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“Alpha,” the red-haired beta female I’d seen before called out to Blake, “there’s a call from the council waiting for you in the office.”
“Thank you, Melody.” Blake replied. Resting a hand on the bottom of my spine, he led me to his office. “Melody is Cadence’s sister. I’m not sure if you met her at the omega houses.”
“I’m not sure. How can that only be yesterday? Seems like years ago. It’s all a blur.”
“I had Melody looking after the omegas. Her father had been one of my father’s enforcers and was a tad more progressive than my dad. He trained Melody to be a brutal fighter after her older sister started having heats. Him seeing value in his beta daughter saved his life and protected his daughters from harm when everything went down here.” He paused and turned back a little. “Melody?”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“I got a report, but how was it at the omega houses?”
“There are still enforcers there, Alpha. I’m only back because I was told you were on your way and we needed some more first aid for our prisoners. We have it in hand. Thank you for leaving so many enforcers to protect them.” Melody spoke with genuine pride and affection for her alpha as she got ready to rush out of the door.
“If you need any more help?” Blake offered.
“No need, Alpha. Best not keep the council waiting.”
It felt very different to be led to Blake’s office this time. I was more aware of my surroundings, taking in details of the mansion and the sheer amount of shifters that occupied it. I’d made it just inside the room last time, but Blake led me to his seat, encouraging me to sit while he found chairs for himself, his brothers, Deke and Roan.
“Roan insisted on being here for the debrief, Alpha,” explained Deke at Blake’s confusion.
Once seated next to me, Blake called out, “Dalton, could you put the call through, please? And maybe bring some snacks?” There was a beep and Blake answered, putting the call on speaker. “This call is on speaker. My mate, brothers, and enforcers are present.”
“Alpha Sweetwater, this is Councilman Ford. Thank you for rescuing Kade. A team is already dealing with the aftermath of what happened this afternoon. We will take the exiled to other cities once their belongings are packed.”
“Thank you, Councilman Ford. All we ask for is no retribution for the lives that had to be taken. We incapacitated where possible. Shifter lives are too precious.” I stroked a hand along Blake’s thigh. He seemed older than his years like this. Blake’s words had his family drawing in breath.
“Indeed. It’s an unpopular opinion, but your pack has done us a favor by taking out Hayes.” I couldn’t restrain my flinch, and several sets of sympathetic eyes flashed my way. “Unfortunately, he had more followers than we had expected. I understand you will have to check through your pack to root out any more sympathizers. This is just the council saying, thank you, officially. There will be no punishment for the Sweetwater pack.” He took an audible breath. “Is Roan there?”
“I am, Sir.” Roan said from his place on a sofa between Blake’s brothers.
“Thank you, as promised, you are to receive your full pardon. You are now a wolf in good standing and are welcome to join a pack or leave Sweetwater, if that’s what you wish. Do you have plans?”
Roan looked at a loss and hung his head, looking at his hands. “We would like him to join the Sweetwater pack if he wants that. He’s more than welcome here.” Blake informed the room.
Roan’s head snapped up, glancing between me and Blake as he seemed to come to a decision. “I think I’d like that.”
I zoned out of the meeting after that, aside from picking at the snacks put in front of me. They eventually whisked Roan away to a bedroom to finish recovering, and they checked on the omegas. I just wanted to be next to my mate. To have this all over and done with. Councilman Ford’s last words echoed in my brain, “Kade? We need to have a conversation in a few days, if you don’t mind. I’ll let you recover, but it’s important.”
“What do you think he wants?” I questioned Blake as he led me through the house and up a floor to his sizable suite.
“No idea, but I’d rather focus on you.” That made my heart melt. I always felt so important when I was with Blake.
Inside of his rooms, I didn’t stop to look around. I pulled Blake towards the bathroom, the door open and inviting us to wash off the stress of the last day.
Blake stripped me reverently as the water heated, his silver-blue eyes heated as he took me in. Under the spray, we took turns washing each other, not needing to speak as the importance of this moment hit us.
I thought that I would feel nervous that this was finally happening. I’d been the one reluctant to bond fully, but I was glad that I’d had this time with Blake without the pressure of a full bond. This way I had time to feel closer to him, and he’d proven that he was unlike any other alpha that I’d known.
He wrapped me in a fluffy towel before drying himself quickly. I took his hand and drew him over to the bed and pushed him to sit down up against the mound of pillows. His scent rose off the bedding, and I took a second to bask in the chocolate scent of my mate.
His hands landed on my hips. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure. I want to be fully mated to you, Blake Sweetwater.”
“And I want to be fully mated to you, Kade Turner.”
A smile stretched my face at him, using my chosen name. Ryder Hayes was long dead to me, and I wanted the life that Kade Turner was building.
