Chapter 25

Lydia called Carleigh to cancel the hardware order. Her cousin's response when Lydia relayed the events of the past half hour? "Fuckin' hell."

"My sentiments exactly."

Carleigh stopped typing to give Lydia her complete attention. "How are you doing with it?"

Lydia rested between Beck's thighs with her back to his chest. His strong arms were banded around her. "This was different than what happened with Tinsley. It was either him or me, and I chose me."

"Glad to hear it. What happens now?" Carleigh returned to tapping her keyboard.

"Now, we wait on Jon to come get us. Beck and I are going back to the rental for a few days, and when he's at full strength, we're going to look for Amara. Since it's going to be late when we get there, we'll all sleep, and then we're going to ask Jon to take Dooley and Kennedy to Kodiak in the helo since he's never piloted a seaplane. Beck and I will drop the Cessna off in Seward, then take the helo back up. We still aren't one-hundred-percent certain about Boyd's involvement, so Dooley thinks you or he should devise your own cryptic message letting Boyd know the baby bear will never again eat porridge, or something to that effect."

"Yeah, we can do that. Is Beck going to tell Delaney?"

"Nope. He's done with her. Boyd can fill her in, or Amara can once we track her down."

"You think Amara's going to be okay with what happened? Chloe was her daughter."

"Beck said she'll handle it as a queen and not as a mother. Once we locate her, we're heading home. If we haven't found her by the end of the year, we're coming back regardless. I'm not missing Gio's birth."

"Yes! I need to see your face. Now can I tell Bas what you've been up to?"

"Nah. I'll tell him myself when Beck and I visit the lodge. I figure he and Dakota won't yell as much if there are others around."

"Sneaky. I like it. It sounds like you've got everything under control. Tell Jon to call me, and I'll arrange a flight for him out of Anchorage."

"Will do."

Lydia rubbed her hands over Beck's arms as she enjoyed the wonder of the Aurora Borealis. She would miss the wide-open sky with its light show and millions of stars when they left Alaska. Beck had offered to pitch their tent, but she declined. She didn't want to miss what was above her, and she had her mate to keep her warm.

It was going on midnight when Jon returned. They had heard the helo in the distance, and as they waited for him to reach them on foot, they packed their bags. "Where'd you stash the idiots?" he asked when he looked around and didn't see the bodies.

They had discussed whether to leave the bodies out in the open for wildlife or take them back to Valdez as planned. In the end, they opted to put them in the cave. It would be up to Amara to decide what to do with them. Beck and Dooley doubted the Empress would give her daughter a proper funeral considering she was a traitor, but Lydia convinced them to give her the choice.

She explained what happened after he left, and when she got to the part about killing Orson, Jon pulled her into a hug. Clinging to his strong back, Lydia assured him she was okay.

Since the helo was a four-seater, Kennedy sat in Dooley's lap in the back with Lydia beside them. Beck didn't offer to pilot the bird, instead taking the co-pilot's seat. The flight to the warehouse took little more than an hour. By the time they stored the helo in the warehouse and got back to the rental, Lydia was ready to fall on the bed with her clothes on. Instead, they said goodnight to the others, and she joined her mate for a long, hot shower after Beck brushed his teeth. Lydia was careful as she soaped her mate's body. He washed his hair twice before lathering hers. They bathed in silence since neither one had the energy for anything sexual. Hating to sleep with wet hair, Lydia blasted hers with the hair dryer just enough to remove the dampness. Beck was waiting in bed for her, and she turned off the lamp, then slid beneath the covers and into his waiting arms. Resting her head on his shoulder, Beck kissed her now clean hair and whispered, "I love you, Sugar."

Lydia pressed her lips to his bare chest. "I love you too, My Bear."

The next afternoon, because everyone slept in, Kennedy cooked a big breakfast, and they enjoyed each other's company one last time.

When it was time to say goodbye, Dooley approached Lydia. "I was serious about joining your Clan."

"And I told you it was a done deal."

"There's no paperwork or initiations?"

Lydia glanced at Jon who shrugged. Keeping her face impassive, she said, "Make a fist and place it over your heart."

"Wait. I want to join too." Kennedy rushed over to stand next to Dooley and made a fist.

"Repeat after me. I pledge my loyalty to the Stone Society and vow to protect all my Clanmates to the best of my ability." The couple repeated the vow together, and Lydia inclined her head. "Welcome to our Clan."

Dooley glanced over at Jon who raised his coffee cup. "Yes, welcome."

Lydia promised Kennedy she and Beck would keep them posted on the Amara search and that they would visit before leaving Alaska. Lydia thanked them for their help, then she and Jon had a tearful goodbye as she thanked him as well for having her back.

"It's what family does. You know that." Lydia and Beck stood arm-in-arm as the trio left in one of the rental SUV's. Once back inside, Beck called Caleb to let him know Jon was dropping the helo off but to keep it from Delaney since it belonged to Lydia. They had driven by the marina on their way to the rental to make sure the Cessna was still in the slip. It had been, so Beck relayed that they would fly it back in a few days. Beck admitted to Lydia after he hung up with Caleb that he was past the point of caring if Sagan Adventures lost money.

"That reminds me," Lydia started once they were alone and relaxing on the sofa in front of a fire. "I wouldn't worry about the company. Amara has an offshore account that's worth millions."

"That doesn't surprise me. When Valerie overthrew Amara, she kept everything, but my mother still had money to start a business. She didn't rule the pack for a century without having a backup plan in case she was challenged."

Lydia snuggled in as they talked about where they would start looking for other shifters. That morphed into a discussion about whether to buy a house in West Virginia or wait until after they'd traveled a while. Talk turned to kisses which turned to making love. It was wonderful until Beck was cleaning her up.

"Sugar?"

"What's wrong?" Lydia raised up on her elbows and stared at the washcloth. The cloth was tinged with red. "Dammit. Sorry about that."

Beck frowned at her. "Why are you sorry? I was too rough."

"Oh, My Bear. You weren't. I started my period is all." The relief on Beck's face was both sweet and funny. "I'm sorry if that isn't something you enjoy."

"Sugar, I couldn't care less if you're bleeding while we have sex as long as it doesn't hurt you. Aren't you cramping?"

"Nah. My birth control helps with those, and my periods only last about four days."

"Good. That's good." He returned the cloth to the bathroom, and if the running water was any indication, he was rinsing it out. Gods, she loved her mate.

Instead of ruining the sheets, Lydia waited for him to return to go in search of a tampon. After she found one, she pulled on her panties along with one of his button-up shirts. "What do you want for dinner?"

It was early, but they had worked up an appetite. They raided the refrigerator and came up with ingredients for stir-fry. While eating, they discussed when to go search for Amara. Lydia wanted to wait a few days before setting out, giving Beck time to heal further, but Beck convinced her otherwise. "The sooner we locate her, the sooner we can head to Atlanta. I know you're ready to be back home, and I'm ready to meet my new Clan."

"How would you like to meet my parents sooner?"

Beck's fork hung suspended in front of his mouth. "How much sooner?"

"After we eat. We can do a video chat."

He nodded. "Is it not too late?"

"Nah. My parents are night owls."

"I'd like that." Then he shoved his food in his mouth.

Lydia shouldn't be surprised he wasn't hesitant about talking to her folks. Beck had a big heart, and he was ready for someone besides her to share it with. They finished eating and cleaned the kitchen. When they settled on the sofa, Lydia opened her laptop instead of using her phone. "Ready?"

"Yep."

Beck was more than ready to meet the beings who gave him his mate. From listening to Lydia talk about her parents, he felt like he already knew them. Still, what if they didn't like that he had put her in danger? He rubbed his hands along his jeans, and Lydia grabbed the one closest to her.

"They're going to love you." She tapped a few keys, and a window opened on the screen. A few seconds later, a familiar face popped up.

"Hey, Sweet Girl. How's… Oh, hello. You must be Sawyer."

"You didn't tell me you had a sister," Beck said, looking between Lydia and the face on the screen.

"Isn't he adorable? I like him already." Turning away, the female yelled, "Gorgeous, get your ass in here. Lydia's on the line, and she has Sawyer with her." When she turned back around, she grunted.

"How's Gio?" Lydia asked.

"Killing my bladder and my back. I swear this kid's gonna be a soccer player with how much he likes to kick."

A male appeared next to the female. "Hey, Bug. What's up?"

"I'd like you to meet my mate. These are my parents, Sophia and Nikolas. This is Sawyer Beckett, but everyone calls him Beck."

Sophia snorted. "Everyone except you. Oh, My Bear," she said in an awful falsetto.

Lydia crossed her arms over her chest. "Why did I think this was a good idea?"

"Because you love us. It's a pleasure to meet you, Beck. First thing, please call me Nik. Second, we're thrilled that Lydia found you. Now, tell us what's been going on." Nik wrapped his arm around Sophia's shoulder and gave them his undivided attention. Beck couldn't help but stare at Sophia. When Lydia said the aging process stopped with Gargoyles, she wasn't kidding. Sophia didn't look any older than her daughter.

Lydia leaned against Beck as she relayed the events of the past few days. Since she started with when Jon left to go get the helo, they must have been up to speed with everything before that. It surprised him how honest she was. At one point, a young male popped up behind the sofa, and Lydia paused her story long enough to introduce Beck to her brother, Locke. The teen gave him an up nod, then rolled his finger.

"Proceed, please."

Lydia did. Her family sat quietly until she got to the part about killing Orson. The trio began talking at once, and Lydia smiled up at Beck. "I'll just let them get it out of their system." She pressed a kiss to his jaw, then leaned her head against his shoulder. When they realized she wasn't listening, her mother leaned forward, grabbed her stomach, then flopped backwards.

