Chapter twenty-two

Opening the door, I step aside to let Frank and Mila in. I clap Frank on the shoulder before turning to his mate. "How're you feeling, Mila?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Gideon," she says, smiling and giving me a quick hug.

Frank sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You have a concussion, love. Not to mention Chloe had to heal six lacerations on your scalp and face, mend a couple broken ribs and a few fractures, and seal a leak of your spinal fluid."

Quirking a brow, I look from him to her.

Her cheeks flame as she shrugs. "Just a few wounds, but I'm fine, I swear." She looks around the room, then heads toward the kitchen. "Is Addy in here?"

"She's going to kill me if she doesn't kill herself first," Frank sighs.

I chuckle, shaking my head. "I wish I didn't know that exact feeling."

As he walks into the kitchen, another car pulls down the driveway, followed by one other. Darrold and Brent walk up the front steps with Maddie and Jaz close behind them.

"Everyone is in the kitchen," I say, moving aside to let them in. I ruffle Jaz's hair, what would normally elicit a scowl and annoyed remark, but instead, she gives a small smile before wrapping her arms around my waist. I bend down, squeezing her in a tight hug and whispering into her ear, "You okay, little star?"

She nods against my chest. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you." Her voice is small, nothing like the Jaz I know.

"I should've expected nothing less than for you to do what you thought was right." I pull back, hooking my knuckle under her chin and raising her gaze to mine. "You only wanted to help your pack, and there is nothing wrong with that."

She lets out a breath, her shoulders deflating.

"But you do need to learn how to fight a stronger opponent." Straightening myself back up, I tousle her hair again. "We'll work on that in the next training lesson."

She looks up at me, her eyes wide. "Really?"

I laugh. "Of course, pup. Next week, we'll teach you how to use their strength against them." Putting my arm around her shoulders, I steer her toward the kitchen. "Come on, I made extra bacon for you."

Everyone is gathered around the table eating when we go to join them. Laughter fills the room, and everything feels… right. For the first time in as long as I can remember, my mind relaxes and joy fills my soul.

"There you are," Maddie says, grinning at Jaz. "Everything alright?"

"Everything's great," I say, grabbing a plate and piling food on it for Jaz, "though I wanted to discuss a few things with you all before announcing a pack meeting later tonight."

Quiet settles over the room, not even the scraping of forks against plates heard while I take a seat next to Adara.

"There's a few matters to be handled." I take a sip from my coffee. "First, as you're all aware, the wolf council is dead, along with Aramin. That leaves a hole in our hierarchy, and according to… certain witches, it would be best if I reformed the council personally." Making eye contact with each person at the table, I clear my throat, then continue. "Frank, I'd like you to be head councilman."

Silence greets me, Frank smoothing a hand over his beard before responding. "I, uh, don't know—"

"He'll still be your beta?" Mila asks.

"I wouldn't have anyone else by my side," I tell her, then look back at Frank. "You're welcome to both, Frank."

Mila nods, smiling at Frank when she says, "He accepts," which pulls a small laugh from everyone at the table.

"I guess I can't say no to that," he agrees, grasping Mila's hand and bringing it to his lips.

"I'd also like to appoint Maddie, Brent, and Darrold to the council," I say, looking at each person when named. When there's no response, I nod. "For the last four positions on the council, I'll let you all choose for yourselves. I trust your judgment. The next issue to discuss is a liaison."

"A what?" Brent asks, leaning forward on the table.

"Liaison," I repeat, my jaw ticking. "It's the person who will communicate and work with the witches' coven on our behalf. Not just our pack, but our kind as a whole and the wolf council."

Murmurs sound around the table as everyone digests that information.

"The high priestesses informed me that Chloe would be their choice," I offer, noting the look of relief across many of the faces before me. "I'd like to offer the position to Mila for ours."

"M-me?" she says, a finger jabbing her chest.

I sit back in my chair, raising a brow at her. "Is there someone else more qualified? You're empathetic, kind, close with multiple witches, a valued member of my pack, and the mate of the head councilman."

"I… I just thought that…" She looks toward Juliana before shifting her gaze to the table. "I thought you wouldn't trust me after everything that happened… how easily manipulated I was and the fact that if I… if I hadn't asked for her help to take my fertility, Addy wouldn't have gone to save Jules and—"

"Monique tricked many of us," I say, keeping my tone gentle, but firm. "That isn't a reason to back away from the opportunity to help." I look over to Adara. "And I think it's safe to say that these two are more grateful to be sisters than to not have each other at all."

Frank squeezes Mila's shoulder. "She accepts."

Swiping a hand beneath her eye, she nods, then whispers, "I do. Thank you."

Blowing out a breath, I reach under the table and set my hand on Adara's knee. "Perfect."

"Gideon is right, and I think you'll make a great liaison," Juliana says quietly.

Mila's head snaps up, a tear escaping as it runs down her cheek. "T-thank you."

"Did… did you know?" Juliana asks, bringing her gaze up from her hand clasped with Wren's to look at Mila directly. "Did you know about me?"

