The familiar mailbox and the crunch of gravel under our tires filled me with as much anxiety as it did relief. But I didn’t need to worry. The house looked just the same as we’d left it. I opened my car door with a sigh. Home.
Nana and Jim stood close as the boys jumped out. Aden glanced at the swing set as Emmitt grabbed our bags. After such a long ride, I knew my brothers wanted to play. However, I didn’t feel as safe here as I once had. My eyes skimmed over the treeline, remembering how Frank and his friend had stepped out.
I was ready to suggest inside play, but Paul spoke before I said anything.
“Do you think you could show us around again, Liam?”
“Yeah, we didn’t spend that much time inside last time we were here,” Henry said. “Do you think we’ll get the apartment right below yours?”
Aden nodded eagerly and grabbed Henry’s hand to start tugging him toward the house, explaining that he wanted to show the two older boys Liam and his room so they could plan where to sleep in their new apartment. The four raced inside. Crisis diverted, I followed at a normal pace.
When I reached the apartment, I saw Emmitt already had blankets and a pillow on the couch. I walked into my bedroom, saw his bag at the bottom of my closet, and grinned. Since Paul and Henry had my brothers occupied, I went back downstairs to see if Grey and Carlos needed any help moving into Emmitt’s place.
That night, the boys and I said good night to Emmitt on the couch and went to our own rooms. After everything that happened, I had a hard time closing my eyes as I listened to the familiar sounds of the house.
My door silently opened, and I sat up with wide eyes.
“It’s just me,” Emmitt said softly.
I let out a sigh of relief and pulled back the covers. I should have known staying on the couch would only last until the boys fell asleep.
Before the boys woke, he was back on the couch.
Within a week, the apartment building was fully equipped with state of the art security, including cameras outside each of the apartment doors. Floodlights, installed in the yard, turned on when triggered by any of the new sensors on the property or by a switch within the house. In addition to the latest technology, we also had our resident werewolves’ instincts. We wouldn’t be taken unaware. I just hoped we wouldn’t be outnumbered.
Saturday morning, I woke with a stretch and smiled at Emmitt. He leaned over to give me a kiss, and it dawned on me that I was overdue for a premonition. Pulling back from him, I stared in confusion and tried to think back. I hadn’t had one since I’d Claimed him.
“What is it?” he asked watching me.
“I haven’t had a stock market premonition since before the trip. Since I Claimed you.”
“Does that bother you?”
“I’m glad they’re gone, but I can’t help but wonder why.”
We talked about the different possibilities but really had no clear idea what it meant. I wished I knew how my premonitions worked, but I didn’t worry about it too much. I had other things on my mind.
“So, I was thinking...”
He leaned over me to kiss my neck. “About something good, I hope.”
“Depends. I was thinking about all this sneaking we’re doing. It makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want the boys to catch us and start asking questions.”
Emmitt pulled back to look at me.
I tugged the hem of his shirt up to slip my hands underneath. “I was wondering if we could set a date.”
The wicked grin on his face spoke volumes. “Now’s good.”
I rolled my eyes, guessing what he’d been referring to.
“Not for that,” I said.
“You have me confused. Again.”
“That’s because you’re focused on the physical side of our relationship.” I grinned up at him.
“Is there something else?”
“How about a wedding?”
He crushed me in a hug while laughing loudly. “Is that what we’re waiting for? How soon can we get married?” He didn’t wait for me to answer but kissed me soundly.
“You’re still thinking about Mating,” I accused after I was breathless.
“No. I’m thinking about forever with you.”
Epilogue
I sat on the couch folding last minute laundry the day before Thanksgiving. Both the boys sat at the kitchen island egging Emmitt on as he flipped pancakes high into the air, just barely missing the ceiling.
“After breakfast, can we go down by Nana?” Aden asked.
Liam and Aden loved being homeschooled by Nana Wini. They usually spent the morning with her and the afternoon at Aunt Mary and Uncle Gregory’s to play with Paul and Henry. But I knew he wasn’t asking to go down for his lessons. He wanted to find Jim.
“I don’t think so, buddy. We need to finish packing so we can see Grandma Char,” Emmitt said.
Aden’s face fell.