Page 47 of Destined Mate

“You are both betas, correct?” Wesley asked, inhaling deeply. “You smell like betas.”

“We were,” Marcia answered.

“Are,” Wesley said. “You are betas, and I would like for you to remain in that role if you wish. Same goes for you, Henry. Keith is the only beta who came with me.”

Marcia and Lakisha both nodded vigorously. “All the pack has talked about since everyone arrived was the challenge and you.”

“We felt the pack bond start,” Lakisha said. “Even though we were not there to see the challenge and your defeat of that asshole, the pack willingly formed a bond with you, so we did also.”

“Plus, Jerome accepted you. We all felt that,” Henry said, eyeing Jerome.

“There is a lot to talk about,” Wesley said. “And we shall do that as soon as we eat.”

Henry glanced over his shoulder and shot them a grin. “Hope you’re hungry!”

Wesley’s eyes widened slightly at the sheer number of steaks being prepared on the indoor grill. “Is there a steak left in a five-mile radius?”

“There are more being cooked outside, so probably not,” Lakisha said.

Al chortled cheerfully while unloading armfuls of plates onto the table. “We can’t have our new alpha starving on us.”

Jerome felt the energy in the room surge even higher, buoyed by newfound optimism. There would be time later for all the problems—but right now?

Right now, things were good.

Jerome made sure everyone had a plate full of food, a drink, silverware, and so on as pack members headed outside to where there were several picnic tables set up, along with a lot of patio furniture on a big deck out back. It was crowded but lively—relaxed in a way they hadn’t been lately.

He was taken aback when Wesley casually pulled him to a picnic table and presented a heaping plate of food. Wesley had fixed him a plate. An alpha had fixed an omega a plate. He couldn’t get over that.

The aroma of the meal wafted up, rich and inviting. On the plate, a thick, juicy steak lay. Beside it was a baked potato, its skin crisp and golden brown, with butter melting on top. A salad sat off to the side, along with a glass of water.

“I need you strong and healthy,” Wesley said low enough that only Jerome would hear. “Please eat.”

“Thank you for getting this for me.” Jerome fought to keep his voice even. Such a simple gesture, but it showed so much about the type of wolf Wesley was.

The deck was full of cheerful noise and laughter. Tension ebbed away with every bite of steak, every sound of happiness around Jerome. He stole a glance at Wesley, who sat comfortably beside him. Yeah, he could get used to this for sure.

“We should have dinner out here every night,” Lakisha shouted from across the deck.

“I’m not cooking like this every night!” Henry boomed back, grinning.

“Maybe on full moon night?” Keith asked. “Like, before the run? And five to seven of us volunteer each month, so Henry gets a break. It doesn’t have to be steak each time, either. I make a mean chili.”

Jerome managed a chuckle around his mouthful of food.

“I think we should do this,” Wesley called out. “As alpha, I would fund this, of course, if the pack is interested in setting up this tradition.”

“A tradition,” Jerome whispered, staring at Wesley.

“A new tradition for our new pack,” Wesley said.

There was a howl of approval.

“That sounds like a yes!” Smiling, Wesley answered with his own howl.

Chapter Thirteen

Wesley

---