A few other wolves called out questions, but the alpha raised his hand and they quieted down.
“I know you all must have a ton of questions, but I assure you, I’ve given you all the information you need. If any of you would like to come talk to me about this, you can make an appointment for some time this week.” He pushed off the railing and clapped his hands once. “Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, let’s try to enjoy our meal before the sun sets.”
The pack stood silent and still for a moment before the one named Jimmy shook his head and started toward the stairs. “I don’t know about y’all but I’m hungry.”
“Of course you are, Jimmy,” someone else yelled.
The tense moment seemed broken for the time being, but now my shoulders were as rigid as ever. I stood there with Mom between Wes and me and the McCoy’s nearby as wolf after wolf came over to welcome Mom to the pack.
A few shook her hand, but most pushed past those boundaries and wrapped her in big hugs instead. Even as the line dwindled, my mother’s smile never wavered. Honestly, it was so gratifying to see her accepted like this. So easily. So seamlessly.
“See? Everything’s okay,” Callie said softly from next to me.
I turned to find that pretty smile on her face again and all I could think about was kissing it.
“Thanks to you.”
She shook her head as the last of the pack filed into the lodge and Mom walked off with Wes. “I think it was a joint effort.”
“I wouldn’t have agreed to this if you hadn’t said yes the other night.”
She frowned. “Why did my opinion matter that much?”
Because you’re the most important person in my life.
Because I’d do anything you said.
Because I’m falling in love with you.
I cleared my throat and went with a safer answer. “Because you’re the smartest person I know.”
Her smile got brighter, and I swore my heart stopped for a second. “I think you’re pretty smart too, Wyatt.”
She grabbed my arm and started walking toward the back door. Little did she know I didn’t need her to pull me along. I’d follow her anywhere.
“Let’s get in there and get a plate before the good stuff’s gone.”
I bumped her with my shoulder. “I thought it was Ms. Elsie’s cooking, and that means it’s all good.”
She laughed, and my heart squeezed in my chest. “Well, that’s true, but I still want to get some of her fried chicken before all the good pieces are taken.”
We got in line for food and eventually found the rest of our families sitting together at a table. When we arrived, there were only two seats side by side, and I swallowed hard once before sitting down next to her.
Spending time with Callie was getting more difficult by the minute.
Actually, it wasn’t spending time with her that was the problem, it was the fact that I couldn’t touch her that was proving so hard.
It was stupid because this had all been my idea. I’d wanted us to be friends, but now, that was the furthest thing from my mind. Now, all I wanted was to be hers and for her to be mine. Not my friend, but mine. I wanted her in every sense of the word, and the only thing in my way was me.
“So, which one of you gets to spend the full moon with me?” Wes asked from across the table, breaking my train of thought.
When he was answered only with silence, he began to pout.
“I’d rather chew glass, but thanks for the offer,” Del finally piped up.
I snorted into my macaroni salad as Callie stiffened beside me.
“Don’t say things like that, Delilah,” she admonished.
Del shrugged as she picked apart a dinner roll. “Why? It’s the truth.” She turned to my mom and winced. “No offense, Mrs. Carter.”
Mom waved a hand, a wide smile on her face. “That’s all right, dear. My son could use a hit or two to that ego every now and again.”
Del and Evey giggled as Callie settled down next to me again.
“And for the record, ma’am, I like humans,” Del added.
“We know you do,” Evey murmured from next to her. “But it’s really just human men.”
Del shot a glare her way before sitting up straighter and looking at my mom again. “It’s all humans, Mrs. Carter.”
Mom laughed as she dug into her corn casserole. “Call me Nora, dear.”
“Hear that?” Del asked Evey. “The human said I get to call her Nora.”
Evey rolled her eyes. “And by referring to her as the human you’ve just lost that privilege.”
“Did not.”
“Did too.”
“Did not.”
“Did too and I can do this all day, Delilah.”
“Ladies!” Callie interrupted. “Can we please go one meal without a fight? You’re probably bothering Nora with your nonsense.”
Mom just laughed again. “That’s okay, Callie, I don’t mind. You should hear my boys when they fight. They’re much worse and use awful language to boot. Besides, I always wanted daughters, so this is a treat for me.”
“You mean you weren’t happy with the perfect sons you got, Ma?” Wes asked, his hand gripping the shirt over his heart.
She cupped his face and pinched his cheek. “Of course, I was, honey.” Then she looked away and winked at the rest of the table, sending the McCoy ladies into a fit of laughter.
When the giggles subsided, Callie grabbed her plate and stood. “I’m gonna grab some pie. Anyone want anything?”
“I’ll come with you,” I said as I rose too.
She smiled at me and my heart thudded once, so loud I knew the
