Page 30 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Pilot
“A word, Roberts?”
We moved a short distance away, still within my sight line to Felicity but out of human earshot.
“I wasn’t aware the Roberts heir had returned to Angel Spring territory,” Caleb said.“Or that you’d taken a mate.”
“Neither was expected,” I admitted.“The crash forced my hand on both counts.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly.“The Song pack has been making moves in your absence.Logan has kept them mostly in check, but there’s been activity around your father’s mine.”
My jaw tightened.“Victoria Song?”
“Her influence lingers, even after her banishment from her pack.”Caleb lowered his voice.“The town needs leadership, Roberts.The mine situation is worse than reported.”
The weight of responsibility I’d avoided for years settled heavily across my shoulders.My father’s death had left a power vacuum, one I’d refused to fill.Now, with Felicity at my side and our lives intertwined, I could no longer ignore my birthright.
“We’ll discuss it properly when we’re back in town,” I said, glancing toward Felicity.“For now, my mate’s safety is my priority.”
Caleb nodded, respect evident in his posture.“Of course.The helicopter is waiting about two miles east.We’ve cleared a landing zone.”
The trek to the extraction point was arduous despite the relatively short distance.Days of survival had depleted our reserves, and Felicity’s human endurance couldn’t match a shifter’s recovery capabilities.When the terrain grew challenging, I swept her into my arms and carried her the rest of the way.
Around us, the rescue team formed a protective formation that even Felicity noticed.Kane took point, his communication gear allowing him to maintain contact with the helicopter.Maddox and Ryland flanked our sides, while Clint and Slade brought up the rear.Caleb moved fluidly throughout the formation, checking our progress and scanning for potential threats.
I observed their dynamics with new interest, recognizing the pack behaviors beneath their professional demeanor.Maddox remained vigilant and nearly silent, his senses clearly attuned to our surroundings.Slade checked on Felicity with genuine compassion tempered by respect for my presence.Kane’s tactical awareness revealed itself in his precise communications and strategic planning.Clint assessed each obstacle with innovative solutions, while Ryland’s dry comments about the terrain masked his serious attention to potential dangers.
“So you’re all firefighters?”Felicity asked.
“Angel Spring Fire Department by day, Search and Rescue as needed,” Ryland confirmed with a half-smile.“Small town means wearing multiple hats.”
“Convenient skill sets overlap,” Kane added.
Shifters made excellent first responders.Our enhanced strength, stamina, and senses were perfectly suited to dangerous rescue operations.That this pack of unmated males had formed such a cohesive unit spoke to Caleb’s leadership abilities.I found myself reluctantly impressed.
When the helicopter came into view in a small clearing, I felt Felicity’s surge of emotion through our bond.The reality of rescue and of returning to civilization finally hit her.Her grip tightened around my neck.“We’re really going back,” she murmured.
The flight to Angel Spring offered me a view I hadn’t seen in over a decade.My birthplace spread below us in a tapestry of mountains, forests, and the small cluster of buildings that formed the town center.Felicity pressed against the window, taking in her first glimpse of the place that would now be her home as well.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice carrying even over the helicopter’s noise.
I pointed out landmarks visible from our elevation, the sprawling timberland that buffered the valley from human encroachment, the meandering river that supplied the town with water, and the distant scar of the Roberts Mine carved into the mountainside.It had originally been an open pit mine that chopped off the top of the mountain like a butcher’s cleaver before scooping out the center, leaving a giant crater.A decade ago, the company began blasting underground, boring tunnels into the earth to reach deeper ore deposits.Each sight unearthed memories I’d buried long ago.Complex emotions churning through me as we approached.Felicity sensed my turmoil through our bond, her hand finding mine in a silent gesture of support.
We descended toward a landing pad on the outskirts of town.That was a new addition, I noted.As the helicopter touched down, I spotted two figures waiting at a safe distance.One was a slim woman with black hair in a no-nonsense ponytail wearing a white medical coat.The other was an elderly woman with a stooped posture in a flowing dress and leather vest.Juniper.I recognized her kind face even after so many years.
We disembarked with Caleb’s team flanking us.
“Mr.Roberts, I’m Dr.Sabrina Wu, the town’s physician,” greeted the woman in the white coat.She approached immediately, her petite form belying her authoritative presence.Her sharp eyes assessed us both in one comprehensive glance.“Welcome back to Angel Spring.Let’s get you both inside the clinic for proper examination.”
I nodded my thanks to Caleb and his team as they prepared to depart.“We appreciate the rescue.”
“Just doing our job,” Caleb replied.“We’ll check in tomorrow.The town will want to know you’ve returned.”
The underlying message was clear.My return as the Roberts heir would not go unnoticed by the shifter community in the valley.
Inside the clinic, Dr.Wu led us to an examination room while Juniper followed behind.The elderly healer’s knowing eyes immediately fixed on the claiming mark visible at Felicity’s neckline when she removed my oversized down jacket.
“Well now,” Juniper murmured, her weathered face registering surprise before settling into a knowing smile.“The young wolf returns with his mate.The old stories do come true.”
Felicity blushed, her hand moving unconsciously to the mark.Our bond thrummed with her mixture of embarrassment and pride.
