Page 11 of Branches of the Willow

I turned back to my father then. “Be kind to them if you can, but if they don’t cooperate, do what needs to be done.”

My dad inclined his head to me, but I noticed how his eyebrow quirked up in surprise. My father’s men seemed to regard me differently as I said that too. They all stood, looking at me somewhat reverently, and then they each inclined their heads as my father had done. It was a sign of respect.

Mikael and I left the house and headed for my Jeep that was parked outside. “They didn’t think you’d sanction force on females,” he explained when I widened my eyes in question about what just happened.

“I’ll sanction force on anyone if it seems necessary. Trying to save my people doesn’t mean I’m not willing to get my hands dirty when we have to take out the trash.” Mikael laughed, and raised his hands in surrender.

“I’m fully on your side, love.”

“I know you are. I’m hungry, and cranky, and a little bit tired though. Let’s hurry home before someone else needs us, please!”

“You got it.”

“I’m going to call Angelique’s and have them deliver something.”

“They don’t deliver out to my house, Jess.”

I stuck my lip out in a pout. “I guess we have to stop by on the way then. I’ll go ahead and call it in. What do you want?”

“I just want you!” The grin that broke out across Mikael’s face seemed to light him up from the inside out. It was contagious.

“I’m already here, do you want anything that’s actually on their menu?” I laughed.

Mikael gave me his order, and I called in the food. Everything was ready by the time we got to Angelique’s, and I had to salivate the whole way home smelling the yummy goodness of the southern cuisine.

5

Sweet Dreams

MikaelandIsatdown to eat our dinner in peace. The best part about his house being so far from the pack was that when we were there, it was just us. We didn’t have to worry about the constant interruptions. I wasn’t sure how my father managed being a pack leader, or how I was going to manage somehow governing over all the wolves in the world. Ideally, Antoine and I could have worked together, and he could have kept that side of the world while I had this one. Had he not been so power hungry and depraved, it would have been great. Now, I was on my own, and there were packs out there that didn’t like it one damn bit.

“You know, now that I’ve been acknowledged as the white wolf, we should probably live within a pack, not apart from them.” I expressed my thoughts out loud so Mikael could weigh in too.

“Actually, that’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I spoke with Jameson about building a place out there. As soon as Ash & Asi’s house is done, we’ll get it started.”

“The pack lands are a perpetual construction zone.” I blurted out before taking another bite.

“Yeah, well, I expect it’s only going to get worse for the Jameson’s pack, and all the ones near it before all is said and done.”

“What do you mean? Why?”

“My father ruled from Eastern Europe. Those who want to be near the leadership tend to congregate around it. We had our own little city there. I imagine that most will flock to be near the new regime, especially if they want to attempt to blend in with your Immersion Program.”

“This is why I keep you around.” I mused.

Mikael grinned. “That’s why?” He leaned over the table and nipped the tip of my nose. “I thought for sure there were better reasons than the random thoughts and ideas I spit out once in a while.”

“Oh, there are, but once in a while your randomness is genius when I’m too tired to think.” I winked at him, and he laughed.

“Don’t worry, your dad is already preparing for the influx.”

“How do you really prepare for something like that? If we build too much, our forest is compromised, and then where will we run?”

Mikael grinned at me. “It’s funny because your father said the same thing, but then, he managed to come up with a plan anyway. I imagine Avery is working on his own as well when he has a minute.”

“It seems he has precious few of those. We need an update from him soon about what he’s dealing with over there. I’m hoping Andy will have more information for us when he gets back.”

“I’m sure that he will. “You about done here?” I nodded my head, feeling properly stuffed for the first time in days. “Let’s get you cleaned up then, so that you can relax before the next disaster strikes.”

---