Chapter 84

The Pack

Orley was the first to attack. A spritely creature, barely five feet tall, her method of violence involved high-level marital arts. The birds overhead might have mistaken her for a flying squirrel.

The brother, Rickon, was the anchor. Orley could climb and vault off of him faster than you could raise and aim a revolver. Not that anyone in this circle had a revolver to speak of.

The redhead and the blond, Callum and Imogen, closed in on the victim to cut off means of escape.

Blows were thrown and parried, the woman in the center, the target holding her own as fists and feet invaded her space without warning. Sweat covered her face quickly, her hands and knees picking up dirt anytime she was pushed to the ground.

A few stayed on the outer edge of the circle, surveying. The Alpha’s face was even but his eyes would betray his nervousness for the young woman. Shana and Walter stood together, her hand over her mouth as she whispered into his ear. The white-eye woman, Cleo, was still a statue.

Things were turning in favor of the Pack, the prey getting sloppy and desperate. The attackers were getting cocky.

“They didn’t teach you this in medical school?” A taunting voice said.

“She’s all brains and no brawn!” Another spat

“Orphans should know how to protect themselves.”

Something shifted in the air, in the universe. A piercing wail escaped from deep within the woman at the center of the fight. All the agony and heartache and frustration came pouring out, and the sound became a roar.

Bones cracked and fur appeared, and in a flash of gold she transformed into a wolf before their eyes.

Mira’s golden figure towered over the human heads around her, heads that now shook their heads in confusion and astonishment. A few playful but powerful swats of her paws sent her assailants stumbling into the trees beyond the circle. Just to show off, she bounded across the circle a few times, enjoying the stretch to her muscles and joints.

In many ways, she was still in her puppy years, and she wanted to enjoy it.

A pair of hands clapping caught her attention, and she leaped over to the body responsible. She sniffed around the Alpha, and he didn’t move or show any fear as she did so. His eyes were bright and excited, and he looked at her with love.

The human Mira looked back at him, and she let herself carefully transform back into her human form. Half-dressed and flushed, she suddenly looked small and vulnerable in spite of the power she had just shown.

Davos held out his arms, and she let herself fall forward into his arms. A nod from him and a hand in the air, and the rest knew what he was signaling.

The trial was over, and Mira had passed.

Dominic

The guests were milling about, saying hello to neighbors and friends and finding their seats. The log benches were arranged in a circle, inviting better views for all and a more communal aspect to the ceremony. The moon was already rising, hanging heavy and full.

It’s almost time.

The energy was electric, as the wolves prepared to complete another lunar cycle and shed the old and unnecessary. The wolves of my Pack were giddy with anticipation of our wedding and the festivities that would follow it.

I shook hands and said my hellos, wishing I had the luxury of hiding away until the ceremony like the bride always did. But things were different when you were the Alpha, and my presence was expected from beginning to end.

I still hadn’t seen Mira since she left our room this morning, but the report of her time with the council was drifting through the gathered crowd.

“Everyone is talking about her triumph this morning!”

“Yes, she is quite something, isn’t she?” I offered.

“I hope it won’t be long until we see some little Alpha children!”

“We’re in no rush, but we are excited to start a family,” I explained tactfully.

“Wishing you the best, Dominic. You deserve it, especially after last time.”

“Oh…thank you,” I bit my tongue from saying what I really felt about their well-wishing.

It was like the gods were looking out for me when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I knew without looking that it was my father.

“Can I steal the groom away?” He said jovially to the crowd around me, as if they could refuse him. “Time to impart some fatherly wisdom on my son.”

He kept his arm around me as he led me inside the building next to us. Normally used for indoor events, today the space was dedicated to party set up and privacy for the bridal party. I followed the Alpha into a side room where my Betas and I had dressed.

As if out of thin air, he produced a small bottle of very fine whiskey and two small tumblers.

“I’ve been saving this for years, for the perfect special occasion,” he said, half to me and half to the bottle.

“Since my last wedding?”

“No, actually,” he said honestly. “For whatever reason, it didn’t feel right. Not that the last one wasn’t—”

“I understand.”

And I did. Even though I knew I had loved my previous mate, Celeste, Mira’s presence in my life and in the Pack was incomparable.

“Mira is, well,” he said, a smile softening him. “She reminds me of my mother, in some ways, so headstrong and unafraid to speak freely. Authentic.”

“She is incapable of being anyone but herself,” I said, amused as I flipped through memories of our time together. “Can I ask you something?”

My father paused with his mouthful, then gulped it down. His eyes were fiery as he nodded for me to continue.

“Did you ever feel guilty for moving on?” He looked confused, so I went on. “I mean, after mom died… how did you know it was okay to move on? To start over with someone new?”

He sighed heavily.

“First of all, let me tell you,” he said, carefully, “there is no ‘starting over,’ ever. You just keep moving forward, turning the page of each chapter and meeting the characters as they come.”

A flash of melancholy crossed his brow, and I wondered if I made a mistake bringing this up.

“But,” he said, lighter, “guilt does nothing for us. If you are worried about your past, about Celeste, we can only hope that wherever her spirit ended up, she is happy to see you thriving. True love means rooting for the other person, even if you are not there to share the success with them.”

“Mmm,” I said, not sure if I felt any better.

“Do you love Mira?”

I was startled by how direct the question was.

“I didn’t know it was possible to feel what I feel for her,” I said, the words spilling out of me. “I do not question that our love is real, is Fate, and that we are meant to be together.”

He smiled, the corners of his eyes glistening.

“Then you don’t need to worry about anything else,” he said, leaning forward and placing his hand on my shoulder. “At least not today.”

My father stood at the head of the altar, a black and silver stole draped over his shoulders and down his chest. The guests were finally settled in their seats, all fidgeting and socializing put on hold.

I looked out among the crowd of faces, these people that I had known my whole life. Those who raised me or grew up alongside me. Newer members who I had help to acclimate to our community. It was one of the first times I really felt connected to them all emotionally, not just because of proximity or custom.

My eyes blinked in confusion as I scanned the crowd, then went back to search for the face I just saw. Or, the face I thought I saw. Upon searching, trying not to seem frantic as I turned my head, that familiar face was gone. I hoped I had just imagined that face, a trick of the fading light and the whiskey going to my head.

The face I had seen belonged to Celeste.

Then the music swelled, the audience rose to their feet, and we all turned to the end of the aisle.

I saw Mira, shimmering in a dress of cream and gold, her smile brighter than the moon over head.

Our eyes met, and everything else disappeared.