Perhaps it was the fact that Caitlyn had also been involved in something that had hurt the pack that made Ali feel included. That bad things happened, that innocent people were caught up in them. It was the end result, the choices one made, that proved who they were. Proved their honor and ultimate value to the pack.
Caitlyn and Ali had both chosen the right path, and that was why fate had made them one of us.
Bessie thrust the platter of hamburger patties at me. “Bring those out to be grilled please, Sheriff.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I cast a glance at Ali, worried about leaving her alone.
“Go on.” Bessie shooed me and Theo, handing him the platter of buns. “She doesn’t need a babysitter. We’ll take good care of your female,” she promised. “She might need a little girl talk time.”
I smiled as we left the kitchen, warmth spreading through my chest. If we’d been worried the pack would shun Ali for being a rancher, we were wrong. Our pack trusted in fate.
Fate chose us for Ali, and Ali for us.
It made no mistakes.
We joined the men out on the deck as the grilling began and the meeting lodge filled with families. Our community. Young and old, together.
When Ali emerged with the other females, she appeared completely comfortable, laughing at something one of them had said before she scanned the crowd of shifters to find us.
I pushed myself away from the railing I was propped against and cut through the crowd to claim her, with Theo right behind me. The ten minutes we’d been apart were long enough.
“Everyone here knows you belong to us, but I’m still jealous when you’re not by our sides,” I growled in her ear when I arrived.
She tipped her face up to smile at me. “You’re ridiculous, Sheriff.”
“And you’re beautiful,” I said.
“Smooth one,” Theo critiqued, and I elbowed him in the side as he bent to steal a kiss from our mate.
“Are you really sure you don’t want to run?” Ali asked again.
My brow wrinkled. “Why are you so preoccupied with us running?”
She stroked a fingertip inside the collar of my shirt, touching the hollow of my throat. “Well, I remember you two said how horny you get after a full moon run.” Her voice was low and sultry. Even though it was barely above a whisper, I was sure everyone had heard. I didn’t give a shit.
“I just wanted to be sure I was the recipient of those raging hormones or pheromones, or whatever they are,” she added. My dick was instantly hard, and thoughts of the pack, of the run, were gone.
I took one glance at Theo and knew he was on board with my decision-making. “That’s it,” I said, throwing her over my shoulder. “We’re out of here.”
“Hey, where are you going?” Theo’s mom said on a laugh. “I wanted to introduce Ali around to everyone!”
“Next time,” Theo grunted, close on my heel as I strode through the meeting lodge with Ali giggling over my shoulder.
“Put me down,” Ali said, laughing.
“No chance of that, sweetheart,” I said, giving her jean-clad ass a light swat.
“Nope,” Theo agreed. “Sounded to us like our female needed servicing. We don’t let a call like that go unanswered.” He threw open the passenger door to my truck.
“That’s right,” I agreed, setting Ali down on the seat. She slid into the middle. “Your pleasure is our top priority.”
“I’m good! I can wait!” she protested, laughing, but Theo climbed in beside her, blocking any exit she might have.
“Nope. There’s no waiting. You ask for it, we deliver. That’s how it goes.”
“That’s how it goes.” I climbed in behind the wheel, started up the truck, and took off like we were in hot pursuit of a suspect.
Ali reached a hand out to touch each of our knees. “I love you guys.”
My heart skipped a beat, then hammered at a wild romping pace. “I love you to the moon and back, Ali Jenkins.”
“I love you further,” Theo said, and all three of us laughed.
It had been a rocky ride, and I didn’t expect for our relationship not to have any bumps along the way, but Ali was ours, and we were going to prove it—as soon as we got home, and for the rest of our lives.
EPILOGUE
ALI
Theo dismounted from Chester, our prize stallion, and dropped to the ground with surprising grace for such a large man. Chester nuzzled Theo’s neck and my mate rubbed his forehead.
“He likes you better than me now,” I observed, sliding off Daisy.
Theo smoothly removed the saddle and blanket from Chester and began to brush him. He was now well-versed in all the duties at my ranch now.
He’d had his pick of jobs in West Springs—deputy sheriff, head of security at the distillery, even private eye work, but amazingly, he’d chosen to work on the ranch with me.