Page 30

A New Pack

Deke

T he aviary did not like the SDF announcing they had a new Alpha. Many of them began yelling, forcing their way through the crowds to get in our faces. More fights broke out, only to be pulled apart by the police. I saw some of the enforcers get arrested.

One growl from Ozyn, who had returned to his dragon form to curl around me, was all it took to send the ones closest to me back.

Another, louder rumble, and all activity halted. I hoped the cops and the SDF knew by this point that they were safe with my mate. Even the mercenaries he’d removed had been able to walk away from the situation, and they were paid killers. My mate… well, he wasn’t harmless, just not harmful in general.

Jasper emerged from the back of our group. He had a strange aura surrounding him. Eyes caught on him as he made his way forward. All he did was walk to stand beside Blake. Everyone fell silent.

“My shifters, my brother’s children, our witnesses, here you see the end of the aviary. I have watched. I have waited. All in vain. You refused to see the truth. Repent. Accept your new Alpha, or suffer the consequences.”

Blake, understanding the situation, turned to Jasper and got onto one knee. “My lady, I ask to give someone else the role of Alpha for the aviary.” He looked up at Jasper, who still sort of glowed, letting us know The Luna was very much in charge. “You have gifted me a mate and four children once our daughter is born. I need to focus on my pack in Sweetwater. I owe them my time. These people are strangers to me. I thought Sebastian would be a more fitting Alpha.”

Sebastian’s jaw dropped. It made perfect sense to me, though. He’d been in the aviary before he fled with Jake. He was now an alpha and had sworn loyalty to Blake in order to change designation. Seb was the perfect leader for a group of birds, being a peregrine falcon. Not Blake, a wolf shifter.

Movement brought my gaze back to Jasper and Blake. It was weird to watch Jasper, who was Blake’s father-in-law, the man he called Papa, touch his face with gentleness and grace borne of an ancient being. He took on a faint glow.

“I knew your true heart would make the right choice. I trusted you would not seek power for power’s sake. Your plan to put Sebastian in charge is one founded in logic and has my blessing. Thank you for continuing to prove me right for the faith I have in not only you, but your pack. May the Sweetwater pack remain healthy and happy with my love.”

“My lady, it’s us who are rewarded for our faith in you. Thank you for all you have done.”

Unable to speak to thank her, I got to one knee and bowed my head. All around me, I felt the pack and dragons do the same. Even the police and SDF were kneeling when I glanced up to check.

Movement drew my attention, halting, shuffling steps broke the silence. One of the aviary’s enforcers came to the front of the crowd. More eyes landed on him. I didn’t know the guy’s name, but I felt Sebastian go taut near me. Mateo held him back with a hand on his arm. Even Blake spared Seb a glance. Then it hit me who this was: Sebastian’s father and the Second of the aviary.

The bastard didn’t even look his son’s way. He charged forward, a couple of other bird shifters with him.

“What is this shit? Do you really expect us to believe you’re speaking for the goddess? She abandoned us!”

“Dad, no!” I heard Seb cry.

Jasper/The Luna rounded on Seb’s dad. “I did not leave you. No, you chose to listen to the voices of men, the voices of alphas who told you to continue to follow a broken path.” The alphas with him shrank back from her anger. “You have no love in your hearts. Now you will have no animal in your soul.”

Someone screamed. The alphas stared at The Luna in shock. I watched as they tried to shift. Sebastian’s dad howled in fury. The guns leveled on him kept him in place.

“What I gave, I can take away.” She turned away from them to Blake, softening back to the loving goddess we knew. “Continue as you are. I have every faith you can return these shifters to the correct path. As always, you have my blessing.”

All Blake had time to say was, “thank you.” She vanished from Jasper, leaving him staggering. Dakota caught him.

“Oh wow, she was mad. I’ve got a list of names in my head for you to exile. The police might want to check their hard drives—no, not for kid stuff, but financial crap. Paying off people. Plans of attack.”

I could feel the smirk on my face. It was finally done. The former Alpha was dead, some weren’t even shifters anymore. Sebastian could start the place with a clean slate once he dealt with his family.

I saw a woman watching him with tears in her eyes as Seb’s dad grabbed her arm and hauled her towards one of the shabby buildings. Looked like she wasn’t ready to reach out for help to get away from her mate. It was a shame Sebastian’s family couldn’t change in time to play a part in their grandson’s life.

“Um, Alpha Blake, do you really—“

“Yes, Sebastian. I do. Speak with your mate, but I’d really like you to do this.”

“Alpha Blake,” Mateo came forward. “With your permission, I would like to return here, to the aviary, with my family. Grady could be their new healer, perhaps—“

“You would make a fine Second in Command for Sebastian if he is willing. It’s fitting since you both were in the Wing Guard.”

The two of them, Sebastian and Mateo, shared a look. “I’m going to call Jake. Maybe he can come here with Matthew.” It was clear he was seriously thinking about it if he was talking about bringing their baby there. “Could some of the enforcers stay until I can get them to swear to me?”

“Sure,” Blake said, easily. “Since I won the challenge, I’ll have to get you to swear a new oath. We’ll do that in private. Then I’ll release everyone you need into your care.”

“Are you sure you want to make me their leader?”

“Seb, you’ve been loyal to me and the pack since you landed on my lawn just over two years ago. I can’t think of anyone better. Think about it, you can fly, I can’t. You were a beta, now you are an alpha because The Luna saw something in you. Doesn’t that make you the better choice than me?” Seb nodded slowly at Blake. “Besides, we are still tied, I will be the Alpha’s Alpha.” Blake laughed at his own joke.

Loser, I sent to him affectionately.

I’ll tell Ozyn you were hugging someone, he threatened back.

