Page 15 of Autumn After

“They’re going great, thanks for asking.” I slapped on my best happy voice, keeping it polite and attempting to hide my dislike of their behavior.

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t asking to be nice.” He apparently wanted to be sure I was very clear on his intent, his expression sour.

Asshat.

“He’s human,” Seamus chimed in.

“I’m aware he’s human.” I pushed my wolf down. He was ready for blood. “And fate sent him to me, so back off. I’m not the first wolf in history to mate a human. Fate works in mysterious ways.”

“And what if he tells people what we are?” At least Brett wasn’t being a dick. He was just nervous, and that I could at least respect.

The other two reeked of distrust and fear.

“He won’t. And you know the rules—mates are allowed to know. So don’t even start with the whole ‘humans aren’t supposed to know’ garbage.” Was matching their energy the best plan? Absolutely not, but it was that or call a challenge, so matched energy it was.

“We’ve been talking, and a lot of us agree that it’s dangerous having him here,” Seamus said. He flicked his gaze toward Mitch as if to make sure he was allowed to say that.

I was curious just how many were in this “a lot” that he spoke of.

“Yeah? Well, you can agree all you want. That doesn’t make you right. Willow is not a risk to this pack. He’s one of the kindest, most caring people I know, and he’d do anything for this pack. We talked to the Alpha about this when Willow first arrived. He is aware of the risks. This pack is as much his as it is mine, and he would not do anything to jeopardize that.”

That had Mitch and Brett looking a little ashamed. Good. They should be.

“Look at how many hours he’s been putting in getting ready for the festival. He’s supposed to be at his own event, but where is he? Here, helping us. Why? Because he cares.”

“Bullshit. It’s because his truck isn’t fixed yet,” Seamus sneered.

My wolf was so close to the surface that keeping him at bay was no longer fully within my control. They had to have scented it on me. I was furious. I wanted to punch him in the nose then tear into his skin until I tasted his blood.

I took a deep breath. Fighting hate with hate would get me nowhere.

“Listen, we’re not having this conversation. He is my mate. He’s allowed here. I want him here. He’s good for the pack. If you want to live in the times of old, then go—take your form, live in the woods, sleep in caves, and only eat what you kill. Go for it. Go old school. I don’t want that, and this pack doesn’t need that. If you truly have concerns, bring them to Alpha.”

I couldn’t remember being as angry as I was in that moment. I went straight to my parents, hoping they’d know what to do, because I was pretty sure I’d just made things worse.

My father was sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

I smiled despite my sour mood. “How did you get out of doing work today?” I asked.

“Signed up for the later shift. Gotta conserve my energy until then. What brings you here, Son? Looks like your mate is having a good time.” He pointed, and I followed his direction.

Fern and Willow were at the cider station washing their second wagon of apples. Though it looked a bit like they had more water on each other than the actual apples.

I turned back to my father. “Have you heard any concerns from pack members about having a human here? I know it happened rather suddenly, but it seemed like he was accepted at our run the other day. Has that changed?”

My father stopped rocking. His eyes narrowed. “I have heard no such thing. Where is this coming from? Who said something? You know Alpha doesn’t put up with that sort of hateful talk, and if anyone is threatening your or your mate, then we need him aware now.”

I shuffled my feet. “I know. I just didn’t want to bother him on the eve of the festival.”

My father stood and put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him.

“Listen, Cedric. It’s the Alpha’s job to ensure everyone in his pack is safe and at home. When you met your fated mate, Willow, that automatically made him a part of this pack.Therefore, it is part of the Alpha’s job to make sure that Willow is safe and at home here. If there are those in the pack that are threatening that, then we need to nip that in the bud before that sort of filth can fester and grow. If Seamus gets a chance to infect others with his ideas during the festival, we’ll have a harder time fighting this.”

“How did you know it was Seamus?”

“I just assumed. He’s the only one I know of who holds humans in that much contempt to actually question the Goddess. Now let’s get the Alpha here.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

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