The memories thate when | see the ce where Clint and Donovan died is nothingpared to the flood of memories that


    start when I see Angel and Alessia. But the dam breaks when | see Cara and Artemis. | don’t know what it is about her, maybe


    because Artemis is the daughter of my Guardian spirit, but everythinges flooding back. It''s overwhelming and while | was


    embarrassed to have Eli carrying me, I’m not sure | could have walked on my own.


    When we reach the packnds, the difference in this pack and my pack with Eli is apparent. But, | can also see the difference in


    this pack and my father’s pack. Where my father needed to be the most intimidating wolf in the pack, Rik seems to lead with love


    and patience. Pack members of all ages run up to him, surrounding us and walking with us back to the packhouse. There is no


    fear or intimidation as they ask him and Cara questions and are asked questions in return. Both Cara and Rik seem to know


    every pack member by name and know their lives enough to ask them questions as we walk.


    Eli and | are introduced and when it bes overwhelming, Rik and Cara tell them that we''ll be introduced at dinner tonight.


    When we arrive at the


    packhouse, a young woman who looks to be as pregnant as Cara is standing at the back door of the packhouse.


    “Wee to Canyon Ridge.” She says, smiling at me and Eli. She steps back. motioning for us to enter. “I’m Lacey, the pack’s


    Beta female. If you''ll follow me, I''ll show you your room and you can get settled. We have lunch scheduled in an hour on the


    patio. Does that give you enough time to get settled and shower if you''d like?” She asks as she guides us through the packhouse


    and up the stairs.


    “That will be great.” | tell her.” Thank you.”


    She shows us to our room and when she leaves, Eli sets me down and | look around. “Will our packhouse look like this one


    day?” | ask him.


    Hees up behind me and wraps his arms around me. “Our packhouse will look whatever way you want it to, baby. It will just


    take some time.”


    | turn around, my arms snaking around his neck. “You are a good man, Eli Gunnar.” | say, meaning it from deep within my heart.


    He leans his head down against mine. “I haven''t always felt that way, but when you say it, | believe it. And | want to make sure


    that you always feel that way about me.”


    I step out of his embrace, taking his hand. “Come on, let’s get showered and


    +15 BONOS


    changed so we can eat. I’m starved.”


    When we''ve freshened up, we head downstairs to find Rik and Cara. Cara is already seated at the table, Rik hovering near her.


    She pats the seat next to her, wanting me to sit beside her.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    “| can’t tell you how much it means to me that you are here. Losing dad was... She stops, her voice breaking. Rik is right there,


    his hands on her shoulders.


    “Little Guardian, if it’s too much for you...”


    She cuts him off, taking his hand. “No, it’s good to know that some part of them survived. It’s just still painful for me. Angel has


    been amazing and having her and Alessia has helped. And, of course, Rik has been amazing.” She says gazing up at him with


    love in her eyes. “But now that you''re here, it’s like our family is back together.”


    She smiles through her tears, and | can see that Rik wants nothing more than to whisk his mate away andfort her, but he


    doesn’t. Maybe she needs this just as much as she needs hisfort. “You''ll have to excuse me. Pregnancy hormones.” She


    says,ughing through her tears.


    +15 ACHOS