Page 25 of Homecoming

“You should go.” Darius drinks the whiskey in one gulp and returns to the dresser for a refill. “You need to ask your wolf to marry you.”

“Actually, I did ask her alreadyandshe said yes. I was just being respectfulincoming to you—and also because Amy’s mother demanded it. Oh, I nearly forgot the other thing I wanted to ask. Would it be alright for us to have a small gathering? Just a simple celebration of our engagement. It would mean a lot to be able to invite my family—my mother, father, and Quinn. I’d imagine it will only be a small party and Amy’s mother said she would host it in their garden. It’s just so the families can meet up for the first time.”

“Sure, why not? It’s fine by me. Don’t forget to invite the boys. And speak to Bud about the barbecue, I’m sure he’ll be happy to oblige.”

“Oh, that’s great,” Riley smiles. “Amy’s mom will be so pleased. Are you sure it won’t be a problem—with them being shifters? That they can still come to the commune?”

“Why not? They’re your family and family is everything. If we can let stinking hyenas stay here, we can let your family come. Riley, I respect you. Hell, I even like you. What you do here, the man you are… all that blood Zak gave you, it makes you part of the pack now—whether you’re a wolf or not.”

“Thank you. That really means a lot to me,” he smiles. “I’m honored you said that.”

“Riley... Just one other thing. Do me a favor and make sure your brother backs away from QT. Zak’s getting a little antsy about that and I don’t want any more issues in that relationship right now. The boys are slowly coming around to mixing with shifters, but let’s not push those boundaries just yet.”

“Sure. I’ll have a word with him. By the way, QT’s doing great—his medical exams—he’s going to make a great medic.”

“Yeah, well, don’t tell him that. I still need him to be a great sniper,” Darius laughs. “But I suppose it might solve my team medic issues. Snipers are much easier to bring in than a medic. Let me know the date for your party and I’ll see if I can make it.”

“I will.” Riley turns to leave and as he stands in the doorway he smiles, then turning his back on Darius, he closes the door.

Pausing for a moment’s thought, he takes a breath. The hallway is quiet, but as he hears a door close on the landing above, he hurriedly walks the length of the ceramic tiled floor to the staircase.

He looks up to see Kat standing at the top. “Hey there,” he smiles. “I was just coming to find you. Do you have a moment? I need to talk to you.”

“Riley…” Kat hurries down the stairs and kisses his cheek. “Actually, I was just going out for a while. Noah’s watching the pups. Is there something wrong? Is everyone all right?”

“Yeah, everyone's fine, but I need to talk to you about something important.”Riley tilts his head and hitches a brow as he looks at her. “Kat, are you okay? It’s just you look a little… I don’t know, concerned. Are you sure you're getting enough sleep? Because you know with feeding Evelyn, you need to make sure you rest properly.”

“I’m fine.” Her eyes tell a different story. They express a depth of feeling that’s hard for him to decipher. “Or rather I will be, once the vermin outside are gone. I… Luna was just going out to check on them. I don’t feel comfortable having them here. I feel… well, I feel like someone’s watching us and it’s not safe for the pups. You know I’m so pissed at Digby for agreeing to this. What the hell was he thinking? Did he not even consider the pups and Evelyn? I really can’t believe he’d let a bunch of strangers come on to the land and stay here.”

“You’ve been through a lot. The transition back from wolf, it’s only normal you’re going to feel unsettled for a while.” Kat’s aura is different. It’s thinner somehow, but still her amazing scent tugs at Riley’s heart. He strokes her cheek and brushes a concerned kiss against her skin, but suddenly she seems different and acts more aloof from him. “I’ve spoken with some of the other new mothers and they've felt exactly the same as you. One minute they were out in the forest in a world of instinct and survival and suddenly they’re thrust back into this very human life with a pup. I’ve gathered some of them together and formed a new mom group, so other moms can meet up and share their experience. Why don’t you come along to a couple of sessions? Oh damn, that’s what I was going to ask Darius. I wanted to know if my mother could come and give a talk—she’s a psychologist. I thought she could give some good insight.”

“I remember—you mentioning that. It’s a nice that you thought to do that, and I’m sure Darius won’t mind. If he does, just tell him it was my idea,” she smiles. “So what did you need to talk about?”

“Just some things—wolf things and things about me.” He takes a hold of her hand and smiles. Kat’s eyes burn with redness and he can’t help but think that she looks like she’s been crying. She needs sleep, and he’s concerned about how she looks.

“Wolf things? Oh, okay… And you can’t just tell me what it is? Riley, we used to talk all the time. What’s changed?”

“Nothing. And believe me, I would have spoken to you earlier, but you haven’t been here. Besides, you have a lot going on right now. Come…” he grips her hand and smiles reassuringly. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make some coffee and then we can talk.”

“Okay, sure.” She frowns hesitantly. “But just so you know, you’re starting to freak me out.”

Kat walks behind him down the hallway as he leads her into the kitchen. The room is filled with the warm smell of onions and spices. Cinnamon, thyme, rosemary—Helena’s preparations for tomorrow’s roast dinner. There’s also a musty, damp odor as the team’s kit sits dumped in a heap by the open back door drying out.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Kat sips from the mug of hot coffee and as Riley sits down at the table, she can’t help but notice that there is something different about him, about his posture and the way he looks at her.

“What I wanted to say is… well… oh gosh,” he takes a deep breath, “here goes… Kat, I’m seeing someone. I really wanted to tell you before now, but I just didn’t know how. I also need to tell you... we’re going to be married.”

“Married?!” Kat almost drops her cup from her hand. “You… You want to marry someone? But who… who is she?” The look of shock and disbelief on her face is nearly the same as when she discovered she’d been successful in her application for the team. She tries not to look at him, instead staring into her coffee-filled mug as if somehowitmight lessen the intense pain that inexplicably stabs at her heart.

“Her name is Amy. She’s a nurse at the medical facility and we’re in love.” He places his hand gently on Kat’s arm to reassure her. “We got to know each other since we’ve been working together more closely. She’s smart, clever, intelligent, andsosexy. I know you’ll really like her.”

“You’re in love with someone else? Oh… oh, I see,” Kat swallows nervously. “Wow, I really did not see that coming. But if you're truly in love, then I guess I’m happy for you—a little surprised but happy.” Her words taste like dirt in her mouth and her stomach flips, hoping this might all just be some nightmarish dream. Rileyhasalways been there, andKat had never considered that at some point he might search for a relationship away from her. Now she can’t deny to herself that the reality of that hurts—much more than it probably should.

Standing up from her seat, she forces a smile and kisses his cheek. As much as she hates it, she knows in her heart this is the best thing for him.

“I know nothing could ever happen between us. But me and you—we’ll always have a special connection. I know there’s always been something that’s kept us apart. And I don’t know what that was, but I do know how strongly I feel about you. That said, I also know we can’t ever be more than friends.”

“Friends is all I want. Friendsisgood. I like you being my friend—my best friend. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Kat, I will always love you so very much. I would die for you, but now… now I love Amy too. Kat, I really would like your blessing on this marriage.”

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