Evette and I discussed the items she would need to pack tonight for tomorrow’s departure, and I warned her about rogues and the best way to deal with them. Lucas watches on, his adoration for me coming through the mate bond and making me feel flustered.
During my conversation with his mate, Simon returns and silently places food in front of her. Neither of the men interrupts our conversation, and when dinner time ends in the dining hall, I hug Evette and wish her luck on her first hunting trip.
“Do you want me to walk you home?” Lucas asks as we leave the packhouse. He’s so close to me that the bond hums, making me want to curl into his side. I fight the instinct to plaster myself against him and turn to where I’d parked my truck.
“Marco and I drove here. But thanks for the offer,” I answer, turning to see a look of disappointment flash through Lucas’ eyes. I feel a smidgen of guilt creep in as I take in his sad expression. I know Lucas only has my best interests in mind—I can feel his concern for my safety through the bond. Maybe I should be just a little warmer towards him.
“Would you like to help me with something tomorrow if you’re free?” I decide to ask, watching Lucas perk up. It seems this little offer is what he needs—his love for me flows into the bond.
“What do you have in mind?” he asks, a grin on his face as he leans against the walls of the pack house.
“Amelia and I will be accepting another group of rogues that the Council has been housing into the pack. They should be here within a week, and we need to prepare for them,” I begin to explain, Lucas nodding as a thoughtful look fills his face.
“With David still away, we could use help going through the dorm rooms and available houses, as well as surveying the land to see where we can build more accommodation for further growth,” I continue, taking the keys to my truck out of my pocket.
“I can definitely help with that,” he agrees right away.
Relief washes over me. Just Amelia and I preparing for this new group of thirty would be too much work to handle. Having Lucas—someone trained as an alpha and with the skills to organize a pack—help us is a blessing.
“Good. When you are done with your patrol shift tomorrow, come to my office. I’ll have my truck to drive around and make plans.”
“Okay. I’ll link you when I’m on my way to your office,” he agrees, holding his hand out to me. Hesitating briefly, I clasp his hand in mine and shiver from the tingles the bond creates where our skin meets.
Lucas lets out a possessive growl, his eyes darkening for a moment—and part of me wants to submit to him. With reluctance in his eyes, he releases my hand and takes a step back, his nostrils flaring as he breathes heavily.
“Will you be okay?” he asks, his voice deep and husky, drawing me in. Deciding I need to distance myself from Lucas, I take a few steps back and notice him clenching his fist. He’s fighting his urges, and for that, I’m grateful.
“I’ll be fine. I can link you when I make it inside my cottage,” I answer. Lucas nods, his eyes on mine, and I suppress a gasp. The gray of his eyes has grown darker.
“I’d like that, Kaylee.” The way he says my name causes the bond to hum, and I realize that I’ll be in trouble if I don’t leave now. With a nod, I turn and make my way to my truck, feeling Lucas’ gaze on me until I’m safely inside my vehicle.
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I turn my car on and drive away. It’s clear that the healed mate bond will be troublesome to deal with. I just hope that I can handle it by the time I decide what Lucas and I are going to do with the pup growing inside me.
7
Lucas
Watching Kaylee drive away, I turn in the opposite direction and decide to head to my dorm room. Today has been an eventful day, from the mate bond reaching out to me just as I finished my patrol shift to finding out Kaylee is pregnant and, finally, the mate bond reforming. I can tell from how the mate bond hums with happiness instead of uncertainty that Kaylee is leaning toward keeping our pup. I hope that after the ultrasound in three days’ time, I’ll know her decision for certain.
Walking into the dormitory, I notice a few wolves lounging around the main room while a movie plays on the large television. Ryder is one of the wolves, and after noticing me walking inside, he waves me over.
“I heard you had an eventful morning after patrol,” he says playfully, making me roll my eyes as I sit beside him.
“Yeah. Not my finest moment, especially since I’m still new to the pack, but the mate bond was too strong to ignore,” I admit, thanking the wolf, who hands me a beer from the mini-fridge beside him.
“As long as you don’t attack anyone without reason, we can excuse your barbaric behavior when it comes to Beta Kaylee. We understand that with you two being mates—and un-mated mates at that—your emotions can get the best of you.” Ryder shrugs as he winks at me, and I groan.
It seems my actions have really made their way through the pack, and I’m not happy about it. Hopefully, my aunt hasn’t heard anything about it yet, and if she has, it’s because Kaylee has told her. Hopefully, I won’t be given a lecture if so.
“I promise not to attack anyone. Besides, Kaylee and Alpha Amelia might skin me if I do end up hurting someone, even if accidentally,” I answer as I crack open the beer and take a sip.
The wolves around me chuckle at my words, some joking that I’ll be in the doghouse with Kaylee if I so much as think about hurting one of our packmates, and I have to agree. I’m just starting to regain Kaylee’s trust, and I can’t risk losing it again by attacking a packmate.
I decide to stay and chat with Ryder and the other wolves, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. A while later, I finish my beer, explain that I’ll be helping Kaylee with a project after my patrol tomorrow, and bid everyone good night.
“Lucas, wait.”
As the elevator doors are about to close, Ryder calls out to me and I manage to stick my hand out in time to stop them and allow my friend in with me.
