Sommy and Buchi reappeared at the edge of Lago Creek's RV park, their wolves merging into the dusk. Sommy found her pile of clothes right where she'd left them, and Buchi vanished into the darkness to leave her in peace to shift back. She came back to the fire to find Jessica and Elena already at the table, shucking corn for dinner.
A husk tore in Jessica's hands. "Good run?
Sommy grinned. "Yeah, and you'll never guess who I ran into."
"The big dog?"
She nodded, reaching for the plastic cup Elena extended to her.
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Was some sniffing done?"
Sommy took a sip of the lemonade; the sweetness settled her as a shiver of memory ran down her spine. "Something like that.
Across the fire, Zain tended the flames. Sommy turned to her. "Hey, I talked to Buchi about earlier. I owe you an apology. He had a plan, but I was too pissed to listen." The realization settled deeper—Buchi could have forced her to hear him out, but he hadn't. He'd let her go, letting her maintain respect in front of the others. That wasn't the move of an arrogant alpha—it was something more.
Zain looked up. "Timothy called. Said Buchi told them he let you go because he should've talked to you first instead of assuming his plan was ok."
Elena smiled. "Hey, I thought I was the alpha."
Jessica winked at Sommy. "We just let you think that.
Warmth filled Sommy, though it had nothing to do with the fire. Buchi had taken a hit for her, letting her save face. That wasn't something a cocky werewolf did—it was something a mate did. The thought sent another ripple through her. She was falling for him, hard.
She moved to Zain's side. "You seeing Timothy tomorrow?
Zain nodded, nudging a log so embers sparked. "Yeah, and I hope you don't mind—I invited all the guys to come tubing with us."
They were going to ride tractor-tire tubes downriver, floating back to the RV park.
Sommy shrugged. "Not at all. That sounds fun."
Zain pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for helping me. I feel like I am losing it, I have only known Timothy two days, and yet I am unable to envision my life without him. I want to become a werewolf, have his babies, give up everything for him.
"The true-mate bond is strong," Sommy said softly. "But it's not just Timothy. You'd have to move to his pack. You only know Buchi, Stephen, and Oga. Are you ready to leave your job? Your friends?"
Zain's hold on his hands tightened. "In a heartbeat. But won't I have you too, since you're Buchi's mate?"
Sommy's heart swelled. "Yeah. You will." Saying it out loud made it more real. She'd be leaving Winter Valley—her friends, her job. But that hollow feeling she'd carried for so long was gone. Buchi filled that space now. This was her destiny.
"There are schools where we're going, new people to meet," she said. "And we'll always have Jessica and Elena. We'll be fine."
Zain breathed out. "If I have you and Timothy, I know I will." She snatched a sip from Sommy's cup. "Hey, where do they live anyway?"
Sommy chuckled. "Good question. No idea."
Zain cracked up. "We're lovesick fools."
They dropped into camp chairs, the worn fabric creaking under their weight.
"How do you feel about the bond ritual?" Sommy asked.
Zain's blue eyes turned serious. "Timothy said I can back out anytime. Well—" she lowered her voice, repeating Sommy's earlier warning. "As long as he hasn't bitten me yet."
Sommy laid a hand on her arm. "You have time. Don't rush this. Once you turn, there's no going back. And you know I've got you, no matter what.
Zain nodded. "Haven't told Timothy yet. Thought I'd try 'I love you' first."
Sommy smirked. "Maybe I should too."
Zain glanced at Jessica and Elena, still debating the best way to cook corn. She whispered, "How awful am I for wanting to find werewolf mates for them?"
Sommy grinned. "Not awful at all. I like how you think.
She'd spent years trying to fit into a human world, with her three best friends surrounding her. But maybe things didn't have to be so separate. Maybe, just maybe, they could bring the human world into theirs.
"That's what's great about us," Sommy mused. "When one of us is happy, we want the same for each other.
"Exactly. Remember when Jessica was the first to land a teaching job? Instead of taking it easy, she helped us get hired too?"
Sommy laughed. "I'll never forget her 'principal outfit' during those mock interviews."
Zain giggled. "That bow tie was almost as good as her serious-man voice."
She sipped the lemonade before mumbling, "True-mate love is more than human love. That's why I wish Chelsea and Alisha could have it too. I want them with us, part of our new family."
Sommy grabbed a stick, poking the fire. The log shifted, glowing red, then suddenly burst into flames. She smiled, taking it as a sign.
Anything was possible.