"I'm fine. Like I told Carleigh, it was either him or me. Now, may I finish?"

"There's more?" Sophia asked.

"Yep." The next time she paused, she said, "That's everything."

Sophia looked at Beck. "I would say I'm sorry for your loss, but it sounds like she got what she deserved. And poor Kennedy. You need to bring her and Dooley home with you. Speaking of, when will that be?"

"We're heading out soon to search for Amara. If we don't find her before the end of the year, we'll be in Atlanta for New Years."

"You're gonna miss Christmas?" Her mom pouted, and if it wouldn't be weird to think, Beck would say Sophia was as adorable as her daughter.

"Maybe. But this is important, Mom. We need to leave Alaska with everything settled if possible. Now, if you happen to go into labor earlier than that, call me on my sat phone, and we'll be there no matter what's going on. We'll celebrate Christmas a few days late, but don't expect any wrapped presents. I'll babysit Gio so you and Dad can get some sleep."

Nik pumped a fist in the air. "Best present ever."

Locke clapped his dad on the shoulder. "Guess I'll send back the original copy of Le Comte de Monte Cristo I bought you and add my name to the babysitting roster."

Nikolas about fell off the sofa, he turned so fast. "You found one?"

Locke shrugged. "Doesn't matter now."

"But, Son!"

Beck smiled at their antics. Even as close as he was to his father, they never carried on this way.

"You two can argue about Alexander Dumas later," Lydia said. "We've got a long day tomorrow, so we need to get some sleep."

"All right, Sweet Girl. Keep us posted, and we'll see you when we see you. Beck, it was great meeting you."

"Likewise. We'll be in Atlanta before you know it."

Nik and Locke also extended the nice-to-meet-you sentiment, and there were "I love yous" all around before Lydia disconnected.

Lydia snuggled closer. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"They're all wonderful. It's fun to see the way they tease each other, and the love…" Beck kissed Lydia's hair, breathing in her scent. "Until you, no one has ever said they love me."

Lydia leaned away and turned, placing both hands on his cheeks. "You'll never doubt you are loved, Sawyer Beckett. By me or my family." She pecked his lips. "What's your middle name?"

Beck was grateful for the abrupt subject change because he did not want to cry in front of his mate. "I don't have one. Nobody in my family does. What's yours?"

"Nicole, but you already knew that."

"No, I didn't. When Chloe kept hounding me about who my mate was, I pulled that name out of my ass."

"Ew." Lydia scrunched her nose, grinning. "I think somewhere in your subconscious you did."

"Lydia Nicole Stone. I like it."

"Our family's surname is Di Pietro. It's Italian. When my Uncle Rafael took the throne here in the States, he changed it to Stone as did most of his brothers and cousins. Jon's dad chose Hartley, and Uncle Dante still uses Di Pietro. He refused to let go of their heritage."

"Now that we're mated, am I considered a Stone or Di Pietro? How does that work?"

Lydia once again snuggled against his side, resting her hand on his chest. "There are no rules in place. If you want to keep your last name, I have no problem with that. If you'd rather be a Stone or want me to become a Beckett, we can have the paperwork drawn up changing our names legally."

"We don't have to get married?"

"We don't have to, but we can if that's something you'd like. Bas and Dakota had a small ceremony at the justice of the peace. His parents flew in to be there with them. Dakota's home life wasn't all that great, so they decided to keep it simple."

"Do you want a wedding?" Beck had stood up for Dooley when he and Kennedy tied the knot literally because their ceremony had been a handfasting.

"What's typical for your pack?" Lydia asked instead of saying what she wanted.

"There are no weddings and rarely any true claimings. Easier to cut someone loose that way."

"That's depressing. But aren't Dooley and Kennedy married?"

"Yes. Even though they claimed one another, Kennedy wanted a ceremony. It was a beautiful handfasting."

"Could we do that too?"

"A handfasting?" Lydia nodded against his shoulder. "I'd like that, but would it go against your beliefs?"

"My beliefs have changed over the years. Luna and Solara worship their goddess. You have your goddess. As a wolf, Dakota has hers. Are they the same one or different? The Gargoyles have worshipped the old gods since the beginning of time, but we're also drawn to the moon, which represents the goddess in some cultures. In others, both gods and goddesses are worshipped. Then you have the fates who choose our mates. Again, goddesses. The Gryphons are called the Hounds of Zeus. As children, we weren't indoctrinated the way humans are that there is only one supreme being. It's been handed down since Gargoyles came to be that we were created by the gods. Maybe we were, but maybe the goddesses aided in our creation. Even in the Bible God mentions other gods."

Lydia pressed a kiss to his shoulder, then looked up at him. "I said all that to get to this point: I believe that as long as you are good, it doesn't matter what deity you call on, and I think a handfasting ceremony would be amazing. So what do you say, My Bear? Will you tie your knot to mine?"

"It would be my honor."