Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,210
in the dark, but I'm not scared. Lane, I'm a wolf. I survived. I look better than I have in a decade, and I'm excited to figure out all the new tricks that come with this. Nothing about that is scary."
"But what if the sounds are?" he asked. "Or the smells? Seth said it was different, and sometimes he'd have to pause because it confused him."
"Disoriented," Seth corrected, "and it's because the volume and distance have to be relearned. It's not scary, Lane. Sometimes, it's painful, but if Trent and Pax are adjusting the phone sounds in the office, she'll be fine."
"I don't like it," Lane grumbled.
Ian just reached over to clasp his shoulder. "Trust our mate, Lane. Elena's got this. She's one of the strongest converts I've ever seen."
Seth's head twitched. "Huh," he muttered.
Lane immediately looked at him. "What?" he demanded.
"Nothing bad," Seth assured him. "I was just thinking that you were stuck as a wolf for years. Elena was stuck as a human, in a life she didn't want. Maybe that's why you ended up fated for her? Like, some way for you to inherently understand each other?"
"Personally," Ian said, "I think it's because she's the perfect balance to him. Nice enough to make him be gentle, but brave enough to not run away." His eyes shifted to me. "And determined enough to never give up. A few reasons why we all have a thing for her."
Yep, I was smiling. It felt like my transformation from human to wolf had been the thing that finally took our relationship to a new level. Not sex. Not dealing with trauma or other issues. Now that I was a wolf, I could finally understand them, and my mates were no longer holding back, worried about my human sensibilities.
Because I was no longer a human, and it was the best decision I'd ever made.
Chapter 2
Wolves Next Door Trilogy: Wolf's Pack: Book 3
CHAPTER 2
Lane walked me to the office. It wasn't even half a block away, but I could tell he was worried. Besides, it was cute. However, Trent and Pax were waiting inside. The pair of them had done a lot more than just adjust the phones. The carpet in the lobby was clean. My little trash can had been emptied. A candle was burning at the side of the room, smelling like laundry detergent, and it was a lot more impressive than I remembered.
"Smells and sounds have been minimized," Pax announced as soon as I walked in. "It should be new-wolf safe, but tell us if anything's too much."
"The candle?" Trent asked.
I shook my head. "I actually like that one. It's the same scent I have at my house."
"My favorite," Lane said, leaving my side to make a lap around the room. He didn't even try to hide that he was sniffing at things. "You tell Ashley?"
"I did," Trent assured him. "And Henry's coming over later. Said he's going to be available just in case she needs anything."
Then a door down the hall clicked, opening a second later. The fact that I heard the latch release was actually rather amazing, but all three men looked at me, almost as if they expected me to flinch. I just rolled my eyes and headed to my desk. By the time I made it into my seat, Ashley walked into the room.
"How do you feel?" she asked, her voice completely and totally normal.
I sighed with relief. "Thank God. There's one person in the world who isn't whispering at me."
"Not whispering," Lane grumbled.
Ashley just laughed. "Out, you three. Elena's fine. She's not dying, and if she is, I'll call Dr. Bridget. Believe it or not, you really do have jobs to do." Then she flicked both hands at them, shooing them out.
"If you need anything..." Lane said as he headed to the door.
Ashley moved to lean on my desk, and the pair of us watched my mates leave in silence. The door closed, and I heard that latch click for the first time. A moment later, the sound of doors to Trent's truck could be heard opening, and then closing not long after. When it started, it sounded as if the office windows were open, but it wasn't obnoxious.
Still, I could see how a person without a pack to explain all of this would be confused. There were so many new details that I could hear. Just little things, and I knew what they