Filed to story: The Alpha’s Pen Pal Book
“Yes, I’ll contact the royal pack,” Alpha Jeremy says. “Rachel and I will need to discuss the rest. We will let you know if we decide to travel there or have them return her here.”
I end the call, and we all sit there in silence for a while, our brains comprehending everything Rachel told us.
Wesley shakes his head. “We can’t let Kimberly know that we know,” he says.
I nod. “I agree. But I’m not speaking to her. Not until Cassandra’s healed, at least. I don’t care what she ‘demands.'”
“I have no desire to speak with her right now, either.” Wesley shrugs. “We’re all tired and need to rest. She can wait. Tell her we’re still at the mating ball,” he says to Sebastian. “Then put her in a guest room or something. Keep Levi, Mason, and Mateo on her, though.”
Seb nods and leaves the room, and Reid and Taryn follow him. “We need to go too,” she says. “We need to get Sour Patch from Reid’s dad.”
I wave to them as they leave, and Wes stares at me as the door shuts behind them. “Are you okay?” he asks.
I glance at my mate—my beautiful wildflower of a mate—and I return the beaming smile she gives me as our eyes meet. Once upon a time, I convinced myself those smiles were the worst, that no one could be that happy. And now, I can’t live without those smiles.
Kimberly may be here to wreak havoc on my life or make some appeal to me to take her back, but none of it fazes me because I have Cassandra by my side, ready to face it all with me. Together, we are untouchable, and nothing and no one is going to take her away from me.
“I’m more than okay,” I tell him, cupping Cassandra’s cheek in my hand. “I’m perfect.”
I lean against the head of the hospital bed, a snoozing Cassandra in my arms as we wait for Dr. Russo to examine her and clear her to leave. My phone buzzes on the side table, but I ignore it, choosing to focus on my mate in my arms instead of whoever it is calling me.
However, a split-second after it stops ringing, an angry mindlink from my mom echoes in my mind.
“Call me back right now!”
I sigh and reach for my phone, dialing my mom’s cell number. I know better than to ignore her requests.
“Nolan Ulysses Shepard!” she scolds with no greeting as soon as she answers.
“Mom,” I say, keeping my voice low so Cassandra can rest for as long as needed.
“Don’t you just ‘Mom’ me like everything is fine and dandy! I had to hear from Emily and Harrison about the fire at the mating ball that injured Cassandra instead of from my son! We should have heard about it from you!”
I groan and run my hand down my face to my jaw. “I’m sorry, Mom. My focus has been on her and making sure she’s healing and safe.”
She sighs, and I hear her plop down onto a chair or the couch. “Of course. I know. As you should be. She’s your mate. But we’re worried. She’s our family too.”
I smile down at my sleeping Daisy, pride rippling through me at the easy and open acceptance my parents have shown her. Not that I am surprised. Cassandra and my mom got along from the first moment they met. And I swear my mom had tears in her eyes when we showed them Cassandra’s ring and announced our decision to be chosen mates. Just like with Haven, my parents both made room for her in their lives and their hearts, welcoming her as part of our family as if she’s always been there.
I clear my throat. “I marked her at the ball,” I confess, knowing if I don’t she’ll yell at me about that too.
She gasps. “I thought you were waiting? I thought there was a special ceremony or—“
“It’s her birthday today, and that’s what she wanted,” I explain, leaving out the more intimate and private details of our decision.
“Oh my Goddess, it’s her birthday?!”
“Don’t make a big deal of it,” I warn. “She doesn’t want that.”
She scoffs, and I picture her pouting, but she changes the subject. “Do you need anything? Food? Clothes?”
“No,” I reply, stroking Cassandra’s back and then wrapping her up tight in my arm, my cheek resting on top of her head. “I have everything I need right here.”
“Nolie!” my mom shrieks when we walk into our house later that day after Dr. Russo cleared Cassandra. But even though she shrieks my name, it’s Cassandra who she throws her arms around. “Oh Goddess, I am so glad you are okay!” she says, hugging Cassandra in a vise grip.
“Mom, please be careful with my mate,” I say, resting my hand on the small of Cassandra’s back.
“I’m fine,” Cassandra says, returning my mom’s squeeze.
I grunt, but I don’t move from her side. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My wolf won’t let me.
As soon as my mom releases Cassandra, I tug her into my body, burying my nose into her hair and inhaling her scent.
Do I look like a whipped, possessive fool in love?
Yes.
Do I care?
Absolutely not.
My dad stands behind my mom, his arms crossed and a faint smile on his lips as he watches her.
“I told her I didn’t need anything,” I say to him.
He shrugs. “She’s been beside herself with worry all day, even though you told her Cassandra was fine and healing. She made stew, baked bread, and cleaned your entire house. Twice.”
“I’m changing the locks in the morning,” I mutter under my breath as my mom turns to go into the kitchen.
“What?” my mom asks, glancing at me over her shoulder.
“Nothing,” I reply, shaking my head.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?