Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Anders

E mber walks out the front door, pulling me behind her. Not being able to see Lorcan doesn’t change the fact he’s following us. There’s a sizzle on the back of my neck that I sense when he’s close and invisible. Although, he’s made it clear before that he doesn’t offer that courtesy to others.

“What do I even say?” Ember stops dead in her tracks, spinning to face me.

I twist my wrist to move with her, so I’m not forced to drop her hand. The small amount of skin-to-skin contact soothes both my beasts and the man.

Bringing a hand up, I run my fingers over her soft cheek. “You tell them whatever it is you feel like they need to know.”

Her freckle-covered nose wrinkles. She’s stunningly beautiful, but she’s still healing. I’m not surprised she looks exhausted.

My lion is normally the most vocal of my animals, and now is no exception. He grumbles in my mind, making it clear we should get her back home as quickly as possible, so she can nest.

“I’m twenty-one years old,” she whispers, shaking her head. “I don’t have the experience or the know-how to run a pack.”

“You can, if you want to,” I add quickly. “You’ve already shown a better understanding of compassion and fairness than the previous alpha.”

Her head shakes again, making the braids Lorcan wove into her hair bounce. “My biological uncle was alpha for hundreds of years…” Her eyes clench closed. “I’m only alive because of some fucked-up history I really wish I hadn’t overheard my little brothers talking about, but even then, my biological father didn’t do any better. I truly believe power corrupts, and I don’t want to be anything like either of them.”

“Then, you won’t. I’ve lived a lot of years, and one thing I can assure you is this…” I gently brush her lower lip with my thumb until her eyes pop open. “We aren’t destined to fall into the same patterns as those who came before us. Any cycle can be broken in one generation, as long as you have the will to be the change.”

Lorcan’s hand lands on my shoulder, giving me a squeeze.

Ember studies my face. Her chest rises and falls as she takes in and exhales a heavy breath. “This place does seem like it needs some changes.”

“It does,” I agree. “But if you don’t want to be the one to follow them through, that’s okay too. I appreciate you saving me last night, but we all know you didn’t come here with the intention of claiming the pack.”

Ember squeezes the hand of mine that she’s still holding and nods. She’s a little green around the gills, like she might be sick. I release her cheek to wrap my arm under hers, bringing her closer. She doesn’t hesitate to melt into my chest.

Letting go of her hand, I move my other to her back, so she feels completely surrounded by the hug.

My lion has never been a cuddler, but he wants me to scoop her up and carry her back to bed. In his opinion, addressing the females of the pack can wait. His judgment may be compromised where Ember is concerned. He was licking her hair last night like a total lovestruck weirdo. If he’s not careful, she could run before we ever have time to tell her she’s our mate.

Ember circles her arms around my lower back and rubs her face on my pec. At one point last night, her nose was stuffed in my armpit while she slept. It’s strange to be so physically close to someone, but it’s also easy because that person is her.

“Do you want me to tell Sofia to dismiss everyone? We can always try again tomorrow.” I bend and nuzzle my cheek against the top of her head while trying not to let myself obsess about how I just said we like I have the right.

She sighs. “No, they’re all waiting to see if I show my face today and what kind of condition I’m in if I do. We have to do this now.”

“Only if you’re sure.”

She stretches up on her tiptoes, kissing the edge of my mouth. “Thanks, Anders. I’ll be okay.”

My heart races as she lowers back to the ground. I don’t know when we got so comfortable with each other, but in no way, shape, or form am I complaining.

There are less than thirty females scattered around the room, but they watch with rapt fascination as Ember paces the front of the meeting hall.

Sofia has already grabbed my arm once to stop me from interceding. After her brief introduction and explanation that Aimes is dead, I thought that was the end of it, but it seems there’s more to come.

Ember finally stops her steady stride and turns back to face the audience. “What I’d like to know is if you feel safe here?” She glances around, but every time she attempts to make eye contact, the person looks away. “Okay, maybe that was a silly question. What will help you feel safer as a part of this pack?”

“Most of us aren’t shifters,” an older woman in the back calls out.

“But you live on pack lands,” Ember says as her nose scrunches. “Or is that an assumption too?”

“Most of us do,” someone else says. “But we have no rights here.”

A strangled sound escapes Ember’s throat. “Because you’re not wolves?”

A chorus of agreement fills the air.

“My mother was human when she was tormented by Alpha Brayden. He used a supposed debt to the pack as an excuse to torment her. This was only twenty years ago. Some of you may remember him.” Ember fidgets and finally settles on planting her hands on her hips. “I bet even more of you remember my biological father, Carson.”

