27. Fallout

We left Janet’s cabin after a couple of glasses of perfect sweet tea. I had never had the drink before and it was a new favorite. I would have to ask Candace or her sister, Melody, for the recipe so I could keep some in our refrigerator.

“If it is not too much trouble, I would like to join the pack officially now that we are mated. Blake also deserves to know our happy news as soon as possible.”

“So you aren’t just putting off telling ívarr and Teagan?” Axel teased.

“Well, that also. I think it is prudent to be tied to the pack before heading to Abrocaelum.”

“Okay. I think you should ask ívarr, Teagan and Hakeem to come with us. They started this journey with you, it feels important for them to continue it.”

Axel’s face was thoughtful as we walked towards the mansion. Blake would be in his office, since it was barely lunchtime. I planned to make this a quick visit, though with Axel’s brother-in-law near, that was unlikely. As long as they fed us, I would be happy. I had not realized how much food it took to feed a shifter until I was one myself.

Meat, you need more protein, my owl lectured.

He was a good companion. He and Axel’s wolf got on so well. The time they had played together was a favorite memory for him. He appreciated my magic and the life I was building with my mate. It soothed him that our bonding was unbreakable because he had hated the idea, though he had stayed silent, seeing the action as necessary.

“I will ask my friends to come with us. It is past time that the parliament sees what we are doing here.”

“Can I come with you? To Abrocaelum, I mean.” Chase asked. He was subdued after our conversation with Janet. His heart was softer in some ways than Axel’s and the idea of losing the elder shifter weighed heavily on him. He wanted to explain to Blake so the pack was prepared for her loss as well as they could be.

The mansion was busy with many shifters shouting out their congratulations as we passed. I made note of the ones who only gave a perfunctory greeting. They were to be watched. My owl approved of this plan.

“Congratulations, Axel. I hope I get to change next,” Dalton said as he came to meet us, a fixed, almost fake smile on his face.

Dalton would not go on my list, for I knew his pain. He had set his sights on Axel, which was understandable, my mate was attractive and principled, he made a good mate. Now he was stuck seeing Axel with a mate who was not him, and Axel was an omega, which Dalton desperately wanted to be himself.

Axel pulled his assistant in for a hug, clearly feeling his pain as his own. “I hope so, too.”

We eventually made it to Blake’s office, where Kade and the babies were waiting for us. Preparations were underway for their first birthday. At first, I thought the office had been decorated for them and not us. The little ones were adorable as they chased balloons around the floor.

Pop!

Felix began to cry as one burst in his face. He settled as soon as Axel picked him up and cuddled him close. Kade smiled, as happy as I was that Axel would let those instincts out now.

“Alpha Blake, I would like to officially join the Sweetwater pack.”

Blake studied me. “No calling me Alpha Blake all the time, only when it’s necessary. We’re brothers now, okay?”

“I can do that.”

“Then welcome to the Sweetwater pack.”

My new Alpha made quick work of the vow and we celebrated our mating with our family over lunch provided by Winter from the kitchen. The beta had even made Axel’s favorite cake, a red velvet towering monstrosity, that Kade had to wrestle Greyson away from. The alpha pup loved it almost as much as his omega uncle did.

We left and headed towards the science center where ívarr, Teagan and Hakeem were gathered.

“Are you ready to go?” Teagan asked.

I looked at my mate. He was nervous. Chase, beside him, also looked anxious over what we were about to face.

“About as ready as we can be. They will not like what we have to tell them. Janet confirmed I am just the first to have an animal soul.”

Hakeem’s eyes widened, then he smiled. “I would love to change forms. My work with the shifters of Abrocaelum would be much easier.”

“I’d love wings,” Teagan sighed with a dreamy look on her face.

“Hmm, I do not want an animal soul, though I admire the shifters.”

“You’re all about the witches these days, aren’t you?” Teagan teased, playfully tugging at his arm.

ívarr just smiled. “Only one witch. She was hoping to come with us, if that is alright?”

“Michaella’s coming to Abrocaelum? Is she bringing her bike?” Chase was practically bouncing.

“Bike? Do you mean a bicycle?” ívarr’s face was set in a frown.

The roar of an engine came from down the street. Chase made a noise of delight while Axel and Teagan shared grins.

“I think he means motorcycle,” I told my friend.

The witch came to a stop in front of us and removed her helmet. “Hey, I thought since we would be making an entrance, I’d go big.”

“Go big or go home, right?” Chase rushed to examine the machine. “Can I ride this another time?”

“Sure,” Michaella said easily. She got off the bike and went to a box on the end where she withdrew another helmet. “Wanna ride with me?” She brought it to ívarr, who was blushing! Never in my life had I seen the man blush.

“I’d like to, but I’m afraid I will fall.”

“Just hold on tight to me. You trust me, don’t you?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Okay, then we need to braid this hair first. Don’t want to get it all messed up. May I?”

ívarr didn’t answer, just approached the bike and perched on the seat, making him a better height for Michaella to quickly tie his long dark hair into a braid.

The moment between them seemed so intimate, I felt as if I shouldn’t be watching it.

“We should head to the portal. There, those of us who can, should shift. The others will take our clothes.”

“Actually, I decided you needed something fancier, all of you, so I’ve got that handled.” Teagan knocked her foot against the bag beside her. “I also got horses for me and Hakeem. Someone is waiting at the other side of the portal for us.”

