Page 22 of Destined Mate (Cross Creek Pack of San DeLain)

Chapter Thirteen

Wesley

AFTER EVERYONE had finished their meal and tidied up, Wesley asked a few of the younger pack members to gather any large tree branches or sticks they could locate.

As the pups hurried away to carry out Wesley’s orders, accompanied by a few pack members, he took Jerome aside. “Do you recall my suggestion about having a bonfire?”

“I really thought you were kidding. I see that you’re not.”

“No. If there’s anything you want burned, why don’t you go get it?” Wesley cleared his throat. “That goes for the rest of the pack. If there is anything that you know of that belonged to the rogue and his betas, bring it. We’re going to burn it all.”

Another cheer went up.

“I know you are doing this for me, but I think it will also help them,” Jerome said as Marcia joined them.

“I agree,” Marcia said. “Jerome? Would you like me to go with you to that damn room they kept you prisoner in?”

Wesley let out a low, rumbling growl, his eyes narrowing momentarily before he quickly turned to Marcia with a look of concern etched across his face.

“That wasn’t aimed at you. My wolf isn’t happy with that knowledge, that’s all.”

Marcia let out a long breath. “Thank you for that. There was a time when none of us would’ve had such a reaction. Li Li was good to us.”

Jerome nodded.

“I know Elmer was here long enough, and did enough damage, that now people will react to any sort of negative emotion I might have. I do understand that. That’s why I immediately said my comment wasn’t aimed at you,” Wesley said. “At any of you.”

He was fully aware that the wolves surrounding him could hear every word being spoken.

Time. It would take time.

“What are the odds there might be some marshmallows around here?” Wesley asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

Al whooped with excitement and made his way back to the kitchen as Jerome and Marcia entered the pack house. Wesley observed that Theo trailed behind Al.

Keith was talking to Henry, and a couple of pack members surrounded Duncan. He was telling of the mischief the four of them had gotten into when they were just pups, and Wesley was okay with that.

If it helped the pack to see that he was not a black-hearted evil bastard, he didn’t care how embarrassing the stories were.

Wesley watched as Jerome and Marcia left, and he made a promise to himself—by this time next week, that damn room was going to be remodeled, at the very least.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t tear the room out of the pack house, but maybe he could wipe away the memory of what it was. He doubted it, but he had to try.

HALF AN hour later, they had a roaring fire going, its flames a vibrant orange and red. Sparks danced upward, disappearing into the starlit sky. Anything having to do with Elmer and his betas was being consumed by the inferno.

Someone produced a guitar, its polished wood gleaming in the firelight, and struck up a lively tune. Soon, some pack members joined in with spirited singing.

After they roasted and ate several bags of marshmallows, Wesley rose to his feet and cleared his throat. The group instantly fell silent.

“I know it’s been a rough week for all of you. You lost your beloved alpha because of a hunters’ attack, a rogue and his betas showed up, and then he promptly abused you and your omega,” Wesley started off.

“That’s not all he did,” Lakisha said. “He killed Bay Ung-Jook and Jensen Hart, two of our betas. We also lost two enforcers, Poppy Smith and Damar Jackson.”

“I’d gathered something had happened when I showed up, but I did not know this. I’m truly sorry for the loss your pack has suffered. Were you able to mourn your people properly?” Wesley asked.

“We were allowed to bury them. That’s about it,” Jerome said.

“That’s something else we’ll add to our to-do list,” Wesley stated. “We’ll mourn the loss of our pack members. Even though I didn’t know them personally, I can sense the sorrow through our connection.”

The relief that came through the bond from the pack was strong.

“Also, I want to officially announce that Jerome is my Fated mate. Many of you might have already sensed this through our pack bond and my increasing connection to him, but I wanted to confirm it for everyone.”

Another round of cheers erupted, but this time, Wesley observed that a few of the older male werewolves appeared less excited about his announcement. He made a mental note of their faces, planning to inquire with Jerome about their identities later.

“The next announcement I have concerns what happened earlier. You might not be aware, but the Council of Wolves issued a Luna’s Summons, and I was among the alphas invited to take part.”

“We’re from San Diego originally,” Keith said.

“My birth pack is the Moonshadow pack of San Diego, California. I have an older brother who’s mated and is due to have a pup at any moment. I’m also close to him and my parents.”

“You have a brother?” Jerome asked.

“Yes, I do,” Wesley replied. Unable to help himself, he gently rubbed his hand up and down Jerome’s back, feeling the subtle tension beneath his fingers gradually ease. “They’re going to love you,” he added softly.

