Chapter 30
Lydia had never been this nervous in her life. Not even when Frey had her land a plane on a strip of deserted road that ended abruptly, or when she was alone in the wilderness. The closer they got to Carlton, the more she thought she should have told Sebastian and Dakota she was home. Her family in Atlanta disagreed with her keeping it a secret, especially when Lydia asked her mom to keep Gio's birth quiet.
"You're asking me to lie to my family, Sweet Girl. I don't like that one bit."
"I know, Mom, but I want to surprise them by showing up. If we call now, they'll expect me to be on the first plane out to West Virginia. I want to spend more time with Gio before leaving. Once I get to Carlton, I have a feeling Dakota is going to tie me to a chair after ripping me a new one."
The last week had been filled with babysitting Gio so her parents could sleep, hanging out with Cailín until she was assigned a case, showing Beck, Dooley, and Kennedy around the city, and relaxing at home. The most exciting thing that happened was her Uncle Frey offering Beck a job. Frey and Abbi had been splitting their time between Atlanta and California, but now they wanted to move to the West Coast for good. Or at least the next fifty years or so. In doing that, Frey needed someone to teach the younger generation to fly. Beck had been honored, but when he told Frey about Sebastian tasking Lydia with finding shifters for the council, Frey understood why Beck couldn't accept.
Before leaving Atlanta, Lydia suggested taking both vehicles to West Virginia so Dooley and Kennedy could come and go as they pleased. Beck pulled into the parking lot, and Lydia froze. Not only was Sebastian standing out front, but Dakota was next to him.
"Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit."
Beck palmed her nape. "We talked about this, Sugar. One wrong word, and we're right back in the car."
"Lydia Nicole Stone, get your ass out of the car." Bas took off at a jog with the biggest grin on his face.
Lydia threw open the door and barely had enough time to put her foot down before she was engulfed in a hug. "Gods, am I glad to see you." He picked her up and twirled her around. When he set her on her feet, he placed his hands on her arms. "You look good, Cousin." Bas looked over her shoulder. "And who is this?"
Lydia had planned to ease into this conversation, but instead she blurted, "My mate, Sawyer Beckett."
"Sawyer Stone, actually," Beck corrected her.
"No wonder you didn't call." Dakota stomped toward her. "You found a mate. You got married. What else did you fail to share when we talked?" Dooley and Kennedy took that moment to exit their vehicle, and Dakota went from pissed-off Queen to smiling lodge owner. "Welcome to Holt Lodge. We don't open for another week, but come inside, and I'll show you around."
Dooley jerked his thumb Lydia's direction. "Actually, we're with them."
Dakota glared at Lydia.
Lydia sighed. "It's a long story."
"It had better be a good one," Dakota huffed. "Well, don't just stand there. Get your asses inside."
Bas hugged Lydia. "She'll calm down. She was really worried about you. You found your mate, huh?"
"Yep, and he's a polar bear."
Sebastian snapped his head around to look at Beck, and Beck shrugged. "Well, I did tell you to find other shifters. Are they bears too?" Bas angled his head toward Dooley and Kennedy.
"Dooley is. Kennedy is an arctic fox." Kennedy gave a little wave, and Bas grinned.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. Let's get inside before my mate tears the bar apart." Bas paused, and leaned in to whisper, "I dreamed about you trudging through the snow."
Lydia smiled. "It wasn't a dream." She winked, then held out her hand for Beck. She needed his touch to get through the next however long it took to calm Dakota down. Once inside, a wave of family hit.
"Lydia!" Tabby yelled, rushing forward on her high heels. Anthony was right behind his twin, with Seven in tow. After hugging Lydia, Tabby asked, "Who is this?" Her voice was low and sultry when she eyed Beck up and down.
"Her husband," Dakota said from behind the bar.
"Your what? You got married?"
Lydia looked around, noticing several workers, and after reaching out with her senses, recognized some as human. "Is there somewhere we can talk privately?"
Dakota growled, and the humans froze. She then coughed, trying to cover her faux pas. "I think we're good for today. Everyone, go home, and I'll see you in the morning." The humans didn't hesitate to leave the room. They exited through the hall that led to the breakroom where they would have stored their belongings.
Bas walked behind the bar and wrapped Dakota in his arms. "Let's listen to what she has to say, okay, My Love?"
Dakota deflated. "What can I get y'all to drink? I'm having tequila because I have a feeling I'm gonna need it."
Lydia turned into Beck, hiding her face. "I'd like a stout, please," he said. Dooley ordered a pale ale, and Kennedy asked for a soda. "Come on, Sugar. Let's get this over with."
"Oh, for fuck's sake. Come here." Dakota rounded the bar and pulled Lydia away from Beck. "Are you happy?" Lydia nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Shit. Don't cry." Dakota hugged her tightly, and Lydia cried harder.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
"Nope. You said it was a long story, and I'm ready to hear it. Come on." Dakota gave her back to Beck, then went behind the bar and pulled everyone's drinks.
"Lydia, you're okay!" Jolee bound into the room, headed for her. She stopped when she saw the tears. "Uh oh. Whose ass do I need to kick?"
