Page 72 of Run Free

When five o’clock rolled around we headed over to the Pack House. It looked a lot like a country club and even sat on a golf course. I wanted to hang towards the back of the room, but Clara reminded me she was expected to sit with the family, and therefore, so was I. I felt awkward and uncomfortable. I could feel the stares and hear the whispers from behind us, especially when Cora gave me a hug and kissed my cheek in thanks for helping save her son.

“If we could please settle down,” Thomas said from a podium on the stage. “Thanks to everyone for being here. I know I’m grateful just to be here. The last twenty-four hours have been something.” The room chuckled. “Since my mate in conjunction with the doctors are holding me to only twenty minutes up here tonight, we’re going to push through this quickly.

“First order of business. I know you’ve all heard the rumors, and I will confirm them now. Jedidiah Larken is dead. Luke Larken has assumed the role of Alpha in his place. I personally consider Luke a friend and ally and I look forward to a more pleasant relationship with the Larkens in the future.”

He quieted and let that sink in as the buzz in the room began immediately. No longer were any of them concerned with me after what Thomas had just sprung. He raised his hand to regain order.

“Next, in conjunction with several other Alphas within the Council Alliance, we’ve petitioned for a couple of pretty big changes I’m certain you all will stand with me on. Number one, no female Alpha born into Collier will suffer the threat of death ever again. This is an important campaign for me and Lily because as you know, Kelsey Westin is an Alpha female. If you or your daughter has exhibited signs of dominance, please make an appointment to see me so we can discuss your options. This is not a trap to weed you out as packs have done in the past. Kelsey has agreed to personally train any female who believes she may have Alpha traits.”

The room started to come alive again and a woman openly sobbed as she held her small daughter in her arms. “Thank you,” she said over and over. It was easy to deduce that she or her child, perhaps both, had been living and hiding in fear. Her mate wrapped his arm around her, and there were tears in his eyes too.

“Last, but equally important to me, is the abolishment of the archaic ritual of mating challenges. The petition has been submitted to the Grand Council with the stipulation that no mating challenges will be issued until a formal discussion and vote has taken place. At the moment they are dragging their feet on responding. So, a lot of you have probably noticed there’s a new wolf in town, not just in town, but in my family. While I was not going to do any Pack announcements involving mating, I feel that it would be a disrespect to those involved. So at this time, I’m going to ask Clara and Gage to join me up here.”

I sucked in a deep breath and hesitated, but Clara rose, beaming with pride, and I knew I wouldn’t let her down. I stood and joined her, lacing our fingers together as we walked onto the stage.

“You all know Clara, and that she travels a lot for work. A little over a month ago, while away, she found her one true mate,” Thomas announced.

The audience clapped and whistled wildly. I couldn’t help but smile back at them. It took Thomas a bit to calm the room back down.

“Okay, okay, simmer down. I want to introduce you all to Gage Matthews. He comes to us from the Virginia Pack and I’m hoping we can convince him to take residence here in the very near future, for whatever time we can get him and Clara to stay home. Again, there will be no mating challenges accepted at this time. You may, however, go through the standard process of a Dominance Challenge if you see fit. With methods such as those already in place, I see no value in the Mating Challenge.”

Thomas let the room absorb his words, while he stepped out from the podium to stand beside me. He put his arm around my shoulder and I feared what would come from his mouth next.

“I wasn’t planning on even making a Pack announcement regarding their mating; however, I’ve received numerous inquiries into the stranger around town, and quite frankly, it’s not just unfair to you all, but it’s disrespectful to Gage and my sister. So this is an official announcement, but again without a challenge period. I also want each and every one of you to know that yesterday evening I was poisoned by the Larken wolves. Jedidiah was behind it all and he personally attacked me before I could receive the antidote. I might not be alive to stand here talking with you all if not for Clara and Gage. While Clara worked to identify the poison, create the antidote, and administer it to me in the clinic, Gage intervened and personally fought Jedidiah. He may have ended up Alpha of the Larkens if Luke hadn’t pushed him aside and intervened. I owe him my life, and I hope you’ll all welcome him to our Pack, because we’re mighty lucky to have him.”

Clara squeezed my hand and I nodded to Thomas my appreciation, uncertain of what to say to that. I was humbled and speechless by his words.

Lily forced Thomas to wrap things up after that and get back to bed. It took a couple of hours for Clara and me to get through the welcome line of inquisitive and hospitable people lined up to talk with us. I stood proudly at her side without a complaint through it all.

Finally a break came where we could escape home.Home, I thought. It had been a long time since anywhere felt like home, but I knew that no matter where we were or what life threw at us, Clara would always be my home.

We collapsed onto the bed and silently stared at the ceiling.

“Are you okay?” she finally asked.

“I’m with you, aren’t I?” She rolled over and shot me a look warning me to be serious, but I was already. “Life with you will always be an adventure, angel. I don’t know where it will take us or how we’ll manage it all, but I’m confident that together we will make it.” I leaned down and kissed my mate. I pulled back to stare into her beautiful, dark-brown eyes. “I love you, Clara.”

Clara

Epilogue

Gage and I had three glorious weeks together. We were finally finding our groove and while we still stubbornly argued from time to time, we’d gotten very good at making up afterwards. Life was just good. And then the phone rang.The phone.

I sighed. Things were going so well with me and Gage that I wasn’t ready to go back to reality. I liked the blissful little bubble we’d been living in since the nightmare of the assassination attempt on Thomas.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Gage asked.

“Maybe,” I said.

He laughed and snatched the phone from me. “Hello?”

My enhanced wolf ears could hear both sides of the conversation easily.

“Who is this?” Dave asked.

“Who is this?” Gage countered.

“Gage, is that you?”

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