Jerome said nothing, just nodded.

“But right now, my family isn’t the main focus. Keith, Theo, Duncan, and I were on our way here. We reached San DeLain, and I made it a priority to meet as many of the city’s leaders as I could. It was after being here for a few days that the… dreams began.”

Wide-eyed, Jerome looked up at him.

“I’m not sure I’d describe them as visions, exactly. However, I did witness the hunters’ attack. I saw you, too, Jerome. I also saw you help Julia to some kind of safe room. Then I watched you go to assist your alpha.”

“By the wolf god,” Jerome muttered.

“The thing is, an alpha doesn’t have visions. That’s an omega thing. But as the days passed, and the challenge grew nearer, there was this feeling of dread building inside of me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong here.”

“We wanted to come visit, but the Council of Wolves denied our request,” Keith said.

“I chose to come here, regardless. I was certain something was seriously amiss. Let me reiterate, I didn’t have the Council of Wolves’ permission to be here, and I’ll have to explain myself to them,” Wesley stated.

There was an uneasy murmur that went through the pack.

“And when I’m questioned about my actions, I’m going to point out how their ineptitude resulted in an omega being auctioned, something so horrifying most of us cannot even wrap our minds around it,” Wesley said.

“When you talk to them, remind them I called and told them of Jerome’s vision about a rogue and they didn’t listen to him,” Henry added.

“Really? Well then, you can damn sure bet I’ll certainly bring that up too,” Wesley growled. “The fact that they ignored him is stupid beyond belief, but I’m not surprised.”

“Do you think they’ll allow the…?” Marcia started, then trailed off.

“Do I think they’ll allow the Luna’s Summons to continue? It’s a reasonable question, and they might regardless of the fact Jerome is my Fated mate, and we’ve all formed a pack bond,” Wesley explained. “But honestly, I have my doubts.”

“And why is that?” another pack member asked.

“Because it would just increase the trauma to an already traumatized pack, something that the Council of Wolves could have avoided if they’d just listened to Jerome,” Wesley stressed.

“Got that right,” Henry muttered.

“But honestly? The alphas invited are good alphas,” Wesley said. “Once they find out Jerome’s my Fated mate, they’ll more than likely withdraw from the challenge.”

“And I will make it known that Wesley is my Fated mate and that I’ll accept no one else,” Jerome said savagely. “No matter what they do.”

“Hey, hey.” Wesley sat down abruptly and wrapped his arms around Jerome. “None of that, now. The council holds Fated mates in a high regard. They may not be happy with what I did, but I honestly don’t think they’ll try to remove me as alpha. And if they do? I’ll fight for this pack.”

Another cheer, this time louder, went up.

“And speaking of the council, that’s my next task. I’m going to call them and inform them of what has gone on here tonight, but please, continue your celebration for as long as you wish. It’s been a long day for us all, but it’s fine to celebrate too.”

The cheer this time was much more muted.

“Please do not worry. Tomorrow, after breakfast, we’ll all meet again to continue discussing things.” Wesley stood and held his hand out to Jerome. “Could you show me somewhere private where I can contact the council, please?”

“Certainly.” Jerome took Wesley’s hand. “Let’s go to Li Li’s office. Well, I guess it’s yours now. I shouldn’t have called it her office.”

“I’ll be using it, sure, but she was there first. It doesn’t bother me if you refer to her, Jerome. I know you two were mated.”

Jerome stopped suddenly and faced Wesley. “She was a good alpha and a good person. She never mistreated me, but our mating was nothing more than a business transaction. I want you to know that.”

“You didn’t love her,” Wesley said, cupping Jerome’s chin.

“Of course not. She didn’t love me, either. That didn’t mean I didn’t respect her.”

“I know. I saw exactly how much you respected her in that dream or whatever I had. I’m not jealous, sweet wolf.”

Jerome raised an eyebrow.

“Too much?”

“No. I’m just not used to having a pet name. But I do like it.”

“Good.” Wesley lowered his hand. “I’m not jealous because you were not her Fated mate. You’re mine. And that makes all the difference in the world.”

Jerome swallowed heavily, then nodded. Turning, he led them toward the office. Wesley followed Jerome inside.

“You can use the laptop,” Jerome said.

“Thank you. Would you, by chance, have the council’s phone number?”

“Yes, we do, as a matter of fact. Henry had contacted them before the rogue showed up. Want me to make the call?”

“I’d appreciate it,” Wesley said as he settled into the desk chair.