I flashed a look at my mate, who was watching the action patiently, his large reptilian eyes scanning the crowd for trouble. Within our bond, I could feel Ozyn getting restless.

Can we go now? I asked Blake. I didn’t want him to have time to tell Ozyn anything considering how chill everything had been between us recently. He was much less possessive, but he was also riled up after seeing the cage.

Sebastian was making a call. He gave the thumbs up sign to Blake, so I guess Jake agreed to be the new Alpha Mate of the aviary. Mateo was doing the same. He had two mates in Grady and Trey, both of whom had extra gifts. Trey could see bonds, Grady had that extra healing power like Aldrin and Hiroshi, making him invaluable to a pack. He grinned at Seb and Blake. Guess his mates were on board, too.

Logan, the pride leader, walked up to Blake. “Would you mind sharing your healer? Aldrin does a great job, but your pack is pretty big these days.”

“Not my decision to make.”

“Yeah, I’d be okay with that,” Sebastian said, joining the pair of Alphas.

“There you go.” Blake cupped Sebastian’s neck. “As long as Grady is open to that, of course. He’s still training, so Aldrin will be around, too.”

Next to me, I could feel Ozyn getting restless. “May we return to the pack?”

His question jolted Blake out of his conversation. “Okay,” Blake called. “I’m going to ask for volunteers to stay here with Sebastian. Someone will need to head to the pack and pick up Grady, Trey, their kids, Jake and Matthew plus any belongings they want to take.”

“I’ll send Barr,” Toth said in his usual stoic manner. “If I’m not needed anymore, I’ll return to Cody. We’re getting ready to harvest.”

Blake shook the demon’s hand. “Thanks for coming, Toth. Sorry there wasn’t more of a fight.”

I didn’t hear the rest of what they said, too engrossed in watching the police and SDF lead people out of the aviary compound.

“The cage… you won’t replace it, will you?” Ozyn asked in a quiet voice.

Sebastian answered him. “There are no prisoners here. Those who don’t want to stay can leave. I’ll give them a couple weeks to find somewhere else to live.”

“See?” Blake laughed. “Barely two minutes into the job and already he’s proving me right. Congrats Alpha Sebastian. Once I find Erin and Georgia, I’m hitching a lift. Flying is not for me! Won’t be long behind you.”

Coming close, he drew Ozyn into a one-armed hug. “Thanks for today. Take your mate home, okay? Next time you visit this place, it’ll look very different. I’m sure of that.”

With nothing for us to do and with permission from Blake, we took to the air, heading for home. Nhil was returning with us, the rest of the boys would stay a day or two until things were more stable for the new Alpha as extra protection. I really appreciated how quickly the boys had stepped in to help the pack. I made sure to hug them all before we left. With each one, I felt a flicker of affection. Maybe we’d get a family bond after all other than the one I had growing with Nhil.

It felt strange to leave some of our people behind, but we had grown so much with little sign of slowing down. Sweetwater would always welcome shifters, of all kinds, as long as they shared similar beliefs.

May we fly a while longer? I would like to stretch my wings more.

Of course, I answered my mate.

We flew for another hour, maybe. Just touring the pack lands, watching the shifters and elves below us yell with delight when they saw us overhead.

Touching down on pack lands felt so good. I loved being in the sky with Ozyn, it was such a buzz, yet it was nice to be home. My wolf appreciated being on solid ground once more. He loved his dragon as much as I did, but being up in the air meant we couldn’t shift.

It was done. It was all over.

Relief nearly made me stagger. I felt lighter knowing all the shit with the aviary was done. Nearly two years of a smear campaign, attacks, being stuck in the compound, were over. Now our people could visit outside, they could take jobs elsewhere, we wouldn’t have to worry about how to get basic supplies.

“How do you feel about traveling a little once the babies have hatched?” I asked my mate once he was shifted back.

“I would like that. Perhaps we should wait until they sleep through the night and can fly themselves.”

“Fair enough. Why don’t we head to the mansion and share the good news, maybe pick up dinner from Winter? I’m sure he’ll want to see you and feed you.”

“Yes, please. I would like to tell everyone how well our Alpha fought.” The clear pride in his voice made me smile.

“Alpha Blake was impressive,” Nhil remarked, falling into step beside us.

Not sure if I imagined it, but Micah looked relieved when he saw Nhil next to me. Everyone was overjoyed to know everything would be settled with the aviary soon. Sure, there would be charges and court cases for some of the higher ups in their group. They weren’t our problem anymore. We could finally breathe.

Inside the mansion, the library and the huge dining room were undergoing a transformation. The rooms had been turned into party spaces. Most of the pack were there, ready to greet Blake and thank him for putting an end to the misery the aviary inflicted on us. Winter had even baked a cake!

It took some time for Winter to get everything how he wanted, but I knew it would be worth it when Blake saw how much his pack loved him. The call came from the gate when the gathered shifters began to grow impatient. Blake had returned.

Watching Kade rush as fast as he could to the gate to welcome his mate home was a sweet picture. I took a video of the delight on their faces so they could see how clear their love was to everyone else.

Chase and Axel surrounded their baby brother, hugging him tightly. They pulled me in with them before our mates all joined in. I kept it fairly brief, sensing Ozyn’s growing discomfort.

Standing a little aside, I heard his quiet, wistful voice. “They are special, aren’t they? The Luna spends a lot of time here. I understand why when I see them like this.”

“Yeah, they are. Come on, I’m hungry.” I took his hand to tow him back to the party.

This was only part of my family now. I knew if I had to go to Abrocaelum with my kids and mate, they’d be okay. The worst was behind us now. They had a bright future ahead of them, blessed by our goddess.