Page 103 of Protected Promise
“I really thought this would be a bit of a backwoods pack. No offense,” Cadence said. “But that’s about the most progressive thing I’d ever heard. I wish more Alphas saw females that way.”
“Maybe they should,” I said.
“I think I love you even more,” Kaitlyn said.
“Well, I guess that’s a good thing because you’re going to be stuck with me for a very long time.
“I can live with that,” she said with a grin.
Kaitlyn
Epilogue
6 months later.
Butterflies churned my stomach.
What if no one comes?
What if I screwed it all up?
What if I really couldn’t do it?
Landon and the rest of the Pack had worked non-stop for months, restoring Kaitlyn’s Place and preparing for opening weekend. That day had finally arrived.
I was so proud of everything we had accomplished. The hotel was beautiful. Landon had really listened to my input. I was able to help with staging and decorating. I chose more natural colors and really pulled the feel of the beautiful Canadian back country, indoors.
We planned to promote to shifters as well as take in traveling humans. The whole place had a peaceful, warm, and cozy vibe.
As we prepared to open our doors in just three days, I couldn’t help but look around in awe of everything we had done.
My face hurt from smiling so hard.
Landon wrapped his arms around me as he kissed a trail along my neck.
Our Pack had gotten used to seeing our open affections. At one time I worried that it would make him appear to have a weakness, but so what? My man was strong enough to battle any threat to our territory, and together we were an even stronger force to be reckoned with.
I was proud to stand by his side. Over the months we’d been together I had grown to admire his strength and power, but also his love and compassion. When I was sick and vulnerable, he’d stayed by my side. He was protective to a fault at times, but I loved it when he got all growly and Alpha, especially in the bedroom.
Our sex life was incredible. Gone were the insecurities and humiliation I had carried for so long. I knew the difference between what my sick uncle had done to me verses true love and healthy sex. He didn’t know, but every time Landon and I were intimate, it healed another piece of my broken heart.
Of course, he also couldn’t let me forget about the time I’d almost died. That psychopath, Clover had run off like a coward with her tail between her legs. The Pack had spent weeks searching every inch of our territory just to be certain she was really gone. They’d even tracked her scent all the way back to Seattle where it was lost in the stench of pollution and the human world.
Landon had notified the Grand Council as well as Clover’s Alpha, Josh Maxwell. According to him, she still hadn’t returned. We knew she was out there somewhere though, lying in the shadows. I didn’t think she would be dumb enough to show her face here again, but I had to admit, I hated the thought it was even a possibility.
Last night, I was trying to decompress and decided to go for a run. Landon still hated me running alone, but I couldn’t allow Clover or anyone else the power of fear over me. Never again.
The thing was, I’d been feeling really run down and exhausted lately, but had chalked it up to the long days and nights we’d been spending in preparation for opening day.
When I had gone into the woods to shift for a run, I couldn’t call my wolf forward. It had terrified me, and I’d called Kelsey to ask for her advice. Kyle Westin had been mentoring Landon a lot, so inevitably I’d grown close with Kelsey over these last few months. The fact that she was a Pack Mother too was a huge plus. Her friendship meant the world to me.
Kelsey had informed me that there was only one reason that she knew of that would keep me from shifting. I was still in shock. I wasn’t ready to tell Landon there was a strong chance he was going to have his heir sooner than we’d planned for. At the moment, I was equal parts excited and terrified. There was so much going on that I didn’t know how we were going to juggle a kid in the mix, but if it was meant to be, I knew somehow we’d manage.
I made Kelsey promise not to say anything. Landon was stressed enough about the grand opening of Kaitlyn’s Place.
Kyle and Kelsey were coming in along with Chase and Jenna for opening weekend. Kian was coming too. While we spoke often, I hadn’t actually seen him since graduation. My excitement almost trumped my nerves—almost.
With the opening of the hotel, I was going to be very busy. I couldn’t help but imagine a little tot running around the place. My office was large enough to include a crib and play area. I could handle being a working mom… at least in theory.