Mila shakes her head, reaching her hand out to Juliana, then retracting it. "No, of course not. I would've never… I couldn't have…" She looks up to the ceiling, taking a deep breath. "I had no idea there was a child within me. I only thought of ensuring I could never have his child, to make everything better. Safer. I'd already had a miscarriage because of his abuse, so I-I didn't dare think of how the spell worked." Closing her eyes, she places her hands on her cheeks. "I'd understand if you never want to see or talk to me again," she says, her voice breaking, "but if you do, I'd be so grateful to get to know you."

Maddie slides her hands out to each of them, Mila taking her hand immediately and Juliana taking it after a moment's hesitation. "Not everyone gets a second chance to build a bond as wholesome as the one between a mother and her daughter."

Juliana nods, giving Mila a teary smile. "Yeah… I would like that."

Adara reaches over to place her hand atop Maddie's where it holds Juliana's, beaming between her and Mila.

Wren gasps, reaching for Adara. "Your necklace! What happened?"

Adara looks down at her chest, the bare chain hanging, no longer holding the obsidian wolf I'd gifted her just a few weeks ago. "It… broke. The obsidian cracked when I was… um, fighting Monique." She grimaces at Juliana.

"That's exactly what it should've done," Maddie says, nodding as she sits back in her chair. "Crystals break when they've fulfilled their purpose. Obsidian is protection."

I squeeze Adara's knee. "I'll be happy to get you another."

She smiles over at me. "I'd like that."

Frank places both palms on the table. "Well, if that's all for today, I'll go make announcements for the meeting tonight—"

"It isn't." I rub my chin, scanning the gathered group before me. "The feral lands is the last issue we need to discuss." I look directly at Darrold and Brent. "I'd like you two to form a group and head out there. We've inherited the pack territory on the other side of the feral lands, and it was our original pack territory before Grant started pushing the boundaries over the last few centuries."

Darrold clears his throat. "You'd like me to go?"

I cock a brow. "That is what I said, Darrold. There's no telling who is in the feral lands. There could be many shifters there who are not entirely familiar with their wolf abilities. I'd like you to invite them into your trainings. Also, make a note of any children there without guardians. I'm sure Maddie will be more than glad to make room in her home for any orphaned pups."

"It would be my absolute pleasure," Maddie says, smiling wide.

"If anyone argues, let them know to see me directly or that they're welcome to leave, but the land is Silver Wolf territory." Draining the last of my coffee, I set the mug on the table. "That'll be it, then. See you all tonight." I stand, then add, "Juliana and Mila, I'd like you both to stay."

Walking everyone else to the door, I hug both Maddie and Jaz. "I'm so proud of you, Gideon," Maddie says, kissing my cheek, then grabbing Jaz's hand and walking to their car.

I watch them leave, my gaze trailing the small brown-haired girl before closing the door and turning toward the kitchen. Adara stands there, watching me with a look on her face that I can't quite pinpoint. "I'd like to do something about that," she says.

"About what?" I ask, stepping forward to wrap her in my arms. I rub my nose against hers, inhaling deeply through my nose to allow her scent to fill me.

"About Jaz not having a true home of her own," she says.

I lean back, opening my mouth to argue that she has everything she could need at Maddie's house, but a knock on the back door cuts me off.

Eri walks through the back door, and Adara immediately walks over to hug her tight. "Hello, niece. It's great to see you on your feet again." Eri cups Adara's cheek in her hand, kissing her forehead.

"Ah, perfect timing," I say, gesturing for her to sit on the open chair. Frank and Mila sit on the couch against the wall, Juliana sitting before her mother, who places a hand on her shoulder. Wren leans against Juliana's opposite arm.

"I'm confused," Adara says, glancing between everyone before her gaze lands on me. "What's happening now?"

Grabbing her hand, I sweep my gaze across the room. "I asked Eri to analyze Juliana's blood. To see if she has any wolf abilities that came from her bloodlines." Looking at Adara, I add, "I'd also like your help in convincing her to join our pack." I smirk at Eri. "Or possibly the wolf council."

Eri laughs. "Do not start this conversation again, Gideon."

"You can't return to your pack," I argue. "It's been too long, too much time has passed, and you're a lycan witch now. Please, stay here with us. There's plenty of land and housing to allow you your space."

Adara nods. "Stay, please. I would love to hear more stories of my dad, and… well, you never know when our family will grow." She looks up at me, sheepish when my brows raise.

"Are you having a baby?" Juliana squeals.

Adara laughs, her cheeks flaming as she avoids my gaze. "No. At least, not right now."

Juliana slumps back with a huff. "I really wanted to be an aunt."

"If she does have wolf abilities," Wren asks, grabbing Juliana's hand, "does that mean she'll shift? Will we… still be mates? I… I know witches don't have mates, but…"

Eri shakes her head. "No, it doesn't mean she'll shift. She could have dormant abilities, or she could have only some traits, such as the mate bond, and no physical wolf form." Walking toward the young girls on the floor, she kneels before them, studying Wren. "Though, it is interesting that you feel the mate bond too." She holds out both hands, palm up. "I'd like each of you to place your hand in mine. Let us see what the fates have blessed you with."

