,” Rue said, nodding her head.
“I like that,” Lucille said.
Raika squeezed my hand. “What exactly do you want to do?”
“How about a bonfire and some hamburgers and s’mores at the village’s center later this evening?” I asked. “Call everyone from the pack, I’ll invite some of our friends from DuMoir Castle,”—I looked at Killian and Lavinia—“and we’ll have just a good time among family and friends.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Lavinia said.
We finished eating in good spirits, Rue helped us clean up, and then everyone left to organize tonight’s party.
We all would have a good time.
* * *
The day flew by.While Raika and Lucille took care of most of the party details, I met with the council to see how things were going in town. We talked about our residences and Lord Drake’s invitation to stay here permanently. Rue liked the idea, while Hamill didn’t sound happy about it. The only other person on the council right now was Killian, and he wanted us to stay. I had to choose at least two more council members to balance things out a little more, but I hadn’t even had the time to stop and think about it. Perhaps today would be a good day to observe the wolves in the pack and choose a handful of candidates.
Later, Killian brought over beverages from the castle, while Raika, Lucille, Celina, and Jena got together at Lucille’s house to prepare the hamburgers, make sure we had all the buns and patties we would need, and also the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows for s’mores.
When that was done, they all got together in the village’s center, where a small green area was, and tidied it up. The women hung colorful lantern papers while the men found some old pieces of wood and assembled a few benches and tables for all of us.
Meanwhile, I borrowed a car from DuMoir Castle and went into the nearest town, Crimson Glen. There was something I needed to do there.
I came back in time to finish helping everyone at the village’s center. By the time the sun began to set, we were all tired from working so much, but excited about what the night might hold.
Despite not making it official, Raika was living in my house with me and my siblings, and my bedroom was now our bedroom. I loved that, but I hadn’t seen her before the party started. I texted her and she said she had to stop by Lucille’s house to help her take the stuff to the party location.
I quickly took a shower, put on nice pants and a clean Henley shirt (I almost put on a button-up shirt, but decided it was too much), slipped something in my pocket, and headed over to the party.
As I walked toward the village’s center, I saw the colorful lanterns twinkling in the twilight, and the smell of the bonfire rose in the air. On the side, Dom and Hamill handled the two grills we had found in some houses and cleaned up. On another side, Rue and Vianna kept the kids entertained. Those two deserved some kind of award for their patience and kindness. Jay stood quietly near the grills, a little out of place. I needed to include him in the council meetings or something, to make him come out of his shell and feel less awkward in his own pack. Everyone else mingled between the tables, carrying trays of buns and patties, and drinks. There weren’t many wolves left in our pack, but it was ours, and we would make it work.
However, there was one sight that really pulled at my heartstrings.
It was Raika seated beside Minsi on one of the benches, and Tyren directly behind them, his arms crossed, like a bodyguard-in-training. My family. My life. My heart and soul. Everything I did was for them. I hoped they knew how much they meant to me.
By the moon, if they didn’t know, I would make sure to let them know now.
Raika saw me walking toward them. She smiled at me and my heart melted. She looked stunning in her usual clothes—ripped shorts, a black tank top, fishnet tights, and combat boots. While all the other females had done their hair and dressed up in pretty summer dresses, Raika had been true to herself and put on what made her feel the best, what made her look hot as hell.
And she was all mine.
I halted in front of them, pulled Raika and Minsi up, and embraced the three of them. “I love you all.”
“We love you too,” Raika said. She tilted her head up and looked at me. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect.”
Tyren stayed put for two seconds, then he pushed away, gave me a nod, and walked away. I couldn’t blame him. At his age, I probably wouldn't have let our parents hug me like that in front of only my friends, let alone the whole pack. He went to where Hugh was, near the grills.
Raika, though, stayed tucked under my arm, the way I liked it, while Minsi sat back down and turned to her tablet, where a movie was playing.
I kissed the top of Raika’s head and handed her the red rose I had plucked from the bush in the back garden.
She smiled as she took the rose. “For me?”
Minsi glanced at us.
“We planted it for you behind the house,” I told her. “Right, pretty girl?”
