Page 52 of Holiday Surprise

I cringed.

“Oh shit! You did, didn’t you? Dude, that bond is sealed for better or worse. Sydney knows that. And one thing a mate never wants to hear is that you regret having bonded with her.”

I grimaced. “She wasn’t too happy about it, but she knew I was being honest and where I was coming from. We’re going to be okay.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Rookie mistake.”

We stood out behind his house just looking out across the plains with the river not far away. It really was a beautiful place.

“What can I do to help?” he finally broke the silence by asking.

I sighed. “I think the majority of my pack will follow us wherever we end up, but a few may not. You’ve given them good jobs, a life even. I need to know if you’re willing to take on any of my wolves who would rather not leave.”

“You’re giving them a choice?” Thomas asked sounding a little surprised.

“Of course I am. Oliver and the boys have a good life here with Peyton. I’m not going to take that away from them. They’ve had a rough enough life already.”

“Shit, I hadn’t even thought of them. I consider them pack already. I mean, they’re family.”

“Exactly,” I told him. “I want you to accept them into Collier, formally and officially.”

“Luke, they’ll have to be willing to give that allegiance over. The last time I talked to Oliver about it, he was adamant that he was Larken.”

“This is sort of a deal breaker to that though. I know he’s not going to want to relocate them all and raise Eve in who knows what sort of conditions.”

“You’re probably right. I’ll talk to him. Damn, I hate this. Maybe it’s time we just merge the packs. You wouldn’t have to leave.”

“We’ve been through this over and over Thomas. The only way to merge the packs will end up with one of us dying. Selfishly, I’m not gonna die and I’m not killing you either.”

“I’m telling you it doesn’t have to be a fight to the death.”

“Then what’s the point? My wolves will look to me first and yours to you regardless of who’s named Alpha. You know it’s true.”

“Maybe for a while, but in time,” he tried to argue.

“I’ve seen the resentment your wolves feel towards mine, towards me even. Christmas Eve with Sydney’s parents was a very eye-opening experience.”

Thomas rolled his eyes. “Vern has personal issues there. I can’t guarantee he’s not the only one, but he’s not the majority either.”

We talked for a while longer as he really tried to brainstorm alternative ideas with me, but nothing was panning out.

He looked down at his watch. “Shit! I have a meeting in ten minutes. I hate to do this to you, but I need to run. I’ve already postponed this one twice.”

“Go, and Thomas.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

Even though none of the ideas we’d tossed around were going to pan out, he had at least agreed that any Larken wolf wanting to stay would be welcomed into Collier Pack.

Sydney

Chapter 22

Jessie was surprisingly excited to accept my offer of a job. I had called her the second I left the house and by the time I arrived at the shop, she was already there.

She hugged me. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she said as we walked to the door.

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