Page 15 of Sanctuary

Gemma laughed the first laugh since Eric left. “I bet it does.”

The wolves began howling, Baron being the loudest. Her heart began beating hard as she, along with Baron, stared at the long drive to her property. Eric’s SUV came into sight, and she swore her heart skipped a beat. She saw other vehicles following him, but she was too excited to really question it. He was back and that was all that mattered. “He’s back!” She hugged Larry, an excited laugh erupting.

“You had doubts?” Larry snorted but hugged her back.

In fact, she was guilty of that, because she did have doubts, especially today when she hadn’t heard from him. She started to head that way but stopped and looked down at herself. She had wanted to look nice when he came back, not the same Gemma who he’d left.

“He fell in love with you,thisGemma,” Larry scolded her as if knowing her thoughts and, in fact, he was right on. “Not one who doesn’t smell like wolf shit.”

Gemma gave him a glare before a grin slipped across her face as she took off at a run. Larry was right. This was who she truly was, and she was damn proud of it.

Eric was out of the SUV and heading her way. She didn’t even slow down as she plowed into his arms, almost knocking him down. The kiss they shared was hard and deep with the passion of not seeing each other for a week.

“Damn, woman, I’ve missed you.” Eric set her down and stared at her, a relieved smile spreading across his face. “And you’re in one piece. I’ve never been more worried about anyone in my entire life.” He bent and kissed her hard.

“Well, are you going to introduce her or not?” a man’s voice came from behind Eric. “Watch out.” Eric was pushed out of the way.

Gemma stared up at a handsome, younger version of Eric. “I’m Cole, Eric’s younger brother.” He grabbed Gemma in a tight hug. “Welcome to the family.”

To say she was shocked was an understatement, but she couldn’t think about it too much before she was pulled into someone else’s arms. “I’m the better looking of the three.” Gemma pulled away to look at yet an even younger version of the other two. “I’m Kile, and I’ll be giving you all the good gossip on our big bro.”

“The hell you will.” Eric pulled Gemma back to his side. “Gemma, this is my family.”

Gemma stared at not only Eric’s two brothers but fifteen to twenty other men and women, who all stared back at her. “Your pack?” She wasn’t really a people person, but this felt right, so right.

“Yes, my family.” Eric chuckled. “Now your family. We’re here to make Stone’s Wolf Sanctuary one of the best sanctuaries in the country.”

“Hell yeah!” one man shouted, and others followed. Children jumped out of cars also, heading toward the enclosures.

“Thank you for what you do,” one woman, whose name she didn’t catch because she was too stunned, said as she gave her a quick hug.

Once everyone spread out introducing themselves to Alex and Larry, Gemma felt tears building. “What did you do?” She stared up at him, watching as he looked among his pack with pride. When he finally peered down at her, she had never seen a more handsome man in her life. He was a strong, proud man and she thanked God he came into her life.

“I combined my families.” Eric pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. “It’s what any alpha would do. They’re so excited to be here and start their lives helping your cause. During the vote, not one person voted against relocating.”

Still amazed at what was happening, Gemma thought of something. “What if the vote had gone the other way?” Even saying those words brought fear to her soul. If he would have had to pick, would he have picked her? Shaking those thoughts away, she knew if it had come to that, she wouldn’t have let him pick. She would have left Larry in charge and went with him. She was his mate. Not only did that mean something to him, but it meant something to her also.

Eric thought for a minute, looking totally serious. “Then I would have pulled my alpha card.”

“There’s such a thing?” Gemma’s eyes widened.

“In a matter of speaking, yes, but I’m a fair and just alpha, so I allow voting. Thankfully they voted my way without pressure.” Eric grinned. “I have never been more proud.”

“If the vote wouldn’t have gone that way, know I would have come to you.” Gemma spoke her thoughts out loud. “Larry could have handled everything here. I’m your mate.”

Eric just stared at her for a minute without saying a word, his eyes intently searching hers. “Damn straight you are, and you honor me, Gemma.”

“I’ve missed you,” Gemma whispered, staring up at him.

Eric pulled her up for a long kiss. “Not more than I’ve missed you and soon I’ll prove just how much I’ve missed you, mate.” He glanced over her head and smiled. “But right now, we need to get your meat taken care of.”

Gemma heard the beeping of a truck backing up and turned. A large truck was reversing toward them. She cried. For once she wasn’t going to have to worry about what she was going to feed the wolves under her care.

“Hey, this is a happy occasion. All I want to see from here on out are smiles because everything is going to be taken care of. New enclosures, meat, medicine, and whatever else you need. No one will ever cause you trouble again,” Eric promised, wiping a tear from her cheek.

“Lance Cutter won’t give up so easily,” Gemma replied, not wanting Eric taken by surprise.

“We’ve already paid a visit to Lance, and let’s just say he’s not going to be causing any more problems,” Eric promised with an evil grin.

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