Page 41

Ember

Dominic wraps up his speech as four familiar faces appear beside him. Giovanni is among them, and he gives Dad a cheeky thumbs up before heading over to sit with the older folks. Dad steps forward, and together, Declan, Bastille, and Brayden circle behind him.

“I have a few announcements to make, but after recent events, I want to make one thing perfectly clear: every person on this platform wants to meet their marked mate before making a choice on a chosen one. Therefore, the 284 requests that have crossed my brother's desk this week are pointless and a waste of your Alpha's time. You all know that Dominic lost his mate when we were 17, and he swore she would never be replaced. Don’t mistake his kindness for an invitation to his bed. Additionally, the 12—sorry, 13 as of this morning—claims that one of us has gotten you pregnant are void, as we are all on guaranteed contraceptives. At the next pack meeting, anyone sending claims of mating or pregnancy will be named and shamed in front of the entire pack.” Maykal takes a breath letting it sink in; a female has started to move, so she’s in front of him, her boobs and ass only just covered in her bodycon dress.

“Most of you know that when Brayden was born, he had a twin; what most of you don’t know was the twin his mother took with her was a little girl, one who is now a woman and has found her way back to us.”

Dad turns, holding his hand out to me. After a final pinky squeeze from Miles, I step forward with a smile, focusing on my family and praying this isn’t a trick. I take my place at my father’s side with Brayden over my right shoulder. I hear a sob and glance over to see my guidance counsellor stomping her way over, tears running down her face. She strokes Dec, Bas, and Bray’s cheeks on her way past, ignoring my father, before she engulfs me in a spine-crushing hug.

" Little Sister, you're here ." Her voice is hoarse from crying.

“I think it should be daughter now, mother dearest ,” I reply in Russian and nearly laugh at her offended face as she mutters something about not being old enough to be a mother.

Dad continues his announcements,

“My last piece of news is that Lilliana has finally agreed to marry me, so we will be sealing our bond after my next deployment.”

As Dad finishes, the woman I saw moving closer screeches and dives for Lily. Bas spins Lily behind him. Brayden mimics the action with me as Declan grabs the woman.

“Audrey, I think some time in lockup will cool you down before you explain why you attacked my father's Luna,” Dec sneers at her as they vanish into a puff of Saint's shadows. Dominic steps forward again as Dad pulls Lily into his arms, and Brayden offers a comforting arm around Miles.

“After all that excitement, let’s...” but before Uncle Nic can finish, Ren grabs my hand and pulls me to level with Nic.

“Before everyone starts diving into Alma and Embers’ amazing feast, I want to clarify that Ember is my marked Mate, and aside from the blessing ceremony, we are fully mated.” There are a few mournful “no's” from the crowd, not all of them females, as Ren finishes, and Uncle Nic quickly tells everyone to dig into the food.

The Bears and Hounds scramble to be the first to the Gumbo. As my old art teacher and English teacher join us, I’m starting to feel tired. I mumble to Ren,

"Can we get a quick bite to eat and head to bed?” As I look up at him, he smiles and kisses my temple, then picks me up bridal style. As my eyes fall closed, I hear him ask one of the guys to grab food and bring it up to his room.