Chapter 16

Garrick

“You sure like to make an entrance, don’t you, Garrick?” My best friend and second-in-command, Troy, clapped me on the shoulder and pulled me into a hug. He had arrived shortly after I did. My mother had embraced Noel into her arms, then led him through the house to give him a tour. He had looked back at me, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears of happiness, assuring me that he would be fine on his own.

“You’re gone a week, and you come back with a mate! That’s fast work.” Troy’s grin was huge, his excitement for me palpable.

I smiled back. “I did. He landed right in my lap, like fate had it planned that way all along.”

“You are one lucky wolf, you know that?” He shook his head, but his happiness for me was evident in the sparkle in his eyes.

I laughed. “It does indeed seem that way.”

“Seems awfully convenient,” my father said, a scowl on his face. He hadn’t greeted us at the door, but instead, waited for us to come inside. I hadn’t expected the red carpet roll-out, after all, they didn’t know I was bringing my mate home.

“Father,” I said. My wolf rose to the surface. Was he going to question my relationship with Noel? He couldn’t. Anyone who saw us together, with our combined scents and the mark on his neck, knew we were mates. “Be careful how you speak. Noel is my mate.”

“Now, I’m not saying I don’t believe that he’s your mate. Anyone can scent that on you, but you might have pushback from the council.”

Anger boiled within me. This was our moment. One my parents had been waiting for, one I had been waiting for. I’d found my mate, claimed him, fell in love with him, and we were starting our life together. This should be a happy moment, not one overshadowed by the council and their convoluted rules.

“Fuck them!” I roared.

My father pinched his eyes closed. “You’re not Alpha yet, boy,” he said.

“I know that, but he is my mate. I did find him, just as fate intended. Hell, that is probably the reason I felt so compelled to take that trip, because it was destined to work out this way. I wasn’t destined to have a mate hand-selected by the council, especially not a mate that belonged to another. Noel was booked in the same cabin that I was, then we were snowed in together.”

“That’s so romantic,” Troy said. “Ben will love that. He and I want to hear every detail.”

I shot him a glance, and his cheeks burned red. He shrugged as he slipped his hands into his pockets, looking more sheepish than wolf-like.

“I might have sped up the whole ‘making sure no one hones in on my omega’ process,” he said, holding up his hands. “I know it was out of turn. I should have waited until you returned and gotten your permission. I just… couldn’t risk losing him.”

As a mated wolf, I understood the sentiment. “Finally,” I said, and he laughed.

“Yeah, that’s what Benjamin said, too. And his parents. And mine. Pretty much everyone has had that reaction.”

I put a hand on Troy’s shoulder, and he lifted his gazed to mine. “I’m happy for you. I truly am. Ben is a lucky omega, as are you.”

Troy bared his neck. “Thank you, Garrick. That means the world to us.”

My father held out his hand, and I shook it, his eyes turning on me with pride.

“You’re going to be a great Alpha, Son. And you’re right. I’m not looking at this the right way. I let the politics of the role of Alpha interfere with being a father. I’m happy for you, happy that you found your mate, and more than happy that there’ll be grandpups around this place soon. The council will have to deal with it. This is your life, and the very foundation of your responsibilities as Alpha begin with who you have at your side. A good strong mate will go a long way in making sure you’re successful.”

“Thank you,” I said. I hadn’t realized what a weight I had on my shoulders until my father said those words. I pulled him into a tight hug. “We will make this family proud. You are going to love Noel, I promise. He’s kind, generous, a fantastic cook, an even better baker. He listens to me. He has fantastic ideas. I’ve seen how he connects with people. He will be an amazing Alpha Mate.”

“What of his birth pack? Should we set up a meeting with them?” Dad asked, slipping into more diplomatic thinking. When a person mated to someone from another pack, they usually had a meeting between representatives of each pack. That wouldn’t be necessary in our case.

“No, he was kicked out. He was with the Moon Stone Pack.”

My father’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve worked with their Alpha before. He has an interesting take on how to run his pack. He and I never really saw eye to eye. Well, then we’ll just be happy that he found you and got out of there.”

“Indeed,” I said. “His family is not the best. And that’s being kind.”

“Then I’m even more thankful that you have found him. He will do well here, where he can be treated with the kindness he deserves.”

My mother came back a moment later with Noel at her side.

“Garrick, honey, you really ought to show Noel to your rooms and let him rest. I’m sure the drive has been long on him. Your father and I have completely moved out, so the place is yours.”

“I have gifts,” Noel said.

“Indeed,” I said. “We visited a Christmas market a few days ago and picked up a few things.” I turned to Troy. “Can you grab the coolers from the truck?”

Once he returned with those, Noel opened them and started handing out plates, giving one to my mom with a small gift box on top. We had found an ornament for her that I knew she would love. He handed Troy a plate as well.

“Oh, thank you, dear. This is just lovely,” my mom said. “I can wait till Solstice to open it, if you wish.”

“Once we complete our rounds on Christmas morning, we open gifts as a family,” I explained to Noel.

“That sounds lovely,” he said.

I pulled Noel to my side, hugging him tight. He seemed to soak up my strength. I really did need to get him settled into our room so that he could rest.

“Welcome to the family,” my father said.

“Thank you, Alpha.” Noel bared his neck, as was protocol for meeting the Alpha of a pack.

“None of that, son. My hours as Alpha are numbered, you might as well just call me Dad, if you’re comfortable with that.”

Noel chewed on his lower lip. “I’d like that.”

My mom came over and looped her arm into my dad’s.

“Noel tells me you’ll need an appointment with the healer soon. They’re holding office hours until six tonight.”

“Mother,” I said. “You just told me I need to get him settled so he can rest.”

“Just saying,” she shrugged.

“It really wouldn’t be a bad idea if we could go and just, you know, know for sure.”

I grinned down at my mate and kissed his head. “If you wish, we can do that.”

“I do,” he said.