Page 69 of The Worst Mate Ever

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Brady

Five years later

“Rory, Sasha, play nice with Ashton,” I called out to my daughter and niece as they ran from my son.

The poor boy had been subjected to relentless teasing all day, as they accused him of having cooties and repeatedly reminded him that it was a “girls only” zone.

I let out a weary sigh and sank back into the plush chair, while Xander’s laughter filled the room.

“Leave it be,” he said. “This is how kids are. He’ll toughen up. You’ll see.”

I shook my head. “Maybe, but Madie would have my ass served on a platter if I didn’t at least try to correct them.”

Xander threw his head back and laughed. “You know, I think Liberty would too. Thank our lucky stars they both had to work today, because I’m fairly certain yelling from our seats would not be their idea of taking care of the kids.”

I laughed in agreement as I checked my watch.

Madie was up at the academy today but would be getting off in just a couple of hours. As soon as she did, I would be off to the Crete House for a meeting with the coven council that I hoped wouldn’t take too long. I always hated when I missed family dinner because of the old witches who couldn’t agree on any motion for the coven.

So much had changed in the last few years. Mom had officially resigned from the coven, and Dad had finally relinquished his position in the pack. Their shared passion for adventure led them to travel the world, discovering new sights and making lasting memories. It was something that Mom had always wanted to do.

“Finally free,” she had said the day she handed the coven fully over to me.

Although they still resided in the packhouse while in town, they were no longer burdened with the responsibilities of the pack or decisions within the coven. In their retirement, they relished every moment of freedom together, cherishing the time spent with family.

Madie’s life had even changed. As soon as Ricardo had the school completely integrated into the curriculum he wanted, he hired Madie as the Beta program director. Making the decision to step down from the pack gamma, she embraced a life filled with teaching and caring for the children, and it was evident that she enjoyed every moment in the academy.

The Rigel-Crete Academy was the top school in the northern hemisphere for witches and shifters to send their children. Each class and department catered to the specific needs of their students and the graduates all ranked high within their packs and covens.

Many of the students went onto the elite programs at the Pacific Academy of Magick, adding to the allure of the school to others outside of the Crete coven and Rigel pack.

The girls, eager and curious, were students attending their early development classes. Aurora’s early blooming called for an immediate start to specialty classes, as it was crucial to her development. However, it remained unknown which specific type of magic she had truly excelled in.

Among all the changes and events that have happened in these few years now, none of them have involved the threat of dark magic. There have been no sightings of Minerva or John Thorne within our territory or those of our allies, and most of all, there have been no more mentions of ancients lurking in the shadows.

Dad had encountered one while he had been in Alaska some years back. However, it led nowhere even after the pack he was visiting killed the ancient monster with the help of the very girl Dad was sent to bring to the school.

As she prepared to graduate, she eagerly anticipated her upcoming visit to the Montana packs. Her goal was to advocate for our school and convince more parents to consider it for their children. All in all, life had been good. Peaceful. And the need for my voice for The Fates had become less and less as time went on.

Mostly, they helped me with guiding my coven and helping Liberty with decisions for the pack. Nothing too serious. Nothing that really involved life or death decisions. Nothing that would disrupt our children’s lives in any way.

“Do you ever worry?” Xander suddenly asked.

I turned away from our kids to frown at him.

“Worry about what?” I asked.

“Them. Their future and what they might have to face when they leave us.”

I turned back and watched as the girls finally allowed Ashton to sit with them. His snot covered face was bright with a grin at their acceptance of him. Aurora used her magic to create little butterflies fluttering around them, all three laughing as they landed on the tips of their noses and fluttered around their heads.

As I sipped my beer, I watched intently and exhaled a long, contented sigh.

“No,” I finally answered.

Xander chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess you wouldn’t. What with being a voice to The Fates and all. You probably already know exactly what will happen before the rest of us.”

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