Page 36 of When Embers Become Ashes

“None of you asked, and before I forget, it’s not common knowledge,” Trick replies to their stunned looks as Nic walks into the room.

“Boys, can you help set up for the pack meeting tonight, please? We need to make announcements about Ember!” Nic asks as Alma walks in with some kind of smoothie.

“I put something in to help with the headache,”. Alma tells him before placing it in front of him and taking his coffee cup away

“Alma would you like some help in the kitchen with the food? I've worked in pack kitchens before!” I ask as it’s something I can do, Nic mumbles a Thanks as he holds his nose to drink his Smoothie

“yes please, Devin can I steal you as well, to help with all the chopping, you are least likely to eat everything or chop your thumb off” Devin blushes but says he will, we all split off to do the tasks asked of us.

Kodiak

I walk into the kitchen to find Devin laughing while Ember sings and dances. She’s singing about feeling blue in a blue world when she notices me, I freeze and shrink a little.

“Brilliant! Just who I need!” She steps onto a stack of cans to reach the pan on the stove. My bear rumbles in joy at the delicious smell. She hops back down and hands me a bowl and a spoon.

“Try this and tell me if it needs something more.” I take the bowl, as she frowns, which makes me freeze again. I still worry that my size might upset her or scare her.

“Please don’t try to shrink yourself on my account, I’ve dealt with a lot bigger and scarier creatures than you could ever be” she states, my bear rumbles not liking the idea of her being scared by something bigger than me, but I rise to my full height and take a mouth full, and fuck me it’s like my mouth just had an orgasm, I moan as my brother and Bas walk in the room both stopping and giving me an odd look.

“Hum, I’m not sure; I might need a few more bowls to figure it out,” I say with a cheeky smile.

“These two definitely won’t like it.” Devin gives me a look as if I’ve grown a second head, while I try to decide how bad it would look for me to lick the bowl clean. Tim, being himself, puts the back of his paw to my forehead as if checking my temperature.

“Don’t even think about it, Kodiak Treefall; that goes for you two as well,” Alma says, pointing her wooden spoon at Timber and Bas, who raise their hands and slowly back away. I clear my throat

“Miles is up in your room Ember, to get you ready for the pack meet” I smile, but she groans, mutters a thank you, and stomps off, praying to every goddess she knows that Miles will be gentle with her. I turn to Devin.

“Ren called a meeting before we all go get ready.” He nods, and we head to Ren’s room. I hope it’s nothing bad. I like Ember, and I’m kind of jealous that Ren has found such an amazing mate, but I’m glad she will be my Luna. I wonder if she will be friends with more of us besides Jay, Creed, and Bram.

Brayden

“Ren, why the last-minute meeting? I hate it when you give me no information like this,” Jace whines from next to me.

“I’ll be quick, but I want this done before the meet,” Ren states, not giving anything away.

The last of our future pack enters; Ren will be our Alpha when he turns 18. Jace and I are his Betas, while Creed, River, Kodi, and Jay are his Enforcers. Trent, Paxton, Saint, Marcus, James, Xander, and Calum are older and have jobs that keep them from direct pack work. Devin, Darby, and Miles have their own roles to play, but Ren has already made it clear he doesn’t want a traditional pack.

He likes how Uncle Nic runs Triple Moon and isn’t fully setting up until we've all finished college or until those who want to go have completed their studies. Ren takes a breath as he stands.

“This will be quick as we all need to get ready. You’ve all met Ember by now, even if just at mealtimes, and you probably know I’ve mated and marked her.” I see a few shrink and look sadly at the floor. Odd! Ren clocks the reactions too, but continues.

“I’m not Ember’s only mate, she has ten marks” WHAT!! I didn’t know she had that many, a few of the guys perk up again; Ren turns the TV on.

“This is a photo of her marks” he looks at me,

“she’s aware I’m showing you all this if you are one of her mates, but don’t wish to see the mating through; she understands and accepts that not everyone will be happy mating someone that is viewed as different, not that those were her words” he pauses, and I hear J mumble something in Japanese and Ren nods, J looks pissed

“I, on the other hand, don’t understand why you wouldn’t want her and think you’re a fucking idiot if you can’t see how amazing she is, there is no rush, all I ask is if you are hers please talk to me before you seal or deny the bond so Pine doesn't freak out” He looks around the room, nods, pats J on the shoulder, then heads to his bathroom as everyone leaves, each with various emotions.

"J, what did she say? Ren said she didn’t use those words?" I ask. He looks at his feet as he heads to the door.

"She called herself broken. She’s been told all her life that she’s broken and worthless, not even worth what’s between her legs. After a while, she started to believe it." He leaves us with shared looks of horror on our faces. After everyone has left, I turn off the TV, head to my room to change, and then go to Ember's room to help her against Miles.

Ember

Thankfully, Miles has chosen long sleeves and dark colors, but that’s all. The sweater dress stops mid-thigh and has a panel of lace down my spine, ending at my panty line, so it shows a lot of my scars, and Ren's mate mark is on full display. I threw the heels in the hallway and told him to wear them himself; he replied that they weren't his size. Bas stopped our disagreement when he very shyly arrived to put a family braid in my hair.

Miles has been stood with crossed arms, glaring at me while tapping his foot until Brayden enters, the offending heels hooked in one hand.

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