Real Men Heal (Blackwood Pack | Paranormal Werewolf Romance) (Real Men Shift)
Page 10
Sniffling back her tears, she pulled Gabby to her again and held on tightly. The woman wasn’t her mother, but she was the best substitute Chloe had. “Thank you, Gabby. Thank you so much.”
Gabby patted her cheek. “Take care of yourself, sweetheart. Take care of each other.”
Oodles more of her soon-to-be-former pack mates gathered around them, wishing her and Drew well in their new lives. It didn’t take long for her to realize she’d been wrong about them. All these years, she’d assumed they all hated her, or at least didn’t care one way or the other about her, but it seemed the opposite was true. Time and again, someone she hadn’t seen or thought of in years came up and fervently wished her happiness in her new life, some with tears in their eyes.
It dawned on her that maybe they hadn’t been the ones to blame for her feeling ostracized after all. Certainly, her father had planted the seed, and no one had wanted to go against their alpha. And she couldn’t blame them. It was their duty as members of his pack to follow his lead in all matters.
But since her father’s passing, she hadn’t even given them a chance to make amends. Zeke had tried to talk her into attending pack functions, but she rarely did because she was afraid they’d still shun her. They took their cue from her, probably assuming she still grieved, and left her alone. She could have had a life with these people after all.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she mumbled.
“What’s wrong?” Drew leaned down.
“Nothing. I’ve just been an idiot.”
“Have you changed your mind about leaving?” His breath was warm, and it tickled her ear.
Chloe didn’t hesitate. She didn’t need to. “No, I can’t wait to start over fresh. I’m looking forward to beginning a new life with you in a place where people don’t look at me with pity.”
“The Blackwood wolves will welcome you with open arms. We’re used to bringing wolves into our fold. Trust me. They’ll love you. Not as much as I do, of course.”
Chloe snaked her arms around Drew’s neck and waited for the familiar feel of his lips against hers. It wouldn’t be seemly to make out in the middle of their going away party, but she wouldn’t be denied a sweet, chaste kiss from her man. When they broke apart, he looked worried.
“One more thing I should have mentioned.” He flashed a bit of a grimace.
“What’s that?”
“I hope you’re not allergic to cats. It all started when Charlie Tipton rescued this pregnant momma cat…”
About the Authors
Celia Kyle
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes paranormal romances. It goes without saying that there’s always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way. Today she lives in central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
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Marina Maddix
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marina Maddix is a romantic at heart, but hates closing the bedroom door on her readers. Her stories are sweet, with just enough spice to make your mother blush. She lives with her husband and cat near the Pacific Ocean, and loves to hear from her fans.
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Copyright © 2018 by Celia Kyle & Marina Maddix
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