their birth families, they would be sticking together.
Alex ended by looking to Charlie. "Charlie, I want to thank you for being so kind and not cussing me out for not telling you sooner who my family was the minute I walked in. At first, I didn't know it was important. And by the time I knew where you were and what it meant, I was afraid you wouldn't trust me if you knew. I planned to tell you after we got away, I swear. Josh was going to meet us on the way here, and we were going to ask Ford to introduce us to his Alpha."
I couldn't help chuckling when I heard, even though I was pretty sure Charlie had mentioned it himself at one point. Or maybe I'd filled in the blanks. “A friendly introduction would've been a better way than finding him half dead on the side of a ditch. But not how we were fated to meet. For the record, I would've welcomed you then, and I'm welcoming you now. Both of you will have a safe place and a pack if you want to stay here. Since you're already friends with Charlie and his siblings, I think you'd be a good fit."
With a respectful nod, Alex smiled. "I appreciate your offer, sir. And how funny is it that my friend Thirteen was my friend Ford's sibling this whole time? But I was talking to Alpha Nick, and I think I want to go back with him to the Newberry Springs pack. Josh and I need a change of scenery, and we're not afraid of hard work. I'll come visit in time. I'm sure Josh will too, but for now, we need to get far away from where we grew up."
Ash interrupted, clapping me on the shoulder. "Sorry, but I need to take off. Luckily for you, Nick and I were having lunch with Matt over in Mojave when Pedro called. I got the information I needed. This was a clean kill. Self-defense the whole way. Also, the deceased is a suspect in two ongoing investigations. I brought two of my men along. They'll deliver her to the state police, and our guys in blue will take over. I don't think anyone will bother you, but if they do, let me know, and I'll come out for the meeting."
He started to walk off, then turned back with an afterthought. "I can't believe I almost forgot. Congratulations on your little girl. Also, you can expect a trophy in the mail, if I don't deliver it myself."
"A trophy? What the hell did I win?" I scratched my head, desperately trying to remember if I entered any of the territory's silly little contests they ran from time to time.
Ash and Nick burst out laughing at the look on my face. Once he'd recovered, Ash grinned like anything. "What do you think? You and Charlie both earned the honor of the craziest birth story I've ever heard. Damn, I can't wait to start telling people. Hand to God, they'll swear I'm making it up."
"Don't worry, Ash. I've got your back. I took a few random shots to show everything happening in the room for my buddies." Nick held up a hand when I snarled. "Don't get your panties in a twist, Luci. Everything is tasteful. Nothing will make you want to punch me in the face. And if there is, I'll let the guys hold me down while you do it. Deal?"
Charlie answered for me, sticking his hand out to Nick. "Deal. You must be the West Coast Wolf brother I haven't met yet. If you don't mind, I'd like to see those pictures. As long as the dead body is blurred, I think those need to go in Gidget's scrapbook. I daresay it will be hard for anyone to have a better origin story."
Bypassing the outstretched hand, Nick shoved me aside and gave Charlie a big hug. "The guys told me I'd adore you on sight and how perfect you were for our Luci. I'm glad to know they were right about something for once. Usually, I'm the voice of reason. But you'll find out as much the more you get to know me."
"Fuck off," I snarled before bursting into laughter as I gave him a shove. "And quit hugging my mate. He's mine."
Nick stumbled back toward the counter, only to stop the dramatics as he froze and sniffed the air. "What is the amazing smell? Oh my God,