Page 28 of Wolf's Reckoning
“I’m fine, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I told them both apologetically.
“You interrupted nothing,” one of them said. “I’d rather talk to you anyway.” They cast a look across the table. “Eric was telling meagainabout the size of his tomatoes.”
I laughed along with the others as I looked over at the old shifter with fondness. “What will you do when Marlacomes looking for your prized collection for the kitchen store cupboards?”
Eric feigned horror and the table laughed.
“You two have the same fight every year,” I said with a shake of my head. “I’m beginning to think this may be your form of flirting,” I teased, and the table erupted when the older man blushed. The others jumped in with tips on how to flirt when you’re a male in your older years. Eric took it all in good fun and, as my companions settled, he shot me a wink across the table, and I thanked Luna for this small moment of normality.
Laughter spilled over from one end of the long table, and the sound, theeasiness, eased all my rough edges.
This was my place. Right here, next to my pack, as we ate and discussed our day. The pack didn’t stop talking when they saw me; they were comfortable around me, but they would always move to make room for me, include me in their conversations, and listen to what I had to say. They came to me when they needed something resolved or they wanted me to ask the alpha on their behalf.
I didn’t need a title for them to see me.
I was passed a hunk of bread from an older hunter Ezra, who was one of our older scouts. He used to carry me on his shoulders when I couldn’t keep up with the long treks my father used to send us on to teach me to hunt. His beard was longer now, more gray than brown, but he grinned as he watched me dip my bread in my stew.
“You looked like a hurricane on legs earlier,” he said casually. “You good?”
“No,” I said, chewing my bread. “But I’m getting there.”
He laughed as he picked his tankard up. “Sounds about right.”
Further down the table, two young ones were arguing over who got more venison in their stew, and I watched as their mother rolled her eyes and gave them both a spoonful of her own. Someone else further over was singing off-key, and someone else howled in response, making everyone laugh.
This wasn’t just a pack. It was a whole damn world. I ate my dinner happily, exchanging smiles, jokes, and small talk with those around me. I leaned into the noise, soaking in the easy, unfiltered warmth. The familiarity. The trust.
“Rowen?”
I looked up to see Henry awkwardly lingering, and I felt the rumble of laughter from Ezra beside me, causing me toaccidentallyelbow him, which only made him laugh louder.
“Hi, Henry.” I greeted the young male with a smile as I took a drink of water.
“Mom made you bread,” he blurted.
“And it was mighty fine bread,” Ezra said with a big smile. “Pumpkin bread with thick butter, yum.”
“Delicious,” I agreed. “I’ll pass my thanks on when I see her.”
I was saved from whatever else Henry was about to say when another of the pack called for my attention.
“Rowen?”
“Yes?”
The shifter gestured between himself and his companion beside them. “We’re thinking of heading to town in the next couple of days to stock up on supplies. Okay to take three or four with us?”
I swallowed the last of my dinner. “Absolutely,” I told them. My attention went back to Henry, who had wandered back to the other table, his shoulders a little more slumped than before. “Take Henry, he’s young and strong, and he needs a change of scenery, even for a few days,” I added quietly.
The males looked over their shoulders at the young shifter, then back to me, and both nodded. Someone else said that they would join them, and I went to stand when Ezra tugged at the hem of my shirt.
“Nice of you to think of the young one,” he murmured. “A break from here would do him good.”
“Yes, I think so too,” I agreed. I gave his shoulder a warm squeeze as I took my bowl to the kitchens. I discussed the items the cooks needed from town and instructed them to submit their list to the pack members who would make the run.
I went back and sat amongst my pack into the late hours, listening, answering when asked something, and just being part of them.
They didn’t need an alpha.
