Page 27 of Fractured Fang: Omega

Macs held my hand as we walked to the main cabin, where I knew we would find Morgan. I was a bit nervous. Usually, when I was requested to come and chat, I was given the full heads up as to the purpose of the meeting, and more often than not, it was something to benefit me and my recovery. This didn’t feel like that.

I thought back to when I first arrived. I was a wolf. Death really shouldn’t be that big of a deal to me. I not only had hunted my share of critters over the years, but at one point, I’d been in a pack that had a couple of old-school challenges, the kind where only one wolf came out breathing.

But seeing Shelly there, dead, her life taken too soon at the hand of a monster—a human monster, it had done things to me—terrible things. Had I not had Levi to take care of and protect, I wasn’t sure I’d have managed to come out of the other side of that as well as I did. And even at that, it had been bad, really bad for a while. I had Morgan and this pack to thank for how far I’d come.

Morgan was there in his office. He called for Macs and me to come in and take a seat.

“I know it’s a long journey back to your territory, and you have both been on the road for quite a bit today; the two of you are welcome to stay the night.” Which was great. I wasn’t ready to leave Levi again, and until things were straightened out, this was by far the safest place for him. “Cabin five is empty and far enough away from everyone else that no one should be bothered by Macs’ presence.”

“Thank you,” Macs said.

I was relieved to see that Macs didn’t take that comment as an insult. It was just that he was an unclaimed alpha and a good chunk of the shifters were here because of an alpha doing something they shouldn’t. I hated that that was the truth of it, but it was.

“I’m happy to see you found your mate,” Morgan said, a genuine smile lighting up his face. His work often took a heavy toll on him, and smiles were rare.

Though we weren’t officially mated, and I didn’t yet wear Macs’s mark, Morgan saw right through that. I liked to think he saw our unconditional love for each other, but it was more than that. Morgan saw things others didn’t—not in the same way Franklin did, but still, he saw.

“And I’m happy to see that Levi seems quite taken with Macs, as well. That makes this next bit of news even more exciting.”

“What news?” I asked, not wanting to jump the gun, but already halfway to doing cartwheels that Morgan had managed to get things rolling for Levi and me to officially become family and make it safe for him to be outside these pack lands.

I knew while I was gone that Morgan was going to be working on finding placement for Levi, though I hated the idea of him going anywhere I wasn’t. But I also knew that if there were a way for that placement to be with me, Morgan would make that happen, but the most important thing was making sure he didn’t get placed in human foster care or, worse, with his father’s brother, which a very quick investigation on Morgan’s part showed had a history of being every bit as abusive as his bio dad.

“We couldn’t find a suitable placement for Levi at this time. Not many packs are equipped to take on a young witch child, and we don’t have a strong enough relationship with any covens at this time.” Something told me he didn’t try too hard, just enough to sate the powers that be if he were to be asked. As autonomous as this pack was, they only got to stay that way by agreeing to certain foundational regulations.

“Besides, we all know that Levi bonded with you, and staying with you was the best option. So I petitioned the council to grant you custody. All you have to do is say yes, and they’ll push the paperwork through to make it legal in the human world and ours.”

I gasped, and Macs squeezed my hand.

“Levi can be with me? Always? He won’t be going someplace else?” I was going to make that happen regardless, but knowing I could without fighting every single step of the way was such a relief.

“He can stay with you. Always,” Morgan said. “We all felt it would be best for him and you.”

I had hoped, but I’d never dreamed it could happen this easily. I assumed I would need to find a pack that accepted me but also prove I was a good fit for the pack and could and would be a part of them long-term. That meant having Levi elsewhere for far longer than I felt comfortable with. He’d been through enough that to lose me, too; it just wouldn’t be fair to the poor guy.

“My mate…” I looked at him, worried I might find reluctance, but instead, I found acceptance and excitement.

“We would be happy to have him at Fractured Fang, of course. But whatever way this needs to happen, I will be by your side.” Macs said.

“My parents…” I hated to bring them up, but they were the biggest obstacle to me becoming a full member of Fractured Fang. It was sad to admit, but they were the only people there who didn’t feel I was worthy, especially my father.

“Who cares? That’s harsh, but who cares. They are not alpha, and their notions are both antiquated and old,” Macs said. “And besides, they are going to be over the moon excited about their new grandson, Levi, that they are going to forget their ‘pretty art isn’t work’ thing.” If only that were true.

“They’ll love having another grandchild so much that they will cut the garbage.” I wish I had his confidence. “We need to communicate with them, but you know they will love and accept him.” Accepting me was another matter, one I could deal with later. “Look how your father dotes on Kate, Mae, and Allistaire. There will be nothing but acceptance for him at Fractured Fang.”

“You’d raise him with me?” I had to be sure that I understood him clearly. I loved Macs so much it hurt not to be near him, but if given a choice, I’d have to side with Levi. He needed me for more than the next decade, and I refused to let him suffer more than he already has.

“I’d be honored to,” Macs said. “I only met him an hour ago, but I didn’t know I could love a human so much. He can learn from Franklin and the others to hone his abilities.”

“They’ll do that?” I said.

Macs nodded. “Of course, they will. They will love him always. He’ll be safe with us.”

“This is… I must be dreaming. This can’t be real.” Of course, they were. If I had allowed myself to get past my fear, I’d have known that already and had a conversation with Wilder by now. But I hadn’t. Fear was a bitch.

“It is real,” Morgan said, handing over a file folder. I’d almost forgotten he was there. He had to be used to this. At least based on the sessions I’d had with him, getting off the tracks until we worked our way back on them was kind of a thing that happened often.

“All official-like.” Morgan winked as I opened it to see a ton of forms. “You know how the council likes their paperwork.” He rolled his eyes; if it were up to him, the council would just let him do whatever he wanted, paperwork be damned.

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