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“He’s definitely special.” Cassia forced an impassive expression as she attempted to hide her feelings.
Wynter gave a warm smile. “Hey, I’m sure you’re tired, so I’ll get going. There’s a switch over there for the fireplace if you get cold. We keep this suite for guests but to be honest we haven’t had anyone to the pack house in a while.”
“I really appreciate you letting us stay.”
“It’s a pleasure. I’m headed back into the city tomorrow but you guys can stay as long as you want.” Wynter turned to her with a gentle demeanor. “I don’t know all what’s going on but I just want to say that I’ve been there. What I mean to say is that it wasn’t too long ago I was on the run myself. It’s how I met Logan.”
“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”
“I get it. I literally was hiding in Logan’s yard when he found me. This world gets a little crazy. And by world I mean our supernatural world. I don’t know Julian, but I do know he’s an Alpha. There’s nowhere safer than with pack. With Julian.”
“Chameleons don’t live in packs so I’ve been alone a long time.”
“Well, kiddo.” Wynter reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, her voice earnest and comforting. “You’ve got a pack now. Ours. And maybe someday with Julian.”
Cassia returned her smile, her heart melting at Wynter’s kindness. Though part of her almost felt guilty for accepting their help, a bigger part of her was overwhelmed with gratitude. Julian. Pack.
“Ah, there’s my lovely mate.” Logan’s voice echoed in the hallway.
“My Alpha.” Wynter’s eyes lit with love as the Alpha ushered Julian into the suite.
“Y’all will be safe here. If you want to run later, we’ll be out around midnight.”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Julian said, his focus on Cassia. “Hey. Everything all right?”
“Yes. It’s perfect.” Their eyes locked on each other’s as he strode toward her.
“I think we’d better go, cher.” Logan shot a knowing smile at Wynter.
“Thank you,” Julian said without taking his eyes off his mate.
As the door clicked shut, Cassia released a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. The Alpha had stirred an awakening deep inside her, one she struggled to restrain.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.
“Yes, yes, of course. Dinner was … so nice.” She broke eye contact and glanced at the king sized bed. Thump. Thump. Thump. Jesus, Cass. Calm down. Cassia made her way to a small sitting room and slid onto the sofa. She wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach and bit her lip.
“You cold?” Julian searched and quicky located the switch to the fireplace and its flames roared to life.
“I’m sorry for all of this. Logan, Wynter … they’re quite lovely to have us. It almost felt like …” Family. “Well, I suppose this is the way of wolves.”
“We look out for each other.”
“But you don’t live here in New Orleans.”
“I live everywhere.” Julian gestured out the window to the bayou. “From New Orleans to Idaho to Brazil. I travel the world. Roam with the wolves. My bloodline is ancient, going back to the very beginning of the hellfire that sparked the shifters. Wolves, including the Acadian wolves … they are, in some respects, my family. Perhaps not close like my sister, but still.”
“But you don’t have a pack.”
“I’ve forgone leading a pack for most of my existence. It was unexpected, but now I have Rafe. I resisted at first, but Greyson … well, as you can see, he’s quite persuasive at times, and I do feel like helping out my sister. Being around the wolf, being with Rafe, it’s been ...” Julian laughed. “It’s been good. Good for him and me. Good but unexpected. Sort of like you.”
A shy smile broke across her face. “So I guess that means he’s your first pack member?”
“Well, I don’t know that I’m fixin’ to start a pack. But yeah, I guess he is. Rafe was an unexpected development. Some things … you can’t control. It is the way of the Goddess. It is the way of fate.”
Cassia’s pulse raced as he focused on her and stalked toward her as if she were prey.
“Sometimes, there is no choice. Her magick is strong. It’s the way of the future.”
