Chapter Twenty-One

Division Eight Headquarters

Wednesday, 11:00 PM

Deven pulled free and stood up. Something about Quinn's serious tone had him worried. He caught the old man's arm. "Wait a second, Quinn. Just what are you planning to do?"

"Hang on. It still takes me a little effort to focus the right kind of magic."

"Right kind?" But before he could ask any more questions, Quinn's form turned to sparkling silver butterflies and then reformed into a tall silver wolf. The wolf wasn't just a shape made from Quinn's magic. It only took a moment to recognize, but this was Quinn but also a Valàfrn wolf standing before him. He was stunned into silence.

"What do you think, Deven? He's been wanting to take a pack run for a long time. Are you willing to show him how it's done?"

He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck. "Oh, Quinn…" There were many other thoughts that crossed his mind but there was no way he'd be able to express just how happy he was. Not because they were the same, but because they both wanted to be closer.

He looked up and met Maddie's knowing gaze.

And then Quinn's voice filled his mind. "Deven, my son, will you let me join your clan?"

"You silly old bastard. You've always been part of my clan. And you always will be."To Maddie he asked, "How is this possible?"

"Maybe alone it wouldn't have been. But your magic and mine seem to be strong enough to match his vampiric powers. Not only can he shift forms, but he is alive once more as well. Normal heartbeat and all."

He released Quinn's neck and leaned back on his knees. It was true. The man he'd known as Quinn felt completely different. His smell, his magic, everything. The same in some ways but also not at all the same. He couldn't even hope to put it into words. All he knew was the man who meant so much to him had changed in some momentous way.

His wolf knew it too. It was restless in its need to connect, to understand and to welcome what it recognized as a new wolf in their clan.

He stood up again and waited while Quinn transformed back into a man. Only then did he pull the old man into his arms once more. "Seriously, I am so happy fucking right now I don't even know how to express it."

At Quinn's emotional expression he pulled back. They both had a lot to sort out about the way things would be from now on. All that mattered was that they'd been blessed by a miracle.

To give Quinn time to get his emotions under control, he turned to Maddie and dragged her into a hug too. It took a few seconds for her to relax in his embrace. "I am so grateful to you for what you've done. I know we've barely even met but if you can move his heart then you are one of us. You're among family, among clan."

When he finally released her, she turned back into Quinn's arms and murmured something to him that made him laugh.

"What did she say?"

"She said you surprised her. She didn't expect you to be a hugger."

"Hey!" She smacked Quinn's chest. "Stop ganging up on me. Just for that, I'll go talk to the girls. Maybe they'll be nicer."

Maddie made her way around and greeted Zeven, Harley and the babies. Even Joseph came in to offer his welcome, and a fresh batch of cookies. Which of course, led to a battle of keep-away with the goats.