Dread lined my stomach as we made our way to the portal where the elves waited for us to cross. The ones guarding were friendly. Some expressed shock and awe when I shifted, letting my owl spread their wings.

It was the first time ívarr, Hakeem and Teagan were seeing my new form, so I waited, perched on Axel’s arm, for them to touch my feathers.

“Come on, get your helmet on. Let’s get this done.”

Now I saw what ívarr liked in his witch. She had a take charge personality.

I could only imagine what the people of Abrocaelum saw as we got near to the castle.

A witch and elf on a motorcycle.

Twin wolves racing and an owl flying above them.

Followed by two elves on horseback cheering them on.

We were a disaster waiting to happen. Hopefully the court waiting in the throne room would be the focus of any calamity.

Michaella parked her bike in the courtyard where Teagan and Hakeem dismounted. The stunned page took charge of the horses but gaped at us the entire time.

“Stay shifted until we are in front of the queen,” Teagan said.

Happy to agree, I landed on my wolf.

Are you alright, dear one?

Nervous as fuck and grateful only you can hear me right now.

Nope. Heard you too. Both of you, but since I’m also nervous as fuck, I think it’s okay to be using the pack link.

Chase never failed to make me smile.

I am grateful you are here, brother mine.

The doors of the throne room ahead of us were open, the entire cabinet of parliament assembled before us. My mother was looking particularly regal in a dress of cream with flashes of the green she favored.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ellgar yelled.

“Ellgar, you will hold your tongue until our guests are ready to speak to you.”

I flew into the room, stopping in front of my mother, flapping my wings to stay afloat until I remembered my magic. I used it to hover and speak to her.

Hello, Mother.

“Teárlach, it brings me joy to see you so. I had a dream about you.”

Returning to the others, I shifted. Teagan threw me a robe so I could cover myself. It was a deep green, embroidered with an owl. Axel wore the same color with his wolf. Chase another shade of green, also with his alter.

“Apologies for the manner in which we greet you. I felt it best to provide proof of my change to prevent any doubt of my truthfulness.”

“An effective tactic.” Mother smiled, a truly genuine one which reached her eyes.

“We, my mate and I, consulted a Seer today. She confirmed, with the voice of The Luna, the shifter goddess, that I am to be the first of many elves with an animal soul.”

“Preposterous!” Ellgar yelled. Many others agreed with him. Many glares and accusations of trickery were aimed our way.

“Silence.” Mother’s body spoke, yet it was not her voice. “My elves have fallen so far from what they used to be. There was a time before Abrocaelum, when many could shift into animals, and you lived with the other species, loved them.”

The crowd could only stare as our goddess continued.

“Only love will save you now. You are too interbred. Disease would have flourished had I allowed you to continue as you were. Your prince is the first. He put love, true love, before his duty and earned his fated mate and animal soul. He is your example. Follow or perish.”

With her final words, Mother collapsed. I rushed to her side and pushed some healing magic into her.

“I am well, my son. The goddess was displeased and I felt her ire. She apologized for the headache.” Mother smiled as she touched her head.

ívarr and Teagan came forward, Michaella between them. “May I do anything to help? I’m a witch but also a nurse.”

“Thank you for the kind offer. Perhaps we can do that over tea. I would like to know everything.”

“My queen, I would like to introduce Michaella, my partner. Is that the correct term?” ívarr asked his witch.

“It’ll do until I get an upgrade to wife,” she teased, earning another blush from ívarr.

“Oh, I approve of this match already,” Mother said, standing. “Those who truly want to listen are welcome in the dining hall for tea. Those who are going to wait to see what else our goddess is going to say, will have to wait. She has had enough of you today.”

Teagan giggled, prompting the rest of us to laugh. We tried to keep it quiet as we followed my mother, but I fear we were not successful.

By the time we departed Abrocaelum in much the same fashion as we arrived, we had caused quite the uproar. However, my mating to Axel had been approved by my mother. I apologized for not gaining permission first, which she waved off. She was very understanding about the circumstances.

When I had wished to be the father of Axel’s future child, I could not have predicted I would gain my owl form, or that I would be an alpha. I thanked The Luna for giving me more than I could have dreamed to ask for.

Not only did I have a fated mate, an animal soul, I also had a pack, a larger family than I could have even imagined.

“I think we got off easy, don’t you?”

“Hmm?”

Axel traced my arm as we lay in our bed, relaxed after a warm bath and a couple of orgasms.

“The fallout from you turning into a shifter/elf hybrid. It seems almost too easy.”

“Easy?”

“Do you not think?”

“No, because there were many, many nights when I wondered if you would be taken from me. Where I worried if I would have to break my vow to you about giving you a child. How I ached for it to be me, not some random alpha who would give you a baby. To make you an omega myself. How I hated the idea of having to go back to Abrocaelum and make a child with someone who wasn’t you.”

“So you think we’ll have our own child?”

“I think we can guarantee it. The Luna, my goddess, would not have done all this, to leave us barren. My mother said this was the reason.”

“Are you excited?”

“Yes. Even if it doesn’t happen right away, I’ll still be grateful. All of this. You. I get to keep you, so even if it’s just us for a while, I’ll be happier than I could have imagined.”

“You know all the right things to say.”

“I am just telling the truth.”