Chapter 63

Hugo

After the Alpha excused us, Lisa and I headed north toward my cottage—farther from the packhouse but right next door to my parents and little sister. Great timing for a first meet-the-parents introduction, I thought, mortified as moonlight filtered through the pines, painting our path in silver.

“Lisa…” I halted on the trail, heart pounding. “They’re going to notice I’m bringing someone home.”

She blinked in the pale glow. “What do you mean?”

“My parents live next door. I’m sure they’ll wonder why I’m dragging you to dinner.”

She laughed, soft and bright. “You act like that’s never happened before.”

“Okay, let me rephrase—this girl is never leaving.” I gripped her shoulders, feeling her pulse beneath my fingers, met her eyes.

“Oh,” she said, then giggled, the sound rippling through me. “So you’ve shown girls the door many times?”

“More than a few,” I admitted, rubbing my neck. “Hope that doesn’t scare you.”

“Please,”