The few gasps from the older women indicate they do. I’m not sure it’s the right move for her to share her lineage, but that’s ultimately not my call to make.

“Neither was a decent example of how an alpha should lead their pack.” Ember frowns, shaking her head. “I can’t lie and say I understand all the ins and outs of shifter culture or even the hierarchy within the pack. I grew up in a sanctuary city, where all citizens are given the same rights and opportunities. Where my grandmother, Octavia, ensures the safety of every citizen who seeks her protection.”

Sofia turns, raising an eyebrow. I’m not sure if she’s asking if I knew that or indicating that she had no idea.

“If I could give you one thing, I would want it to be that feeling of safety.” Ember glances around. “Does anyone have any suggestions for how to make that possible?”

There’s some low murmuring, but no one seems brave enough to answer the new alpha. Perhaps they learned the hard way with Aimes that those who spoke out were punished the hardest.

“Right, I get it,” Ember says. “I’m a new face, and you have no reason to trust me, let alone to believe I can defend my place as alpha long enough that you want to get attached. So, how about I tell you the first steps I want to take to move the pack in the right direction?”

Several heads nod their agreement, but that’s all Ember is going to get.

“Haven—that’s the town I grew up in—has a sanctuary ward. It allows monsters to live without having to worry about being stumbled upon by humans who don’t know about the supernatural world. The humans inside the ward live among the monsters, just like the humans here live among wolves.” She moves to the long table at the front of the room. Her hands land on the top, and she pushes herself up until she can sit on the edge. “I know several witches with an affinity for wards. I’m going to speak to them and see if they’d be open to setting something up.”

That garners more than a few intrigued looks.

Ember plants her hands on her thighs, bouncing in her seat. “The next step to bringing life back to the pack is simple.” She grimaces. “Okay, maybe not easy, but everyone deserves to feel like they have choices and access to proper health care.” She glances at Sofia. “Unless that’s something you handle?”

Sofia’s hand wobbles. “I’m a midwife, and I deal with acute injuries as needed, but I don’t have access to spells like a witch would. I take no offense to the idea.”

Ember nods. “Okay, good. I have a family friend who is a fertility witch. I’d like to bring her out to the pack for anyone who would like to see her. She can do spells to help boost fertility for anyone who wants to conceive, and she does seriously effective birth control spells for anyone who doesn’t want to trust human birth control. Is that something any of you would be interested in?”

That gets the crowd talking, and it no longer feels like Ember is having a one-sided conversation with a captive audience. The women finally begin to engage, and the atmosphere in the room changes dramatically.

I’d say the pack females are cautiously optimistic, but Sofia will gauge things when Ember and I aren’t around. That will provide the most accurate idea of what everyone is thinking.

Sofia grins, bumping her shoulder against mine. “She is rather tactful for being so young. Isn’t she?”

I nod, and my cheeks feel hot. My sister has always been weirdly in tune with picking up on my moods. I’m sure she can tell I’ve got proverbial heart eyes for the new alpha.

“Okay, good talk.” Ember smiles tightly. “If you don’t feel comfortable coming to me directly, maybe you could mention any problems or ideas to Sofia or Anders?” Ember pushes herself off the table in one fluid movement, and I’m a little too obsessed with the way her booted feet hit the floor.

Damn.

My entire body aches with the urge to stomp over and pull her into my arms.

“One last thing,” Ember says, addressing the audience. “You’ll see a sexy dragon with black hair and blue eyes around. He’s mine . Also, the druid, who, if I’m not mistaken, is somewhere in that back right corner.”

Everyone’s gaze slides to where Ember indicated. That is strange. I can never tell where he is unless he touches me while he’s invisible.

Lorcan appears, giving a chagrined smile and a jaunty wave. “Yes, hello. Don’t mind me. Just watching over my mate. She is quite magnificent, isn’t she?” He chuckles darkly. “I believe that was a warning to indicate I’m also hers.” His face breaks out into a ridiculous lopsided grin and, for whatever reason, I have the sudden desire to remove his head from his shoulders.

My lion wants to roar his displeasure, but I stifle the urge as Ember’s line of sight moves to me.

I offer a tight smile and remind myself and my beasts that this is not a race to gain her affection.

“Let’s just add Anders to that group too,” Ember says, clapping. “My wolf just needed me to say that. She will tolerate a lot, as long as you respect her mates. Otherwise, we’re good. Thanks so much for letting me introduce myself, and I meant what I said. Please feel free to share any thoughts or feelings you may have about how you think we can make life better here for every member—human, wolf, or whatever species you happen to be.”