25. Chapter Twenty-five

Two weeks later, I was completely healed aside from the scars, and at home again. I looked over my bar, knowing I wouldn't be able to open for another week, but I was getting back to my life. That was really all I could ask for.

Hasan and Lani had stuck around for a couple of days, talking about times before me and the future. With the announced changes to the Law and to the Duty of werecats, we could be a little more open about it.

I wanted no part in it. One time was enough for me.

When I had finally chased them off, Hasan made me promise to visit for the holidays, prompting me to glare at him until he finished loading his car and left. I texted him an hour later and promised to come home for Thanksgiving. I wasn't doing Christmas with that family under any circumstances. They always out-gifted me.

Things settled back down, and I was happy for it, for the most part. It was a return to the quiet life I had known, where no one knew I was a werecat and I had very little to fill my days except the bar and video games.

I was looking over my stock, knowing it was the last thing I needed to do before reopening, when someone knocked on the glass door.

"Closed!" I yelled. I didn't care who was out there, and I touched my magic, wondering if it was a supernatural. I had been too focused on my work, because it was—a werewolf. Idiotic of me, after everything that had happened, to ignore my bond with the land and miss one of those sneaking up on me.

"Even for me?" Heath called back.

I jumped up, running to the door. I swung it open and there he was, his grey-blue eyes lighter than I had ever seen them. He was happy.

"Come on in," I told him, holding the door open. "How have you been?" I had been hoping to see someone from the pack since the Tribunal, but none of them had visited me and I needed to put the time into getting my life back in order.

"Good. Officially retired from pack Alpha and the North American Alpha Council," he said, sitting down next to my books. "Trying to reopen?"

"I am," I said, waving at them. "Have to get back to life as I know it, right?"

"Certainly," he agreed, looking down at what I was doing. "Stock. It's been years since I've managed a place like this, but I'd recognize stocking records anywhere."

"Yeah. It keeps me busy. Gives me something to do." I was nervous now. "So, how's retirement?"

"Quiet. I have two more weeks to move out of pack territory or there's going to be problems." He seemed okay with it, but I was just confused.

"Move out? Are they throwing you out?"

"No, no!" he said quickly, shaking his head. "I have to, for the good of the pack. If I stay, I inadvertently undermine Tywin's authority, which…is a little rocky. He's rounding up the rogues in the region, and establishing his inner circle…Landon and I needed to leave. Not far. We're going to stay nearby for our personal business, but we can't live in the city anymore."

"Wow, you wolves are ridiculous," I replied, laughing. "That's a lot for just wanting to retire."

"Isn't it? It's not a permanent retirement, though. They all know once Carey is an adult and there's an opening, I'll make a new pack."

"So, did you come just to catch up with me, or…? Not that I mind if you did, I just figured, after two weeks, that we were…well, done. You don't need me anymore and…"

"No, I'm here to ask a favor of you, actually," he admitted softly. "Your territory. How big is it?"

"I just expanded, actually. My territory now reaches forty miles in every direction from my house. I took over all of Tyler. Oops." I smirked. "Why?"

"I was hoping my family could move in," he answered, leaning back. My jaw dropped and he chuckled at my surprise. "A few nights ago, Carey had a nightmare. She didn't scream for me or Landon. She called for you. She wanted you to save her. She's fallen in love with you, Jacky, and now I'm a lone wolf. So is my son. We're not equipped to properly protect her—"

"Yes, you are," I retorted. "You just want an added layer of protection." It was a touch insulting. He was using me and I wasn't foolish enough to miss it or ignore it. It had to be called out.

"One that I trust, yes." He nodded, meeting my stare.

I thought about it, swallowing. "She really wanted me?" I asked, crossing my arms. I had to look away for a second.

"She did," he confirmed. "She's wanted to see you since you were taken by the Council. I took her to the Tribunal just to see you, because I thought it would be the last chance you both had. She adores you, Jacky, and I would be honored if you shared your space with us and helped me protect her."

"Where do you want to live?"

"We were thinking Tyler, but closer if we had to," he said, smiling. "Only an hour and a half from Dallas, it would be easy for Landon and me to commute when we need to. And yes, you'll be able to see her any time you want. It would be helpful, actually. I'm out of free babysitters. I have no teenage wolves to order around."

"Okay." I nodded. "Yeah, move in. You do know that I'll always be able to find you, right?"

"Even better. If you need Landon or I for anything dealing with Carey, that will come in handy."

"This is still my territory, wolf." I was firm, shoving a finger to my table. "That's clear, right? You're a guest. No moving other wolves in under my nose."

"Agreed," he promised, smiling. "Thank you for this, Jacky."

I grinned back, letting the tension in my posture go. "As long as we do game night. Carey can kick all our asses together."

"Deal." He extended his hand and I took it. "Friends?"

"Of course," I agreed. I made a split-second decision I probably shouldn't have. "I, Jacqueline Leon of the werecats, hereby do swear to protect Carey Everson from all harm that may befall her for as long as I shall live. I shall afford her the right to live in my territory with her family or legal guardians and to contact me when the need arises. I reserve the right to revoke this protection in exceptional cases."

"You cats and your oaths," Heath said softly, shaking his head. He couldn't hold back a smile, though. "You do me a great honor."

"You do me one." I meant every word of it.

An hour later, Carey and Landon walked in. I laughed as she hugged me, showing me her cast that now had dozens of names on it. We talked for hours and when they left, I felt better than I had in years. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel lonely and didn't think I would for a long time.