Page 29

Ember

Shortly after breakfast, Miles, Creed, Jenson, Ren, and Bram disappear into town. Dominic asks me to come to his office to go over pack rules, receiving a dirty look from Mika in the process.

“I need to call Lily before she finds out we found Ember from somewhere else," Mika says as he walks off. I glance at Brayden.

“Lily is Dad's mate; he only found her five years ago through an old friend. She has some bad history, so they are taking it slow,” he tells me as he comes to my side.

“Want me to come for 'the talk' with Uncle Nic?” he says shyly.

“Sure, I have something to give you afterward, if that’s okay?” He looks shocked, but I walk to the office and take a seat. Nic doesn’t seem surprised to see Brayden following me. Mika, Luc, Declan, and Bastille all file in, and I start to panic. Bray takes my hand, giving it a squeeze and a smile.

“I know you’ve lived in packs before, but we’re different; our rules,” Dominic states. “Anyone can challenge or be challenged unless one of the parties is pregnant. If a female challenges a male or vice versa, a substitute will be asked to stand in. No concealment charms or spells can be used while on pack lands.” That last one I frown at.

“If there is a problem, come to me or Luc before stating a challenge. That’s it.” To say I’m shocked is an understatement. Lakeview Pack had a binder.

“No arranged matings can happen without the full consent of both parties, Uncle," Declan says with a scowl, and Nic gives an affirming nod.

“Erm, that blonde girl standing with Bray and Ren when I arrived has a concealment charm. She’s a low-level succubus,” I say quickly, ducking my head.

Bray has gone still and then laughs,

“And she still can't get in Ren’s pants.” I flinch at his words, and he starts to apologize as Bas smacks him upside the head.

“Think baby brother. They are newly mated! How would you have felt if we spoke of Miles that way?” Brayden looks like a kicked puppy after Bas tells him off, and I get another mumbled sorry from him. He's still holding my hand, so I squeeze it.

"Baby girl . I know you’ve shared some of your story with me, but can you tell us again? Not right now, but soon. I want detailed information, as it will help us at the SRU (Supernatural Relations Unit) and others who may face similar situations you've lived through," Mika asks then looks at the others

“I expect all of you to keep your tempers. Ember can give as little or as much information as she is comfortable with right now, once Ember has been here longer; only then can you push her for more, when she is comfortable with you all and fully understands she is safe with all of us” he says, watching Declan, who gives the slightest nod, and gives me a apologetic look.

Once he is happy with their reactions, Mika grabs some bottles of water, placing them and his phone on the coffee table in front of me.

I take a breath and give him a nod. He puts his phone on the voice recorder, kisses my crown, and then sits back down. I can tell he is still tense and he already knows some of what’s happened.

For the next two hours, I tell my story. When I reach my time in The Cage, Declan goes pale and bursts into tears before leaving. Bray and Bas mumble that they’ve never seen him cry, but I’m urged to finish. We hear a smash and some yelling, which makes me flinch, but I wrap up; it only takes another half hour.

Once I’m done, Brayden leads me out to the deck. The decking seems to be sectioned off into different areas. There’s a fire pit and seating outside the kitchen and breakfast room doors that everyone seems to use. With my back to the Chalet and looking to the left, I see various sections that all the pack uses, complete with chess, checkers, and card tables set up, as well as a small children’s play area with swings and slides and a picnic area featuring a projector screen. To the right are all the Chalet's private areas and various seating spots, including what looks like an outdoor gym. Brayden leads me to a seating area below Ren's balcony, where there is a big round chair covered in cushions. Alma brings out some food; I have no idea what it is, but it’s all delicious. We sit in silence, and halfway through my cup of tea, Brayden wraps an arm around my shoulder and rests his cheek on my head, staring out at the lake.

"I told you I had a gift for you, and now you know some of my story; parts will make more sense," I say, putting my cup down and grabbing the sketch pad.

"For as long as I can remember, two wolves have appeared in my dreams. The first time I tried to kill myself, I was 7 years old. The wolves told me their names: Dex and Levi. After that, they spoke to me more and more, teaching me languages and even basic school subjects when they realized I wasn’t being sent to school." I hand him the sketchpad and pick my tea back up, and he opens the book.

“I had this dream!” his statement should shock me, but it doesn’t. I just hope he only shared the good ones, not the bad ones.

"I never saw your face; you were always blocked by the sun, or it was too dark. I could feel you riding on my back a few times," he says as he flicks through.

Some he asks where I was or who a person is. We spend time swapping stories, and it seems some of the fun times he had with our brothers Dex and Levi have shared with me on dark nights. I tell him about the time Trick and I filled Ren's bed with silly foam just as the others start to file in and join our storytelling. I end up curled between Ren and Creed, with Jay laid across my legs, his head on my stomach. Just as the sun is setting, Ren pulls me away, asking me to go for a walk with him.