Chapter twenty-two

Tessa’s POV

Wed reached the Mcgraw pack lands in less than a day because we’d driven through the night without any stops.

With my wolf senses, I’d heard the kids getting tired on the buses and their mothers telling them we’d be there soon.

When we’d reach the outer gate of the pack lands, two guards stopped us. They first looked at the buses, then at Lucian.

“Can we be of assistance?” the one asked and Lucian chuckled.

“You won’t, but your Alpha would be. Be dear and ask him to let us through. Tell him it’s Mr. Blackstone calling in a favor,” he said, and the guards looked at each other before I saw the one turn away, probably reaching the Alpha.

It’d always been weird having the Alpha as my uncle and the beta as my father, but they made it work because they were two very smart brothers.

“Alpha says we should let them in.” The other one said, walking up to the car.

“Our Alpha asks if you could keep to the wide main road up to the pack house. He doesn’t want to cause disruptions with the wolves because they are preparing for the mating moon tomorrow.” He said, leaning a hand on the car.

Lucian looked at his hand and gave a very false and toothy grin. He pressed the hooter, and I swore the guard nearly pooped himself.

They opened the gates and we made it up the big road. The smells were all foreign to me now and I’d have to convince Lucian to let me take a run later.

“Definitely not.” I heard him mumble.

“What did you just say?” I asked and he kept his eyes on the road, shrugging his shoulders.

“You read my mind? How long has this been going on?” I demanded, and he gave me a smirk.

“For as long as I’ve known you,” he said, and I covered my mouth and stuff led a gasp as he burst out laughing. I slapped his arm and crossed my arms, turning away from him.

“I’m your mate. I’m allowed to see what you’re thinking,” he said.

“I AM your mate. I am allowed to have some privacy so I would appreciate it if you didn’t read my mind all the time.” I barked back and he just smiled and drove up the familiar driveway to my old pack house.

“We gave to set some ground rules. Hugging is allowed but if it is a male keep it short. I want you with me all the time unless I tell you that you can go. Understood?” He said and I felt the Alpha aura washing over me.

I got to my knees, so our faces were inches apart and he parted his lips, waiting for me to kiss him.

I touched the tips of our lips together and whispered, “Understood Alpha.”

I opened the door behind me and giggled. He grabbed my wrist and looked at me with a dark look that did something to my legs.

“I’ll give you exactly what you deserve tonight.” He growled and as he said that, the door of the pack house opened, and out walked my father and Alpha Kyle.

I ran up and briefly hugged them both, following Lucian’s strict instructions, and hugged my mom as she broke down in tears in front of me, crying into my shoulder.

The Luna was behind her and I nodded.

“Luna,” I said, and she shook her head.

“It is I that should be bowing. Luna.” She winked at me and I couldn’t help but smile.

After my mother had finished with her waterworks, I went to stand next to Lucian and he wrapped a protective arm around my waist.

I blushed as the ladies looked at each other and gave me sneaky looks.

“The Mcgraw pack is happy to have you here. You and your pack are welcome to join in on the festivities tomorrow. We have carnivals and loads of stuff to do. It starts at ten tomorrow evening on the south field. Tessa’s should know where it is.” He said and smiled at me. Something didn’t look right.

Then it hit me.

“Where’s Melissa?” The women quieted and looked at me.

“She was doing Alpha duties. Going to the nearest human city to pick up our pack land papers. She didn’t make it. Two days later we got a call from her saying she’d found her mate and not to worry.”

I said a quiet “oh” and Lucian’s grip tightened, assuring me that everything would be okay.

“Alpha Lucian, you and your Luna are welcome to stay in the cottage behind the forest. I can assure your pack’s safety with my own guards.” The Alpha said and Lucian thought about it and looked at me. I smiled, telling him that it was his choice, and he cleared his throat.

“We’d appreciate that, thank you.” He said and the Alpha nodded.

“May? Would you get one of the girls to go to the cottage and get everything ready for our guests?” The Alpha said to his wife who smiled and disappeared into the pack house.

“Let us get your pack settled, shall we? I bet they are exhausted.”

The pack settled nicely into the cabins and the majority of them went to sleep immediately after being assigned their beds.

Others went to wander the small pack town of the Mcgraw lands but me and Lucian were looking at the little cottage that my uncle had kindly offered.

One of the ladies was dusting and getting everything done for us. Lucian looked around and nodded.

“You may leave now.” He said and they reluctantly bowed their heads, moving swiftly out before closing the door behind them.

“Lucian they were doing their job—” I began, and he tugged my arm, pulling me against him.

His fingers found the hem of the hoodie I’ve been wearing for the past two days and pulled it over my head.

“You’ve got some debt to pay little Tessa.” He said in his most velvety voice. My breath caught in my throat and my lips parted slightly.

He bent down, taking my lips in a passionate kiss before picking me up to wrap my legs around him.

Breaking away to catch a breath, I placed my hands on his chest.

“What’d you say if we went to go test out the bed?” He murmured against my bite mark.

I shivered and felt the heat between my legs.

“I need a shower, Lucian…” I began and he threw me over his shoulder.

I yelped and laughed, kicking and punching his back.

“PUT ME DOWN!” I screamed to no avail.

“Then I guess we’re trying out the showers first.” He said and made his way to the bathroom.