Page 44 of Unbreakable Bond
“It doesn’t matter what he wants, Zo. He’s a born Alpha. He has his mate. When you two make pups… they’ll be part of your pack. Their mates and their kids will be your pack. They won’t beMoirae.”
Zoey almost smiled at the mention of her and Rafe having pups. She liked that idea. She liked it a lot. She really liked it that Michael was acknowledging she was Rafe’s and that they would have a family together. But then it hit her in the gut that he was right. If she and Rafe weren’t Moirae pack then their children wouldn’t be either. And that hurt because she’d always wanted her children to be part of the pack that was herfamily.
Only, Rafe was her familynow.
“And it doesn’t help that the cabin is on Moirae land.” Michael was still talking and she shook off the moment ofmelancholy.
Rafe was her family. They would make their own family. But her parents were Moirae pack. She would always be Moirae pack in her heart no matterwhat.
“What?” She blinked in confusion. “What’s the cabin have to do withanything?”
“My wolf considers it his because it sits on his land. Maybe Rafe was supposed to be Moirae Alpha but he isn’t. I am. It’s mine. My wolf’s claim on it still stands because the pack ownsit.”
“Property law? We’re going to get into property law now?” She rolled her eyes, “That’s an easy fix, Michael. Sell us the cabin and the land here aroundit.”
“Mywolf…”
“Won’t like giving up part of what he considers his land. Fine. But isn’t it better than driving me and Rafe away because your animal is a possessivebastard?”
Michael opened his mouth, shut it again and then sighed, “I’ll think aboutit.”
“Thank you.” She noddedgratefully.
She hadn’t expected him to simply agree. Giving up land was a big deal to shifters. Their animals bonded to the land. It was their safe place to run and be themselves in any form. Michael was a good Alpha and no good Alpha would give up his land easily. But she trusted that he would, because he wanted his brother to stay, wanted her to stay, even if he wouldn’t sayso.
They headed back towards the house and Zoey easily changed the subject by asking about the problem with the Crescent pack. Michael scowled at her and told her to stay out of it, that it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. Which meant he was intending to get the Moirae pack involved, and that made hersmile.
He really was a good Pack Alpha. He couldn’t stand the thought of a bad one destroying a pack. And, it had the added advantage that it was Rafe’s friend that had asked them to get involved. They would stand together on this and then, when the time came, Michael’s wolf would know that Rafe, and his pack, no matter how big or small they ended up being, would have hisback.
Win. Win. Well, for everyone but that bastard Alpha,Maddox.
Michael stopped at his truck, “Stay safetonight.”
Zoey smiled, “I’ll be fine. I promise. I’m going to change tonight for the first time, with Rafe, and we’re going to finalize thebond.”
“I knowjust…”
“He won’t hurtme.”
“I hope you’reright.”
Zoey hugged her friend for worrying about her. Michael wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. She smiled against his chest. Friendship. Family. That’s all there was between them. All there had ever been, really, despite what they’d wanted. And that was okay, because this was what feltright.
“I’m not going to hurt him either.” She said softly and Michael’s grip on her tightened before he releasedher.
“Take care of each other.” Michael smiled softly as he stepped back from her and motioned for Darius to come as he waved goodbye to his brother, “Please.”
“Always.”
Michael chuckled, “And don’t let his wolf push you around toomuch.”
“It’s like you don’t know me at all.” She winked as she slid past a still glaring Darius and back towards hermate.
He was scowling. Of course. But she couldn’t stop smiling. Because for the first time, she knew that everything was going to be okay for them. For all ofthem.
