Page 65 of The Wolf Slayer

“Seth, you have to forgive her.” His father’s voice was soft and without blame.

“She defied me.”

Blake was about to say something, but his father silenced him with a movement of his hand.

“She had all the right to do so, she wasn’t tied to you or the pack.”

“Yet, she knew what she was doing.”

“She was the only one whose mind hadn’t been clouded. She saved your life.”

Though his father’s words were meant to ease Seth, they only increased Seth’s anger.

“Seth, I understand your concerns and so does she. She regrets what she has done.”

“How can you forgive her? She defied you by disobeying me,”Seth pressed passed his grinding teeth.

Seth’s anger grew even more, but his father stayed calm. “She didn’t act selfishly. She acted because she wanted to protect you. She cared for you so much that she was willing to do whatever it took to save you and everyone else who would’ve followed you. With her actions, she has earned my trust. I think we all understand that she’ll never follow any of us blindly, including Blake. She’ll always have an opinion and her own will, and we all know shewillvoice it. I’ve come to accept her–none of us will change who she is. She has proven herself worthy to be part of our pack. She’ll do anything to protect us, and you know that is the truth.”

His father’s voice was calm but firm as he started packing up the leftovers and stood up.

“Your mother is preparing a dinner to celebrate her joining. I expect you to be there and help us give her the welcoming that she deserves. She’ll have a hard time being accepted as it is, so you as her future alpha will do all you can to make it easier for her.”

Still grinding his teeth, Seth flashed a dark glare at his father before bowing his head in obedience. “Yes, Father.” He then turned around, shifted into his wolf, and ran into the woods.

His father turned toward him. “I know you’re tired and that you still need time to heal but will you be able to stay for the day? You can rest all night after dinner.”

Blake nodded and bowed his head. “Yes, Father.”

His father gave him a warm smile and laid his hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing it before he walked in the opposite direction as Seth.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon were uneventful. At some point, he searched for Tristan’s mind wanting to remind him to help Niev with her belongings, but he seemed to be in his human form, unable to be reached. He’d wanted to introduce them to each other, but unfortunately the situation had changed. Blake would’ve loved to see if Niev and Tristan got along, had been wanting to see Tristan’s reaction to her and what he thought of Niev.

Close to the evening Kai, the pack’s lead warrior, reached for him. Blake opened his mind and let Kai in.

‘Where are you? Wanna meet at the creek?’Blake could feel Kai’s curiosity.

‘Sounds good. Give me a few minutes.’

Kai seemed hesitant and amused. ‘How did you find a woman to hold you down?’

‘Not sure, but I’ll let you know when I figure it out.’

Kai’s easygoing mood was radiating into Blake’s mind. ‘Well, congratulations and I can’t wait to meet her.’

They both closed off their minds only to open them again after meeting at the creek.

‘There hasn’t been anything suspicious so far. I didn’t even scent anything out of the ordinary,’Blake reported.

‘They’re teasing us. They want us to be tired and exhausted. Now go, I’m sure your woman is already waiting for you.’

Kai didn’t have to say it twice. Blake took off before he even finished his sentence. He didn’t bother to shift into his human form as he ran out into the clearing and toward the main house. The glass doors were open, so he stuck his huge head inside, to try and find her. His mother, Lyliann, and Layla sat on the couch chatting but no sight of Niev.

“She left with Tristan and hasn’t returned yet.” His mother must have seen his concern and added, “Don’t worry, she probably just can’t decide on what to take and what to leave.”

Blake pulled his head out of the house trying to decide if he should go to Tristan’s house or wait for her. That’s when he heard her laugh. He looked closer to the trees to the south where he knew Tristan’s home was.

There they were, walking toward the main house, talking, and laughing. Blake was surprised that Tristan was only carrying a middle-sized bag. Without him actively thinking about it, his paws set in motion and ran toward her.

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