"As Maroulla's granddaughter, it made sense for me to lead the local initiative," Katerina explained, her expression warm and understanding. "Joe's got his hands full as alpha of the wolf pack, but Jake's agreed to be on the committee to keep his brother updated on everything." She gestured toward where Jake stood chatting with Troy by the grill. "And of course, we have Jacinth's support too."
"We're planning to set up specific teams at the next committee meeting," Katerina continued. "Different groups focusing on various aspects of protection and integration."
Reyna stirred with approval.Good pack structure,the fox observed.Good leadership.
"I'd really like to attend," Harper said quickly, not wanting to miss the opportunity. Her financial background could be useful in some way, surely.
"I have a stake in this too," Nathan's warm voice interjected. He turned to Harper, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Especially since it seems we're mates."
Harper's breath caught at his words, heat blooming in her cheeks. Reyna practically vibrated with joy inside her, the fox's approval radiating through their shared consciousness.Yes! Our mate claims us!
Harper's heart fluttered as Katerina's eyes went wide with delight. The Maine Coon shifter practically bounced in her seat.
"Nathan is your Chosen?" Katerina exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement.
Heat flooded Harper's cheeks as she nodded, unable to contain her smile. Inside her, Reyna preened with satisfaction at their mate being publicly acknowledged.
"Everyone!" Katerina called out, her voice carrying across the yard. "Nathan is Harper's Chosen!"
The reaction was immediate. Conversations stopped mid-sentence as heads turned their way. Then came a wave of delighted exclamations as people rushed toward their table. Jacinth reached them first, her eyes sparkling with joy. Douglas followed close behind, grinning broadly.
"I knew it!" Jacinth declared, clapping her hands together. "The way you two look at each other - it was so obvious!"
Jake and Becca hurried over, with Liam and Naomi right behind them. Even the children paused their game to see what the commotion was about.
"Wait, wait!" Troy's voice boomed across the yard. He strode toward them, holding up his beer bottle. "This calls for a proper toast!"
Everyone quickly grabbed their drinks - beer bottles, wine glasses, and sodas raised high as Troy cleared his throat.
"To Harper and Nathan," Troy proclaimed, his face split in a wide grin. "May their bond grow stronger each day, and may they find endless joy in each other. To the happy couple!"
"To Harper and Nathan!" the group echoed, glasses clinking together as cheers erupted around them.
Nathan's arm slipped around Harper's waist, pulling her close against his side. His touch sent warmth spreading through her entire body, and she leaned into him, savoring the moment of public acknowledgment of their bond.
Strong mate,Reyna purred contentedly inside her.Good pack.
The excited crowd gradually dispersed, returning to their previous conversations and activities. Harper's cheeks still felt warm from all the attention, but Nathan's solid presence beside her helped steady her nerves. Reyna radiated contentment inside her, thoroughly pleased by the public acknowledgment of their mate bond.
Katerina settled back into her seat across from them, her expression turning more serious. "About the committee - we're actually meeting tomorrow morning at the inn. Ten o'clock, right after breakfast."
Nathan looked disappointed. "Tomorrow? I can't make it - I have the kids coming over to visit Jill." He ran his free hand through his hair, clearly conflicted. "It's become a regular Sunday morning thing. They look forward to it all week."
"Don't worry," Harper assured him, placing her hand over his where it rested on her waist. "I'll take good notes and fill you in on everything afterward."
"Are you sure?" Nathan's brow furrowed with concern. "I hate missing the first meeting..."
"The children are counting on you," Harper said firmly. "Besides, Jill's part of this too - teaching kids about magical creatures is important work."
Katerina nodded in agreement. "It shouldn't be a long meeting anyway. We're mainly focused on organizing different groups to handle various aspects - security, public relations, legal considerations, that sort of thing."
"I'll make sure Nathan knows everything that happens," Harper promised, squeezing his hand gently.
"Katerina, I need to consult with you." Nathan ventured. "It's about Jill."
Surprised, Katerina blinked her wide, golden eyes... so like that of her cat... at him. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"
"The thing is, my parents are coming to visit in a couple weeks." Nathan ran his fingers through his hair distractedly. "I've either got to figure out a way to keep them out of the back yard, or have some explanation for the pen taking up most of it, while not having any animal in there to show them. I thought about telling them I'd started in with rabbit rescue, but I didn't have any at the moment. Thing is, Mom'll get all excited and start nagging me to send pictures when I do get these hypothetical rabbits."
