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“Play time,” I answered. “Later on, we’ll all go outside and play.”
“You mean play like a wolf?” Neri asked, her brown eyes wide with wonder.
“You betcha.” I walked over to my duffle bag and pulled out my clothes. “We’ll be right down.”
“I’ll wait.” He ran a forefinger and thumb down his silver goatee, then grinned.
Okay.“I’ll be a second.”
Whatever was going on, Gunner was determined to escort us down. It took me more than a few seconds to dress, but Gunner didn’t seem to be in a hurry. Once we hit the ground floor, I saw we were definitely not headed toward the big den where we’d always held the gift celebrations in the past. Nope, we were heading toward Gunner’s office.
The sound of mumbling voices carried down the wide hallway and then I saw them. Everyone in the house—cousins, second-cousins, third-cousins, my mom and dad—seemed to have gathered in the hall just outside Gunner’s office. They parted as my uncle led us through. Big smiles lit up every face, but no one said a word as we passed. Once inside Gunner’s office, family filed in behind us, filling the room, shoulder to shoulder.
Memories of the past rushed up. In my youth, I’d been scolded in this room. I’d also been taught valuable lessons. I’d been exiled in this room. Been forgiven here, too.
Ralph sat behind Gunner’s big-ass mahogany desk, with a piece of yellow parchment out in front of him. His fancy pen-and-ink cursive had filled the page with spaces for signatures on the bottom. The sudden realization of what we were about to do made my stomach flutter and my heart race.
Holy hell. We are doing this right now.
“Well, we’re all here, so let’s get this started.” Ralph stood and came around in front of the desk. He crouched down to speak face to face with Neri and Arteisma. “Do you remember me?” They both nodded. “I remember you, too. You both made your wants clear back in Red Lodge and everyone here is ready to stand with you and your decision. I need to ask if you consent to have Seff and Desarae as your mom and dad?”
Arteisma’s brows furrowed. “Consent means we sayyes, right?”
Ralph smiled. “Yes. Consent means you agree to have them as your parents.”
“Yes,” the twins repeated at the same time.
“Then, let’s do this.” He stood and took my right hand, placed each twins’ right hand in mine and enclosed them in my left hand. “Seff, do you accept and embrace Arteisma and Nereida as your own?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
“I do.”
“Do you promise to care and keep them, to raise them and educate them in the ways of your pack?”
Dear ancient gods, on my life, I swear it.
“I will.”
“Do you promise to love them and do all that is necessary to protect them from harm?”
With my heart and soul.
“I do and I will. Always.” Those few words came from my mouth as a vow—strong and sure.
Ralph’s bright green gaze shifted to mysakana.He arranged Neri and Arteisma’s hands within the hands of the only mom they’d ever known, posed the same questions and received the same answers.
Ralph spoke to the room, “If anyone here disapproves or can offer just cause as to why Desarae and Seff are not fit to take these two little females as their own, you’d better speak now.”
My breath caught in my chest as I waited, praying another wolf wouldn’t come bursting in through the doors, shouting their objections to the masses.
A minute passed. It felt more like eternity. The collective breathing from the crowd was the only sound I heard.
“Einar Ulven.” Ralph nodded, and the twins’ great-grandpa stepped forward.
“Seff.” The ancient wolf took my hand and gave it a firm shake before turning to mysakana. “Desarae.” His wrinkled old face brightened when he enclosed her hand in both of his. “I have complete faith in you both and give you my blessings.”
Ralph raised his voice and addressed the room. “With the blessings of their oldest living relative and head of Arteisma and Nereida’s bloodline, and my approval as an official keeper of wolf law, in front of all these witnesses, from this moment on, I award Desarae Jamison Draydon and Seff Weylan Campion custody and full authority to claim Arteisma and Nereida Lillie as their own offspring.”
