Chapter 201

Theodore’s POV

I fought a smile as Eva accepted the wildflower from my mate, completely unaware of its symbolism. It took extreme effort and honestly an embarrassing amount of focus to not blatantly stare at Violet’s breasts. They looked sexy as hell in that dress.

But it was more than that. I knew her body, and her breasts did not usually look like that. It was her pregnancy that made them swell, and that knowledge made me so happy that tears threatened my eyes.

I fought them back as I subtly studied Violet’s features.

Only three days ago, she’d had that hallucination that had been caught on camera. It had almost killed me not to be with her during and after. To only be able to check in through our magical bond.

But she looked okay now. By the Goddess, she looked breathtaking and strong.

She looked regal.

Perhaps it was the way she’d styled her hair in an elegant up-do that perfectly framed her forehead band, but whatever it was, my chest hurt having to look away from her. But I did as she entered the city while I stayed next to Eva to greet the next guest.

It was only another twenty minutes or so before all the attendees arrived. I checked with Ben and Abigail to verify that all their residents were accounted for.

Then Eva and I entered through the gates with the wildflower behind her ear where Violet had tucked it. I hoped it wasn’t too morbid or uncouth of me to fantasize about the wildflowers I would plant above Eva’s grave.

As adorable as was Violet’s recent plea in my mind to protect those who would soon be living in Mel Rimanea, we had numerous systems in place for just that. I hoped though that it wouldn’t come to using any of them.

Still, I kept my eyes peeled in the center of town where the party was taking place, making eye contact every now and again with those who had also been instructed to be on the lookout for fighting between previous rogues and the noble people. They were scattered among the crowd: a mixture of my personal security, led by Colby today, some of the adults from the camp, led by Ben, and even a handful of the country’s soldiers who I brought over from the base under my own leadership. None of the ex-rogues would be hurt today.

We would make sure of it.

As I looked around for trouble, while keeping an eye on Eva and making polite conversation with nobles, a familiar face caught my attention across the way.

Olivia Bronson.

Our eyes met, and she had the audacity to wink before disappearing once more in the crowd.

I didn’t like how much of our plan relied completely on her.

The wedding was planned traditionally like Lucas and Nora’s had been, though this one was an extended version. Instead of a cocktail hour, a half hour long ceremony, a dinner, and reception, Dahlia and Kincaid’s wedding had a three-hour long cocktail brunch starting when the first guest arrived, followed by a tour of the new city, the same half hour long ceremony, and then the reception that started at three in the afternoon and went until the last person left. Dinner would be served in the evening, but the party started before that, not after.

We wanted everyone to associate excellent memories with Mel Rimanea.

We still had about an hour left of the brunch before the tours started, and I was taking full advantage of the food being passed around. I watched between bites as ex-rogues glanced nervously at the nobles, looking self-conscious in their less expensive clothing. I observed as the nobles glanced back with surprise and guilt, unsure how to interact with people they’d been taught to hate, only to find out that maybe they needed help.

I watched and observed, and I waited. Apparently, it was going to take more than a few car rides to bring everyone together.

“Carmen?”

Idle chatter died down as an urgent voice rose to the surface. I, and all those who had been instructed to keep an eye out, looked toward the source: a noble woman in a rich, burgundy dress.

“Carmen?” she called again, tears in her eyes. She tore through the crowd of nobles toward the ex-rogues who were technically now members of Midnight’s pack. I went on alert, wondering if she was about to attack somebody.

She picked up speed, Colby, Ben, and a soldier from the base all hurrying toward her to stop her from whoever she was going after. But she got there first, wrapping her arms around someone from the settlement.

“Carmen!” she cried. “Sister! I thought you were lost forever!”

The entire city fell silent as Carmen hugged her sister back, both of them falling to their knees together as they embraced. Colby, Ben, and the soldier all stopped in their tracks as they realized it was not an attack, but a long wished for reunion.

Like a chemical catalyst, names echoed off the buildings as others began calling for each other. Settlement residents and nobles alike scrambled through the crowd as long-lost friends and family members looked for each other.

I realized then that the nervous glances I’d been detecting earlier between the nobles and the ex-rogues hadn’t only been glances at the “other”, but glances searching for their own.

The party erupted then with hugs and cries of relief as people who had been expelled from their packs were found by those they’d left behind. Some were meeting grandchildren or nieces and nephews for the very first time.

I merely stood in shock and awe. I had never anticipated this.

A notification on my phone pulled my attention to a text from Dahlia who was getting ready for the ceremony in one of these buildings.

I’m hearing an awful lot of yelling. What’s going on out there?

I looked around at the families who we had unintentionally just brought back together. I typed back a response.

We’re changing everything. For the better. That’s what’s going on out here.

After several minutes of unexpected reunions, a few Alphas approached me. I squared my shoulders, concerned by the determined look in their eyes. Maybe there were some who didn’t see this as a good thing.

“Alpha Nightshade,” one of them began, “I have several nobles from my territory requesting help in locating lost loved ones. Do you have a record of everyone from your refugee camp?” When I glanced at the other Alphas gathered around, I realized they all had the same question.

I smiled, happy to have heard it referred to as a refugee camp instead of a rogue outpost. Minds were being changed indeed.

“Yes, I do.” I told them with an empathetic smile. “Let me introduce you to Abigail and Ben.” I turned to go find the leaders of the settlement, the Alphas following my lead. And behind me, one of them whispered, “Army of rogues, my ass.”

I smiled to myself, relieved that people were finally starting to see how big of a liar my brother was.

Just like we’d planned it.