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“We could use all the allies we can get and hopefully communication with the archive can be restored. We’re searching for anything we can find right now. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like, unfortunately all we can offer you is a tent. If you want to stay on pack lands at least.”
“We’ll survive.” Adam laughed. “We’re not as classy as you seem to think we are.”
“I don’t know,” I countered. “I saw those archives. They were very fancy.” It was said as a joke and I was relieved to see them grin.
“Think of it like the White House versus the average person’s house,” Grayson said with a laugh.
“Interesting. Seems like we have a lot to learn about each other.” I paused after I said that, realizing we had one other problem. “We’d love to delve deeper and share everything we’ve found on the Grave Pack. Right now, though, we have to ensure the lands are safe from hexes. As you’ve witnessed, they nearly killed one of our own. The full moon is tomorrow, our time to recharge as well as the witches’. After rescuing them, they need the healing. So there will be wolves running the woods and witches recharging their magic, however they do that. Once it’s over, we can refocus, but my people need this. It’s a night of celebration and renewal. The stronger we get, the better chance we have of ending this god forsaken war.”
“That’s understandable,” Adam said without hesitation. “Vampires do not celebrate the full moon. But we’d love to stay and observe if we have your permission. We won’t interfere. There has just been little opportunity to witness your ceremonies and traditions up close. I’m a man of curiosity.”
“You should meet our elder, Garren.” I laughed. “You two would have a lot to talk about. I’ll be sure to send him your way before then. And you’re more than welcome to join us. We always start with a feast, then as the moon rises, the fun begins.”
I stood and went to the back room where Carlo was going over our technical issues.
“Hey, Alpha,” he greeted. “How’d it go?”
“I think we’ll be able to help each other. They’re staying until after the full moon. Can you show them to a tent? I need to check on Vanya and Torryn.”
“Of course,” he said, setting his laptop off to the side and standing. They were gone before I walked out, and I took just a moment to breathe. Today had been a whirlwind of hexes, hunting down Torryn, and then finding the vampires. I was ready for a three-day nap and a bottle or two of spelled whiskey.
The temporary clinic was set up on the opposite wall from the security building so I made a beeline for it. Nyx and Vanya were there with Torryn, who was resting on the bed between them. He was awake but healing slowly.
“You’d heal much faster as part of the pack,” I said as I walked up. His eyebrows rose to his hairline.
“I figured that was off the table.” His voice rasped, likely from breathing in water when he fell into the river.
“Look. I won’t apologize for being skeptical. We saw the scars, heard the stories. But the fact is you saved Emma. Not just that but sacrificed yourself for her. I’d say that’s about as loyal as you can get. If you’d like to join us, I’m more than willing to claim you as pack now. And I hope that we can work past our differences and you can become a trusted adviser.”
“Yes, thank you,” Vanya said. “Emma means the world to me.”
He pulled her hand closer and stroked his thumb over her skin gently. “Anyone would have done it.”
“You’re wrong,” I disagreed. “Hence the invitation.”
He nodded once. “I’d be honored. I’ve seen enough of your leadership to be willing to stand behind you. I didn’t exactly come from the best example of a pack, that world was all I knew. But I just want to say I’m sorry for the pain it’s caused.” This time he spoke to Vanya, but my little wolf glared back at his words.
“I made my choices. And I knew the consequences of defying the alpha, and I did it on more than one occasion. You can’t blame him forever.” She aimed the last part at us, and I nodded.
“That’s what I was trying to say,” I said. “I’m willing to move forward. He’s redeemed himself enough to earn our trust.”
“I’ll take it,” Torryn agreed. “I’d bare my shoulder if I could.”
Vanya gently pulled his shirt down and he hissed in pain.
“Sorry, I’ll be as gentle as I can,” I promised before allowing my wolf to come to the surface. Once my teeth formed into blunt fangs I bit down, breaking the skin and marking him as pack. “Welcome to the pack, Torryn. Now shift.”
The words were said in an alpha command, and he let out an annoyed huff that ended on a long whine before curling in on himself. I knew he’d hesitate, and I wasn’t willing to let him this time.
“Thanks, Alpha,” Vanya said before shifting, curling up next to her wounded mate. He’d need hours to heal, but I was confident he’d be back to normal by tonight.
“It seems our pack is changing,” Nyx said as we walked outside.
“I would say that’s the understatement of the fucking century,” Leven said with a laugh. “We’ve got witches here, new wolves, and now a couple of vampires.”
“Speaking of the vampires,” I said, giving them a quick rundown of our conversation.
Nyx snorted. “I don’t blame them for their curiosity. I was like a gaping tourist in those archives.”
