Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,72

about a week to move and unpack?"

"Sounds about right," Ashley said. "Might be more since she has to transfer the youngest to a new school."

I nodded. "Yeah, I was lucky and moved in before the semester started. But we'll have Gabby introduce her to a few people."

"She knows Nik," Sheridan said. "Lev's son. He kinda intimidates her a bit, though."

"Tiger and a fox?" Ashley nodded like that only made sense. "Don't worry, Gabby will make sure she has some friends who won't set off her instincts. Maybe even our honorary pack members."

"Honorary?" Sheridan asked.

"Human teens," I explained. "They found out about us in the school shooting, and helped cover it all up. They're not allowed to turn until they're over eighteen because life without a pack would be too hard. After that, it's their decision, but as soon as they can move in, the kids are going to become full pack members, regardless of if they can shift or not."

Sheridan just smiled. "I actually like that. It sounds so... fair, I guess? Makes me think that we're not just some charity case."

"You're not," Ashley promised. "Foxes are quick and cunning. It's why I thought of you for the gate. Rumor has it that pulling one over on your kind isn't as easy as we wish."

The girl ducked her head and laughed softly. "Um, I think that's a stereotype, but I'll do my best. Thank you, Alpha." And she turned to Ashley. "Thank you, beta."

"And that's going to stick," Ashley said.

"Ash..." I groaned.

She just waved me down. "I have no problem being your beta, Elena. I actually prefer it to just being just Ian's big sister. Also means that people might stop asking me when I'm going to start my own pack." She winked playfully at Sheridan. "Won't happen. Not leaving my family for anything, and I have no interest in leading."

Sheridan was smiling a little too much. "I might have to tell Vic that. Seems he has a thing for this woman, but he said he wasn't sure how long she'd be sticking around."

I pointed at Sheridan. "She needs to start coming on Thursdays."

"What's on Thursdays?" she asked.

"Wine and girl gossip at my house," Ashley told her. "But, showing up means you've joined the Sisterhood. I mean, we might have to change the name, because right now we're the Sisterhood of Being Too Old for That Shit."

"Don't change it," Sheridan said, "because most days I feel like that. Especially with my little sisters. But if you're serious, I'd love to. I..." Her smile faltered for a split second. "I don't really have a lot of friends. Kinda hard, you know, being what we are."

"And now you have a whole pack," Ashley said. "Welcome to the Sisterhood, little fox, and to Wolf's Run."

CHAPTER 23

* * *

Pretty much every evening, the guys and I headed up to the trails to help our mate learn to be a better wolf - and she was learning so fast. Maybe she wasn't as agile and adaptable as her daughter, but not even Seth had adjusted as quickly as she was. Granted, I also hadn't wanted to pin Seth between myself and my best friend, so that may have had something to do with it.

With Elena, however, this was becoming one of my favorite things. Pressing her against Trent on the trails, in the bedroom, and any other time she'd let us get away with it was quickly becoming an addiction. It was like I couldn't get enough of the feel of her, the smell of her hair, or the taste of her lips on mine. I'd tried to tell myself it was all about enjoying her body, but I knew that was a lie.

It was all of her. I loved watching Elena master something new. It didn't matter if that was moving from a trot to a lope or seducing us at night. Even something as simple as hearing her laugh when she picked up on a joke drew me in a little more. The only downside to this entire situation was having to share. Not that I begrudged my friends the chance to be with her - they deserved that, and so did she. It was simply that I kept finding myself turning to include her and she wasn't there.

Ian claimed his rights as the Alpha as often as he could. Yes, he was still fair about it, but hearing about her from him the next day? It just wasn't the same. And I