9. Emrie

Iwas at an emergency Clan meeting. My core group of bears were sitting close to me, but the full Clan had made its way here as well, with a few left on sentry duty for the day to be relieved by others from the meeting once it broke up.

Mathan didn't mess around when it came to Clan security, and I sensed that he was taking full blame for the intruder in my house yesterday. I patted his leg, but didn't say anything. Mathan always felt things deeply. A few words from me before the meeting wouldn't change what he was feeling. I'd try to catch up with him later and talk with him.

Riggs was in front of the huge stone fireplace, facing the Clan. I could tell he was listening internally to a few last minute reports before he started the meeting. Meetings always went like this. Not that we'd had a lot of emergency meetings, but general meetings went a lot like this, and we'd had plenty of those.

Conversations, both out loud and telepathic, were thick in the room, and the meeting wouldn't start until Alpha Riggs had every last report and could then articulate what was needed to his Clan.

Mateo sat on the other side of me on the couch. Akeno, Taco, Zin, and Drew sat on another couch, while Alastair had scored one of the recliners, and he sat there with his laptop on his lap, ready to take the minutes of the meeting.

Our alpha cleared his throat and everyone went instantly silent. "I've called this meeting because we have a petition from a paranormal to live on Clan property. My word on the matter will be the deciding vote, but I'd like to hear your input as well." His gaze found mine, and he nodded at me.

I gulped.

Fear of public speaking, even among your own Clan—check.

I reluctantly stood, and waved awkwardly to the rest of the Clan. "Hey, everyone." I noted the mates were also here, but in the seating further back, with their bear shifter mate standing near them. The children were in another part of the house having play time, or chill time for the older teens, with an enforcer or two looking after them.

I clasped my hands together in front of me and made myself keep them still by sheer willpower alone. "As some of you might have heard already, a male broke into my house yesterday. He was obviously looking for something. We don't know what. When Roarke and I got to the house, he was still there. He jumped me and took the locket that I've worn since I was a small cub, when my parents were still alive. There is some speculation about the reasons the necklace was taken, but I won't get into that. Suffice it to say, that once the locket came off, it unblocked my scent, and Roarke, who could detect my scent for the first time, discovered that I'm his mate."

One of the female mates spoke up in the back. I think she was a fox shifter. "Can you tell that he's your mate as well?"

I shook my head. "No. We're not certain why. It could be that the locket damaged something, or my parents could have paid for further spell-casting on me, we're just not sure. But I trust Roarke. I also trust Alpha Riggs, who could tell as soon as he walked in my door that Roarke and I are mates." I looked around at those I was closest to in the Clan, and then the bears and mates that I didn't know as well. "Most of you can probably tell as well?"

Mateo nodded, as did most of those sitting closest to me. "You're scent is mixed with his. And I know I scented your scent for the first time yesterday, but it's weird, because it's like my mind always knew this was the way you're supposed to smell. I wonder if we subconsciously were able to somehow know your scent. Like we could discern it telepathically, at least those of us you are closest to in the Clan." He looked at Alpha Riggs to see what he thought.

Alpha's nod was thoughtful. "It's true, Emrie. I knew your scent as soon as I was in the room with you, and it was somehow familiar to me. There aren't any studies that have been done about our scents permeating our telepathic presence, but we have to assume it's at least possible. If your parents knew that, that means they would have known that those in your Clan would be able to tell if you were our mate or not, through a telepathic link."

Yes, but if that male hadn't ripped my locket off, Roarke and I might have never known we were mates. I knew, or at least suspected, that my parents had done it to keep me safe, but it still hurt that I might have been alone for the rest of my life because of their actions.

Don't get me wrong. I adored my parents, and honored their memory, but I was a little angry with them at the moment, and wished they were both here so I could at least tell them I was angry with them. I blinked back tears.

I wished they were here to hug, too, or that I could just sit in the same room with them and listen to the sound of their voices. I remembered that I used to do that as a cub. Their voices speaking about mundane things to one another was always soothing to me. I would often get so relaxed that I would crash on the couch just listening to them talking with one another. It was a treasured memory now.

I was so lost in memories, I hadn't even realized that Alpha Riggs had opened up the floor for thoughts on Roarke moving in with the Clan.

Another mate spoke up from the back. She was a mermaid, I thought, with beautiful, thick, blonde hair, and large blue eyes. "Why is this even a discussion? If he's her mate, he has a place within the Clan automatically."

A male bear I didn't know very well, one who worked as an enforcer, said, "Yes, but they aren't mated yet, and he's a dragon."

The room went quiet.

Mathan, next to me, said, "Emrie should not be forced to mate on our timetable because the Clan is uncomfortable with the presence of a dragon on our property. To be clear, Roarke has been allowed on Clan property for a few years now, since he and Emrie became good friends. The only difference is that he won't be going home each day. Has he done anything at all that has been a danger to our Clan since he first began coming onto our property?"