"Mine, apparently. I'm such an idiot."
Jolee looked around. "Okay. I must have missed introductions, and where is the waitstaff?"
"You didn't miss anything, and I sent the waitstaff home so we could talk freely. Lydia was about to tell us where she's been, what she's been doing since we know who she's been doing, and no introductions as of yet. Beer?"
Jolee giggled. "You know what I like." To Lydia she said, "I'm thrilled to see you. Oh! Thank you for sending Ollie my way."
"Ollie?"
"I guess your mom sent him to us, but yeah, Oliver Lynch, the male who updated your parents' new place?"
"You're welcome? You said I sent him to you, and by the smile, I'd say he managed more than the remodel."
"You'd be right. Now, how about we all sit down and introduce ourselves. I'll go first."
Jolee told everyone who she was and how she knew Dakota. Lydia introduced Beck, Dooley, and Kennedy to everyone, letting her family say who they were and how they were related. By the time they'd finished, Dakota had everyone a drink, and they were all gathered in the lobby.
Lydia took a long pull off her sour, leaning against her mate. "About a week after I went home, Carleigh called." Lydia went into the cryptic messages and how she and Cailín traveled to Alaska. It took about an hour to get through her story with everyone interrupting. Dakota frowned more than once, and Sebastian? Well, he looked introspective.
Dakota jumped to her feet. "I oughta kick your ass, but I won't because you're here and safe. But couldn't you have at least told us you were back home? And Gio's a week old and we haven't seen pictures?" She turned to Sebastian. "It's like we're not the King and Queen." She threw her hands up, knocking her cowboy hat off, and stomped off. Bas stood, picked her hat up, and took it to her where she was pacing.
Tabitha tapped Lydia on the arm. "Really, a flamethrower?" She jiggled her wrist, but Anthony grabbed her arm.
"You might want to try that outside."
"What's up with your hair?" Lydia asked her cousin. Anything to get the focus off her.
"Well, you see—"
"Not now, Tony." Dakota stalked back over. "At least tell me you got the handfasting on video."
"We did."
"And pictures of Gio?" Bas asked.
"That too. I'm really sorry I kept quiet about everything. I knew you were busy getting the lodge remodeled, and Bas, you had just gotten Dakota away from her pack. After what happened with Tinsley, I wanted to prove to myself I wasn't a fuckup. That I could handle the task you gave me without you having to bail me out. If it weren't for Dooley, Kennedy, and Jon…" The tears fell again, and Dakota crossed the room and knelt in front of her.
"You idiot. You are not a fuckup. You are one of the bravest females I've ever met. I'm in awe of you." When Lydia opened her mouth, Dakota shushed her. "Do you know how many females would have curled up in the middle of all that snow and given up?"
Kennedy raised her hand. "Me, and I'm an arctic fox." Everyone laughed, including Lydia.
Dakota continued. "Am I mad you didn't tell us what was going on? Yes, but only because we should have had your back the same way you had ours. That's what Clan is for. And it might take a minute before I forgive you for not inviting us to the handfasting. I might be inclined to do so faster if you promise you'll never again take on anything without asking for help if you need it."
"I promise."
Dakota gripped Lydia's nape, removed her hat, and touched her forehead to Lydia's. "I'm really glad you're here." When Dakota stood, she smiled at Dooley and Kennedy, replacing the cowboy hat. "Thank you both for taking care of our girl and helping to rescue our Beck. I know I speak for Bas in saying welcome to our Clan. Now, about that video…"
Lydia turned into Beck once more, only this time it wasn't with sadness. Her heart was at ease, and if she really thought about it, it was at home. She would always have her place in Atlanta to go back to, but Lydia wanted to build a house close by. Carleigh had her own life with H3, and as much as Lydia loved Cailín, Bas was her King, and Dakota? Dakota was more than her Queen. She was a friend. A sister. Lydia and Beck would continue their search for shifters, but she wanted their home base to be in Carlton. As Sebastian had said, it was halfway between Atlanta and New York. With her mate being a pilot, he could fly her either place easily in the Clan jet.
While her family gathered around Sebastian's laptop and watched the ceremony, Dooley and Kennedy joined Lydia and Beck.
Dooley placed his hand on Kennedy's still flat belly. "We think this would be a great place to raise a kid."
"But you haven't seen the town yet," Lydia argued.
Kennedy gestured to where everyone stood silently watching the handfasting. "No, but we've seen this, and we want to be a part of it, with you and Beck. This is what packs and Clans and skulks should be like. We loved being around your parents, and even though your house wasn't in the city, Atlanta's a huge place. But this? This feels right. In here." Kennedy pressed her hand to her heart.
"It does, doesn't it?" Lydia turned to her mate. "What about you, My Bear. Does this feel right to you?"
"Yeah, Sugar. It does. And you know why?" Lydia shook her head. "Because you're here. You are my heart and my home, and wherever you are is where I want to be."
"I love you, more than you know."
Beck brushed Lydia's hair off her face. "Until our stars burn out."
"And beyond."
The End