Trinity moved the house sketch to thebottom of the stack of papers and looked at the larger image she’dsketched of the vision she and Wrath had discussed for the pack’snew homes. After her and Wrath’s home was built and a split railfence surrounded the tunnel entrance as well as their home,building would begin on another home. She thought it would mostlikely be offered to Cael and Trick first as they were the numbertwo and three ranked males in the pack. But she also knew the maleswere discussing finding their true mates and so allowing the firsthomes that were built to go to those who had a mate to take careof. She eventually hoped to see twelve homes in total, each with atrue mate couple living within, and hopefully children runningaround as well.
“Hey,” Creek said as he satnext to her on the log. He was what the pack called a caretaker. Hedid all the cooking as well as the cleaning and sewing. She’d askedhim if he minded the work and offered to help, and he’d said heenjoyed it. While all the hybrids could hunt, and he enjoyed a goodrun in his shift, his father had been a master craftsman andcreated furniture that had been sold in some of the markets in thesettlements. Creek had learned how to sew at his feet, and had beentinkering with furniture building, too.
“What’s up?” Trinity asked,putting down the papers and charcoal. She brushed her dirty fingersoff on her pants and smiled at him.
“I’ve got the gardenmarked. Can you come look at it?”
“Sure thing,” she said,standing and catching Wrath’s attention. “I’m going to look at thegarden with Creek.”
He lowered the ax and smiled at her.“Have fun.”
She followed Creek around the side ofthe tunnel entrance to where he’d marked off a large section, whichhe’d tilled with the help of some of the hunters. It wasspringtime, perfect for planting. The fruits and vegetables theycould plant and harvest were similar to what she was used to. Hetold her the sections he’d marked with twigs and string, explainingwhat he planned to plant where.
“It looks great,” she said.“I can’t wait to see the little plants start to grow.”
“I’m making the rows today.River said he’d help me plant, and then I’ll put up the fence tokeep the animals away.”
The waist-high fence was going to bemade of branches laced together with twine.
“When you’re ready toplant, give me a holler. I’d love to help.”
“I sure will,” hesaid.
“Cool. I’m going to headback,” she said.
“Hey, if you’re hungry forfresh fruit and vegetables there are some wild things in theforest. I’d be happy to show you sometime.”
“Really?”
“Sure. Even though it’searly, some things are already out, like wild yam and some of theberries.”
“Maybe after lunch we couldgo look?”
“You bet.”
She left the young wolf and returnedto her perch on the log. Wrath joined her, sitting heavily next toher, and blowing out a breath.
“How’s it going?” she askedafter accepting a kiss.
“Slow but steady.You?”
“The garden is coming alongnicely. Creek said there were some wild fruits and vegetables inthe woods. Could I go with him to find them?”
Wrath narrowed his eyes. “Not just thetwo of you.”
“What about withMytan?”
“Also a hunter, too, I’llask for a volunteer. I’d come myself, but the faster I cut thetrees and we get them set up for our home, the better.”
“I don’t mind. I know theforest. I didn’t realize there were wild things we could eat now,though, so I want to see if we can find them. Afterlunch.”
She emphasized the word, and his eyesdarkened.
“Lunch, orlunch-lunch.”
She leaned into him a little andsmiled. “The latter. I can’t get enough of you.”
“It’s entirely mutual,sweetheart.”
He rose to his feet and shouted,“Break!”
The males stopped their work andlooked at the two of them, and then they all startedchuckling.
Wrath picked her up and strode towardthe tunnel with long strides.
“I think they know wherewe’re going,” she said, snuggling in his embrace.
“Well, they already knew Iwas a fantastic alpha, they’re just finding out how irresistible Iam to you.”
She laughed. “I hope you find meirresistible, too.”
He didn’t take her to their chamber,but to the bathing room. He set her gently on her feet and smileddown at her. “Sweetheart, you’re the most irresistible creature onthe planet, and I count myself the luckiest male to have you in myarms and by my side.”
She smiled so widely that her cheekshurt. “I’m so glad I’m here, Wrath. I wouldn’t want to be anywhereelse.”
* * *
After she and Wrath had made love inthe bathing room and then soaked in the steamy water, they driedoff and dressed. As they walked up the tunnel to the surface, Wrathsaid, “Once we get the land leveled and the floor laid, I hope thewalls and roof will go up fast so we can move in.”
She smiled at him. “Thinking aboutchristening the new house?”
“You know it,” he said,winking. “I’ve enjoyed living underground, but I think it’ll benice to sleep above ground again. It’s been a longtime.”
She squeezed his hand. “I was thinkingabout that earlier. I wish I could’ve met your mom.”
“She would have loved you.She always told me that following my heart was the most importantthing I could do. She didn’t know I’d wind up as alpha of a hybridpack, but she wanted me to be happy.”
“Did she know there wereothers like you out there?”
They reached the tunnel entrance andTrinity shielded her eyes from the sunlight.
“There was so much secrecyback then, so I don’t think so. At least she never mentioned to methat she knew of other hybrids.”
Wrath had gone looking for people likehimself and found them on the outskirts of human settlements, mostattempting to blend in as humans. Wrath had told Trinity that whenhe’d met Sisco, who’d volunteered to become alpha of their groupwhich only had four at the time, Wrath had been happy to havesomeone knowledgeable take over. Sisco had taught them how to fightin human and wolf forms, how to make weapons, how to track humans,wolves, and vampires.
She surveyed the scene—watching themales as they worked to fell trees and prepare the land. Mytanpadded over to