Wren stares down at the lycan witch's hands. "How can you tell?"

Smiling softly, she glances at Adara, who still stands beside me. "It is my gift, similar to the ability Adara gained when she became a lycan witch."

My brows furrow. "Your ability?" I ask, looking down at my mate.

"Um…" Adara shifts her weight from one leg to the other, staring down at her hands as she fidgets with the end of her sleeve. "Well, I didn't know it was an ability, really. I-I haven't perfected the use of it, either." She shrugs. "But I… I can sort of… project myself places without physically going there."

"Wait, you can use an omnipresence spell?" Juliana asks.

Adara nods. "Yeah, I guess that's what you'd call it."

"Our spells professor said that hasn't been used in… five or six centuries," Wren says. "Or longer."

Juliana nods. "Plus your fire. What do they call that again?" She looks from Adara to Wren.

"Flamma gerentis," Adara says, pressing her lips into a firm line.

"Yeah!" Juliana says. "Gods, that is so cool." She thrusts her hand out at Eri with a grin. "Let me know if I have anything wicked and awesome going on too."

Wren chortles, then holds out her own hand. "Yeah, well, me too, I guess."

Eri closes her eyes, her hands grasping each of the witch's, murmuring a spell under her breath.

My hand reaches down to find Adara's, lacing our fingers together. Mila and Frank sit huddled on the couch behind them, watching intently.

Then, Eri hums to herself, facing Juliana with her eyes still closed. "To activate and access your wolf—an impressively strong creature—you need to be bitten, but doing that would mean losing your magic since your magic isn't borne through blood." Turning slightly to look at Wren, she says, "You have… a strange ability that I… Oh." Her eyes snap open.

Juliana and Wren exchange a glance before Wren fidgets in her seat and squeaks, "Oh? What does ‘oh' mean exactly?"

Eri inhales deeply, sparing a glance toward me. The anxiety that plagues her features sets my nerves on edge. "Well… it's… I have only ever seen wolf shifters, witches, and familiars. I have never… Only in ancient tales my mother told me as a child have I heard of other shifters."

"Other shifters?" I ask, stepping forward. Abel never mentioned those stories to any of us in his pack when I first became a wolf. "Other as in what?"

"Well, in this case, other as in… sparrow. Wren, you have an ancient, deeply hidden sparrow shifter ability. That is why you can feel the mate bond." Eri tips her head to the side, studying the young couple. "Though, this is the first inter-shifter mating I've ever heard of."

"Does that mean she can shift into a bird?" Juliana asks, grabbing Wren's hand.

"I would assume she could, if it was activated with an alpha's bite," Eri says, then solemnly adds, "If an alpha still exists."

"I don't want to be bitten," Juliana says, frowning. "Not if it means losing so much of who I am."

"It isn't something you have to decide today for the rest of your life, Jules," Adara says.

Juliana shakes her head. "If being a wolf means losing my magic and gaining immortality, then I don't want it. Not if Wren doesn't become immortal with me."

"Do I?" Wren asks, looking around the room at each of us.

"I'm afraid you don't," Eri answers. "Not unless you activate your sparrow." She stands, dusting her hands off on her pants and moving toward the door. "If there's no other questions, I'll see myself out."

Adara blocks her from the door. "Are you going to stay? Please?"

Her aunt stops, gaze flicking between us, then smiles. "I'll stay, but I do plan to visit my home again." She looks sharply at me before hugging Adara. "I'll return soon, niece."

The rest of the day is spent preparing for the pack meeting. Frank and Mila go home to rest, inviting Juliana and Wren to go with them, though they decline, choosing to spend some time resting upstairs in the spare room. It's been a long day for all of us.

As I follow Adara upstairs to our room to change before everyone comes to join us for the pack meeting, I grab her hand and pull her into me, walking her back until her knees hit the bed. I lower us down onto it and kiss her jaw. "Care to explain earlier?"

She laughs breathlessly. "Earlier when?"

I pull away, gazing into her eyes, mischief glinting in them, the dying sunlight streaming through the window. "Either the part about Jaz's true home or the one about growing our family, little witch."

She shrugs. "Oh, it's nothing—"

"Adara," I growl.

"I just thought maybe we could… adopt her. Jazelle."

My heart hammers in my chest. "Adopt her?"

"I wasn't sure if that was something that ever happened, though, or how you'd feel about it." She places her palm over my heart, worry knitting her brows. "If you hate the idea—"

"I love it." I kiss her, once, twice, then again. "I love it, and I love you, and I…" Dragging my thumb over her lower lip, I soak in the elated look on her face—rosy cheeks, a smile tugging at her lips, her eyes bright. "And I want to marry you. I want you to be mine in every way—a witch's binding, a wolf's mating ceremony—hell, a human wedding. Adara, I want you to be my everything for the rest of our lives."

She grabs my face with both hands, slamming her mouth over mine. "Oh my gods, yes. Yes, Gideon. Forever with you is everything I've dreamed about."