Page 19 of Auditing the Alpha

I laughed, the sound slightly hysterical. “No, no screaming.” I gestured to where other pack members were shifting back, casually dressing and gathering around the fire. “This is just your normal full moon family gathering?”

“More or less,” he confirmed. “Some will remain as wolves for most of the night—the younger ones especially enjoy the freedom.” He took my hand. “Are you cold? We can go to the fire.”

I nodded, and he led me toward the growing circle around the flames. Some of the pack were still in wolf form, lounging near their human counterparts or playing in the snow. Others were fully dressed again, passing around mugs of something steaming and platters of food.

Lucy approached as we reached the fire, handing us each a mug of what turned out to be mulled wine. “What did you think?” she asked me directly.

I took a fortifying sip before answering. “It was beautiful,” I said honestly. “Terrifying, but beautiful.”

She smiled, approval warming her eyes. “Many potential mates can’t handle the reality of what we are.” Her gaze moved to Klaus. “You chose well, son.”

Before either of us could respond, she was moving away to speak with others. Klaus’s arm settled around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.

“My mother is not known for subtlety,” he murmured, amusement coloring his voice.

“Is that a common problem?” I asked, thinking of Lucy’s comment. “Potential mates being scared off?”

Klaus’s expression sobered. “It happens. Not everyone can reconcile the man with the wolf.” His arm tightened slightly. “It’s why we typically wait longer before revealing ourselves.”

“But you told me right away,” I noted. “Why?”

His eyes—so familiar now in either form—held mine. “Because from the moment you stepped out of that car, complaining about the cold and looking at my home like it might bite you, I knew. And I couldn’t bear to build something with you on a foundation of lies.”

The simple honesty of his answer made my throat tight. Around us, the pack celebrated the full moon, shifting between forms, eating, laughing, exemplifying the dual nature of their existence.

And in that moment, surrounded by werewolves in the moonlight, my decision crystallized.

“I have to go back to Chicago,” I said softly.

Klaus stiffened beside me, but nodded once. “I understand.”

“No, you don’t,” I continued, turning to face him fully. “I have to go back to give notice, pack up my apartment, and transfer my clients.” I took a deep breath. “If the offer still stands… I’d like to come back. To explore what this could be between us.”

The hope that bloomed on his face was almost painful to witness. “You would move to Pine Peak? For me? For… this?” He gestured to encompass the pack, the woods, the whole supernatural situation.

“For all of it,” I confirmed. “I never thought I’d say this, but… I like it here. I like your family, weird as they are. And I more than like you.”

Klaus pulled me into his arms, lifting me slightly off my feet in his enthusiasm. Around us, I was dimly aware of wolves and humans alike watching with interest, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

“I’ll need to find work,” I said when he set me down. “Maybe open a small practice here. There must be businesses in need of an accountant.”

“The pack alone would keep you busy,” Klaus assured me. “None of us enjoy paperwork.”

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in years. “So that’s my in? Pack accountant?”

His expression grew more serious, though joy still danced in his eyes. “Your ‘in’ is being my chosen mate, Jordan. Everything else is just details.”

As if to punctuate his statement, a chorus of howls rose from the wolves around us—a sound of celebration, of welcome.

And standing there in Klaus’s arms, with snow falling gently around us and werewolves howling at the moon, I had the strangest feeling that I’d finally found home.

Chapter 9

Three weeks later, I stood in what remained of my Chicago apartment, surrounded by boxes and the echoes of my former life. Most of my furniture had been sold or donated, my clothes packed, my books carefully cataloged and shipped. All that remained was a suitcase of essentials and the crushing doubt that always seems to accompany major life decisions.

Am I really doing this?I thought, staring at the bare walls that had witnessed five years of my solitary existence.Moving to a small town for a man I’ve known less than a month? A werewolf man?

My phone buzzed with a text from Klaus: