Page 87 of Sight of Fate

Teague and Macklin move closer. Surprisingly, so does Andros.

Leif’s young, good-looking son strolls over, but his smile fades when he sees his dad’s face. “What?”

“Did you not tell Charli about the ceremony?”

He blinks. “Was I supposed to?”

“What ceremony?” Macklin growls.

“To officially introduce my daughter to the clan and to name Charli an honorary member,” Leif says, glaring at his son.

Andros tilts his head. “What exactly does an honorary member entail?”

“It means she’ll be part of our pack. If she ever needs anything—food, shelter, protection, whatever—anyone in my pack will give it to her. It’s the highest honor we can give to an outsider,” Leif explains. “She’ll be clan.”

My mouth drops open. “Like family?” I can’t help the wistful note in my voice.

Teague rubs his thumb across the small of my back.

“Any objections?” Leif asks, looking at me, then at the three men by my side.

I shake my head and smile.

Macklin expels a breath and looks at the other two.

Andros steps forward and spits out several questions that make my smile widen. “Will she remain autonomous from alpha pack hierarchy and laws?” Leif nods. “No blood exchange?” Leif shakes his head. “Is she expected to contribute to the clan or have any obligations to it?”

“She already met her lifetime contribution requirements,” Leif states dryly. “Anything else, or should I grab my attorney?”

Andros glances at me. “No further questions.”

“Great, because the ceremony is about to start,” Leif says, signaling the band to stop playing. Silence descends as everyone stops talking and turns toward him. He holds out his arm to his daughter, then to me, but Macklin steps forward and plants himself between us.

“I’ll escort her,” he tells Leif.

The alpha chuckles and leads the way to the stage in the back without arguing. Once there, he moves to the mic, looking every inch the alpha of a large pack.

“For many years, I believed my daughter died with her mother in an attack on our home. Until this young woman, Charli Ford, saw her in a vision. Tonight, I celebrate my daughter Sofia’s return and welcome her back to our clan.”

Sofia steps forward with a small smile. “Thank you. I’m happy to have found my family again.”

The crowd roars and howls and claps until Leif holds up his hand. “And I hereby make Charli an honorary member of our pack.” Silence descends, and I nervously peer up at Macklin. “This isn’t something I do lightly. Charli selflessly offered up her vision with no thought of payment or expectation. She walked in here alone and gifted me with my daughter. I expect all of you to watch out for her and protect her like you would every member of our clan.”

He picks up his glass. “To Charli, welcome to Clan Vintervargarna!”

The crowd cheers and toasts, and the sound is almost deafening. With a grin, I glance at Macklin, then Teague, and last, Andros, who’s staring at me with an unusual expression on his face.

After the ceremony, the music starts up again, and Macklin slides a hand around my waist. “Care to dance?”

“I would,” I reply, letting him lead me onto the floor. The music changes to something slow, and I peer up at him. “Hmm, good timing.”

His deep blue eyes sweep over my face as he pulls me into the shelter of his arms. “You’re driving me to the brink in that outfit. All I want to do is throw you over my shoulder and take you home.”

I quirk my finger, and he bends his head so I can whisper in his ear. “Better not. Or I’ll be flashing my thong to everyone in this room.” He stops dancing to glare down at me. I lift a shoulder. “You bought the skirt.”

Someone clears their throat, and Macklin stiffens.

“It’s custom for high-ranking members of the clan to dance with the newest member,” Leif loudly states, boxing Macklin into a corner.