Page 63 of Shadowed Bond

“Join the club.”

Charlotte’s fingers tighten around mine. “You really have no subtlety, do you?” she murmurs.

“Na, he deserved it.”

Dad looks between Renji and Shahira, shock fading into warmth. “Well, then I suppose we have more than one reason to celebrate.”

“Family dinner tonight, then,” Grandad says. “And an official ceremony tomorrow night. We will summon both packs.”

“And of course Charlotte’s family and friends,” Grandma adds.

“No,” I say.

“That would be lovely,” Charlotte says at the same time.

Everyone looks at us.

I turn to her slowly. “Excuse me?”

She looks up at me, all confidence and calm murder. “I want to join your pack, Ares, and I don’t wish to wait any longer,” she declares, then turns to Grandma and Grandad. “I would be honoured to celebrate with the family.”

“Good. Then I’ll call Catherine, Winona and Royce,” Grandma says, then pauses. “Do they know?”

“I told my mother and Winona this morning, as Royce already knew,” Charlotte says.

Grandma nods. “Good. But let me invite them for your Luna Ceremony.”

The good thing about family is that this is the kinda shit I don’t have to deal with.

“And Ahren and Mama know, don’t they?” Sienna asks, connecting the dots.

“I told them not to say anything,” I say.

Sienna nods as Jayce brushes her hair back and kisses her.

“Well, invite them; if we all call, that way we’ll tackle everyone faster,” Grandma answers. “Shahira, call your family, too.”

I turn. “Why can’t we just keep it to family?” I grumble. “No offence to you two, but I mean just us?”

“Because it’s a celebration worth celebrating,” Dad says, and Charlotte nods, turning to me.

“Exactly. That’s not a problem, is it, Alpha?”

My wolf likes the way she says that…

Fucking useless beast.

I almost pull her close but refuse to become another Jayce or Renji.

I lean down slightly, mind-linking her. You’re enjoying this.

Immensely, she responds.

“You’re trouble,” I say quietly as our family buzzes around us with things I really don’t care for.

Instead, I look at Charlotte, at my mate, my future Luna, sitting amongst my family as if she was always meant to be here. The buzzing fades away entirely. The teasing, Grandma’s discussion on food, Dad smiling as if he can see more than I want him to.

Tonight, I still have Blue Moon Pack drama to deal with, but right now, all that matters is that she’s with me, here for all of it.