“A softer, gentler Iron Pack?” he ventures with a wry smile.
“Sort of,” I chuckle. “We’re finding a way to keep our values while also recognizing that we’re part of Concordia, not against it, butwithit. Our strength should be used to fight for each other and our home, not justagainstsomething.”
“Wow. That’s awesome.” Josh waves to some of the kids digging in the dirt of a nearby flowerbed, making funny faces at them when they wave back.
Before he gets too distracted in the wonder of all these changes, we need to talk. I need to share the decision that’s been keeping me up at night.
I start leading him down the street, taking a moment to prepare myself for what comes next. All the changes happening made me stop and consider where Josh and I fit in. When thinking about what I want now and the kind of pack I’d like to lead, I reached a decision, one I never expected.
“Yeah, I think some change will be good for the pack.” I take a deep breath. “But I don’t think this is the place for us.”
Josh skids to a stop, his eyes wide in disbelief. “What? Bane, wewon.We’re supposed to be the Alphas.”
“Yeah, I remember. Maybe it sounds crazy, but what if Adelaide took over instead?”
His jaw practically drops. “No, it doesn’t sound crazy. It soundsinsane.”
Okay, maybe she didn’t make the best impression on Josh when she was out for our blood during the fight. But she nearly beat me, and it seems like a good fit.
I tell Josh, “I’ve been talking it over with her. She knows she doesn’t have the right to make any demands. Accepting my terms is the only way she becomes Alpha, and if her or her successors show even a hint of unwarranted aggression to any group in Concordia, she’ll be stripped of her status in the pack faster than the time it takes to shift. She wants to lead Iron, and this is the only way it happens.”
“And you think that will work?”
I nod. “A war is way too ambitious for my sister and her mate.” She may like fighting, but there are a million other ways to prove your skills besides war. “Plus, I suggested using the Proving Grounds to start some kind of fighting tournament for anyone in the city to watch and enter.” The old arena should get some use beyond ancient combat rituals. “Even in human form, I could practically see her tail wagging at the idea of sanctioned violence and earning some cash for ticket prices.”
Josh thinks it over and nods. “That takes care of the Iron Pack. Where does it leave us?”
The Iron Pack lands stretch out before me, a rugged sprawl of territory that feels more like a fortress than a home. Even though I grew up here, Elias’s rules and demands made it hard to feel at peace.
“Part of what makes Concordia work is that all the covens keep each other in check,” I say. “No one gets too much power. What if there were another wolf pack in town? We can all keep each other honest. If one pack gets ideas, the other two are there to bring them back in line.”
It doesn’t take long for him to put it together. “Three packs, are you saying…?”
“Yeah. I think we should start our own.” I take his hands in mine and meet his gaze with all the sincerity I can muster. “I love you so much for being willing to lead this pack with me, but I’ve realized something. This was my old dream, from before I found you again. Now I want something that’sours.”
Josh frowns. “I don’t want you to give up anything because of me. And with the changes to the pack...”
“Some of their attitudes are changing. There’s still going to be a focus on physical strength and duty. The wall lining the front of the territory is staying up and wolves are still going to do routine patrols of the grounds. I’m not sure this place fits either of us,” I say, knowing the wall looming in the distance will be visible if I turn around. “This isn’t who I want to be anymore.”
I don’t just want to makemydreams come true anymore. I wantoursto come true.
I tell Josh about my ideal pack.
“I don’t want to run the kind of pack my dad did. And there’s no reason to be like Clover either. There’s already a very tight knit pack and a disciplined pack. Maybe we can create something different? You inspired me when you told me aboutyour experiences moving here. How hard it was to find where you belonged. Our new pack should be open to anyone, even those who won’t stay in Concordia forever. A place where anyone can fit in, be welcome, and find themselves.”
I never imagined earning the right to lead the pack I grew up in and then walking away. But the decision feels right.
“We could even accept people who aren’t wolves,” I continue. “I bet there’s a lot more people who feel like you did out there. People who love Concordia but aren’t wolves or witches and don’t know where they fit in, and I want our pack to be a place for them.”
“Oh,” Josh says. “I wasn’t expecting this, but it’s a beautiful idea.” A soft smile overtakes his face.
I pull him close, capturing his lips in a kiss that’s both tender and grateful. My wolf preens with satisfaction at pleasing our mate. When we finally pull apart, Josh’s eyes are bright.
“You inspired me too,” he says.
“What? How? I just told you my idea two seconds ago.”
“I’d lead with you, so I need to put my own mark on it, right?”