"No," Mateo said. "In fact, there've been a few times he's helped. When that huge storm hit last spring and a few houses got buried under a bevy of heavy trees, and we couldn't get to the Clan members inside, Roarke lifted the trees off, and we were able to get them out in time to get them medical help."

Two families nodded in the back, and I recognized them as the two families whose houses had been buried under fallen trees last spring.

A bear shifter spoke up from the middle area. "And when my son decided last fall that he had to have a certain condor's plumage for his Halloween costume, Roarke lifted him out of the nest, and got him away in the nick of time."

His mate looked like she was torn between laughter and mortification. "We still have no idea how he got up to the nest." Some of the Clan laughed, remembering the drama from last October.

Listening to all of their stories about Roarke made me realize how proud I was of him, and how proud I was to be his friend. Because as grumpy as he usually was, when someone needed him, he was there, no questions asked.

"Roarke is on the PNW Council," Akeno said, tapping his fingers against his jeans. He always had so much energy, it was hard for him to sit still. "And he's a founding member of Moonhaven. He arrived here just after King Draven, who literally founded our city."

Others nodded, though some still looked ill at ease.

Alpha Riggs spoke again. "We've known Roarke for some time. From his work on the Council, from his excellent restaurants in town, and because he's close to Emrie. Some of us have gotten to know him better than others here in the Clan. I've heard all of your concerns, and I appreciate that you've voiced them, but I feel Roarke would be an asset to our community and our Clan. He's Emrie's mate. That automatically gives him access to our lands and to us. And, for reasons I can't disclose yet, I feel having him close sooner rather than later would be helpful for Emrie's safety."

His eyes flicked to Mathan who nodded. "Enforcers, Mathan has specific information for you before you go back to your duties. Please see him before you go. Single males, Mathan will probably ask you to put in a few shifts so we can add some extra patrols for our property. Please see him when he meets with the enforcers. Families, there is a possible danger to the Clan. Please keep your family close, and be alert for people you're not familiar with coming onto our property. Let any of the officers know if you spot someone unfamiliar. Thank you all for your cooperation. Clan dismissed."

Alpha Riggs looked at me. "Emrie, do you have a minute?" I nodded reluctantly, having a good guess about why he wanted to talk with me. We made our way with Mateo and Alastair to his office. When we were all seated, my alpha spoke up. "I'm sorry, Emrie, other than that quick telepathic conversation earlier today, I haven't had much chance to speak with you and get your input. I know you're usually hesitant to speak in front of the whole Clan. I wanted to make sure you were able to speak freely."

I swallowed. "I appreciate that, Alpha."

He smiled fondly at my refusal to call him Riggs, and nodded. Both Mateo and Alastair sat back in their chairs. Alastair's trusty laptop was closed, and I swallowed thickly when I realized I had the full attention of the room.

"Well, first, I think having Roarke nearby would help. Most paranormals who would balk at going toe-to-toe with a bear shifter would likely run in terror from a dragon," I quipped, and the guys laughed.

Mateo nodded. "Very true."

"Where will he stay?" Alastair asked.

I eyed my alpha. "Here at the Clan lodge?"

"Yes, we're set up to accommodate guests here. We have several rooms on the bottom floor he can choose from, all are master suites, even the ones set up for families with bunkbeds and adjoining rooms."

Yeah, we had no shortage of rooms and bathrooms in the lodge. It could probably house all of us if there was an emergency. It had been built partially with that in mind, as well as a headquarters for our alpha and his First, Second and secretary, and any visiting guests or bear shifters.

"I think you should move into the Clan lodge, temporarily," Alpha Riggs said.

I frowned. "I have to finish a table in my shop for Roarke, and you know I've been hired by King Draven and Consort Mia to complete their library."

He nodded. "You should still be able to do those things. We're just being cautious right now. When Roarke can't be with you because of his Council or restaurant duties, I'm going to send Mateo with you."

Mateo looked like he'd already been told this and had no issues with it, but I did. I wanted to protest that sending his First with me when another enforcer would do just fine was silly, but I didn't. Still, Mateo seemed to sense my reticence because he eyed me and raised an eyebrow, even though his gaze was kind and his posture was non- provocative.

"Did you have a problem with me being your guard, Emrie?" he asked politely.

I squirmed in my seat, and finally nodded. "I can take another enforcer, Alpha. I don't want to take your First away from you and the Clan."

My alpha's voice grew gentle. "Emrie, Mateo will be with you when Roarke can't be. You are Clan as well, and it's you who needs the extra protection right now. And I didn't ask. Mateo volunteered."

I grew a little misty eyed. There went my big emotions again.