Page 129 of Savage Games

Wyatt

Three Years Later

The evening air carries the scent of pine and wood-smoke as I rock slowly on the porch swing, Naomi nestled against my chest.My hands rest on the gentle swell of her belly, feeling the occasional flutter of movement beneath my palms.

Another miracle I never thought I'd experience.

The pack compound stretches before us, bathed in the golden light of sunset.Wolves move about their evening routines, some heading to night shifts, others gathering for meals, a few young ones still playing in the central clearing.

Our pack.

It still feels strange sometimes.Like I'm living someone else's life.

A letter from the council sits on the table beside us, official confirmation that Brad's sentence has been made permanent.Exile to the far northern territories, and stripped of rank and name, after serving three years in the council's prison.The final chapter of that story is finally closed for good.

"Jamie says they'll be here next week," Naomi murmurs, glancing at her phone."Dean's grumbling about the trip, but he wouldn't miss Jamie's niece or nephew's arrival for anything."

I smile, thinking of the solid alliance we've built with Dean's pack, a connection that's benefited both our territories.A blue symbol painted on our pack hall door marks us as allies, respected and protected.

"What are you thinking about?"Naomi asks, her voice soft with contentment.

I press a kiss to the top of her head."How different things were three years ago."

She hums in agreement, covering my hands with her own, where they rest on her bump."Remember how terrified everyone was when we first arrived?"

"Can you blame them?I'd just beaten their alpha into submission and claimed his place."

And they thought I was planning on opening the doors here to my supposed army of feral rogues.

"I think it was your charming personality that scared them, not the fighting."She teases.

Before I can respond, shouting draws our attention to the path below our porch.Two teenage boys are roughhousing, shoving each other dangerously close to Sarah's meticulously tended flower beds.

"Hey!"I call out, my voice carrying easily across the distance."Take it to the training grounds before you destroy something."

The boys freeze instantly, heads snapping toward us.Recognition and a healthy dose of respect flash across their faces.

"Sorry, Alpha," the taller one says, straightening his posture.He’s from a family of wolves who moved here after years of ill-treatment by an alpha who never got over an old perceived slight.They’ve settled in immediately and it’s so good to see the boys flourish.

"Won't happen again," adds the other, both of them offering slight bows of deference before scurrying off toward the training area.

Naomi chuckles against my chest."Still got it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"I let out a low rumble, the one I know she loves, and flex the muscles beneath her palm, still madly in love and trying to impress her at all times.

"That look," she says."The one that makes grown wolves nervous, and teenagers remember their manners."

I roll my eyes but can't help the small smile tugging at my lips.It's a far cry from the way people used to look at me: with fear, disgust, and with suspicion.Now there's respect.Trust.

Belonging.

The sound of small feet racing up the porch steps interrupts my thoughts.The front door bangs open, and a small figure barrels through, racing around the corner of the house, dark hair wild and untamed, laughter spilling from his tiny body.

"Daddy!"James shrieks with delight, throwing himself at my legs with the fearless abandon of a two-year-old who knows he'll always be caught.

I scoop him up with one arm, settling him on my knee."What are you doing out here, pup?I thought you were helping Aunt Maddie with dinner."

"Ran away," he announces proudly, bouncing on my leg.

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