Page 41 of Happily Undead in Dark River

Chapter Twenty-One

Brody was pissed. He might not be in bear form anymore, but he scowled at every single shapeshifter we came across on our walk to the Meeting House. I was trying to do my best impression of regalness, but it was kind of ruined by the bright pink cast on my arm. Ghost was ever vigilant as he strode behind me, his eyes watching everything and everyone.

Alpha had pulled rank, dragging everyone to a compulsory meeting on the steps of the Meeting House. Apparently, it had only happened twice in his time as Alpha, and people seemed nervous. The cacophony of heartbeats in the square made me wonder if bringing me along was such a good idea. I reached over and anchored myself with Tex. He didn’t deserve to be my security blanket, but he was. He didn’t seem to mind though, he just squeezed my hand reassuringly. I was in one of Tex’s t-shirts again because I couldn’t fit my cast through any of my own shirts, and the wind was cool against my bare arms.

Brody walked up the steps to stand above everyone else. Unlike the meeting the other night, none of the Elders were up there with him. There was just the Alpha, looming over the rest of the Pack. The symbolism of the whole thing wasn’t lost on me. He was in charge. No one else. I stayed at the bottom of the steps, Tex by my side and Ghost at my back, towering over my head.

Brody refused to wear his sling, but I notice he had his arm tucked close to his body. “My Pack. My family. I must have gravely wronged you all at some point. Been tyrannical until you had to live in fear in your own homes. Neglected your needs. Abused my power over you by making you KNEEL!”

He yelled the last word, power rushing over the group, forcing them all to follow his command. Even Tex and Ghost knelt beside me, and I went down on my knee, even though he couldn’t compel me to do so. “I must have been a terrible Alpha to warrant one of you, someone I have cared for, loved like family, to try and kill me yesterday morning. To make you want to put a homemade bomb in my roof cavity like a coward, giving it enough force to destroy my home, injure me and grievously injured my Mate.”

His nostrils flared, and I saw him take a deep, calming breath.

“Please, stand my friends.” He waited until everyone was on their feet. He looked down at me and beckoned me up onto steps with him. “I understand that my choice of Mate may seem like an error to some of you. Some of you are old enough to remember when Vampires were held on a far looser leash. Some of you are old enough to remember the Supernatural Wars. Let me tell you, I understand your hesitance. But trust in the wisdom of our Ancestors. We have little choice over the Mate bond.” I frowned a little. Was he trying to say he was coerced into our bond by the ghosts of Shapeshifters past? Because that was a copout if I’d ever heard one. “However, even without the Mate Bond, I would still choose Raine to be my partner. She is smart, compassionate. She is funny, caring and loyal to those she loves. She is a worthy Alpha Mate. If you would give her a chance and stop trying to kill her at every fucking opportunity, you would see it too.” I reached out and put a hand on his back, sending him calming thoughts. He gave me a quick smile and looked back at his people, his Pack.

“She is not some monster to be feared. She stands here, surrounded by temptation, but makes no move against you. I implore you to give her a chance because I do not want to be a despot. But do not forget that there are many types of Alpha in this world, and I do not want to become one that rules with fear and coercion, rather than love and mutual respect. Please do not make me become that person.” His face hardened. “However, I will not let this Pack become a cesspool of bigotry, violence, and racism. That is not what our ancestors wanted for us, it is not what the Elders want for us and it isn’t what I want for our Pack. If you know anything about the attack on me, on my Mate, please come forward. I will protect you and deal with the traitors to our Pack in the way of our traditions.” Somehow I didn’t think their traditions involved being tickled into submission or a stern talking to. “Now, let us celebrate my new Mate, and the fact we survived such a cowardly attack, with a cookout. Nothing brings together a Pack like a steak, even if it is just to fight over who gets the first one.” There was a smattering of laughter

He wrapped an arm around my waist and led me off the stairs. I noticed that Ghost was halfway up the stairs, not close enough to be up there with us, but close enough to be able to get to us in an instant if something went wrong. I gave him a grateful smile as we walked toward three huge grills and a couple of smokers the size of a small car.

“Is there a Mrs. Ghost?” I asked my current shadow. Ghost looked panicked for a second, shaking his head and signing quickly to Brody, who laughed so hard I was worried he was going to reinjure his shoulder.

“Calm down, Big Guy. I don’t think she was hitting on you.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Were you?”

All the blood in my body rushed my face. “No! Not that you aren’t attractive, Ghost, I mean, I was just asking that’s all. I didn’t have an ulterior motive.” Now Tex was laughing too, and I rammed my shoulder into the traitor. I frowned at Ghost. “You saved me, and have been basically my babysitter for the last three days, is all. I wondered if you had a wife or girlfriend, or boyfriend or goldfish or something, running around at this party that you’d rather be hanging out with?” I glared at the still-laughing Brody. “Would you quit it?”

Ghost shook his head again, his own cheeks blushing. It looked hilarious on the scary, pale goliath. He signed something at Brody, who signed back.

I really had to learn sign language.

“He said that he hasn’t been blessed with a Mate yet, and he is where he was supposed to be, watching his Alpha Pair’s back.”

“Naw. You sure you don’t want to keep him?” Tex teased, and I elbowed him again.

I glared at Brody. “I can appreciate the tall, silent type right now, that much I can tell you.” But I felt nothing but friendship for the fierce, tragic figure that was Ghost. Maybe I could find him a girlfriend or something. “Any prospects?” I asked Ghost as we came to a stop when someone pulled Brody aside to say something. Ghost’s eyes darted over my shoulder, then quickly back to me. But I saw the move. I looked over my shoulder and saw a laughing Annie talking to Tye and his Mate, absently playing with a toddler as she spoke.

I turned back to the still blushing Ghost. “Oh. Interesting.” I grinned at Ghost, who was blushing again, and he frowned at me and shook his head. I patted his arm. “It’s okay, your secret is safe with me.” I mimed zipping my lips.

Tex tugged at my hand. “Who was it? Dammit, being blind sucks.”

I kissed his cheek. “Sorry, Babe. I’m sworn to secrecy.”

Tex huffed, “I’m going to get a beer,” and stomped off to one of the coolers dotted around the park. His cane was out, being in unfamiliar territory, but I noticed a little boy run over and grab his hand, pulling him down to talk to him. Then he very solemnly led Tex to the coolers, looked in the first one for a soda, and pulled it out, handing it to my Mate. Tex ruffled the kid's hair, then turned back to me, whispering something to the boy who looked at me with wide eyes. He then grabbed Tex’s hand and led him back to me.

“What a good kid,” I murmured to Ghost, who just nodded.

When Tex was back in front of me, I smiled at his little guide dog. “Who’s your friend, Tex?”

“This is Bobby. Bobby is Tye’s oldest son,” Tex introduced. Ghost held out his fist and Bobby bumped it with his own.

I nodded at the kid. “Nice to meet you, Bobby. Want to sign my cast?”

The kid’s eyes lit up like I’d offered him a hundred bucks. “Mom has a silver sharpie in her purse. I’ll be right back.” He raced off almost vampire fast and was rummaging around in his mother’s purse as she tried to fend off his hands. She plopped the huge bag on the ground, and Bobby was basically buried to his waist as he searched around in the bottom looking for the elusive sharpie. His Mom, her name was Willow, waved at me, shaking her head in bemusement.

Finally, Bobby emerged from the bag, triumphantly holding the silver sharpie in his hand. He raced back over, uncapping the pen before he’d even come to a complete stop. I held my arm down, and he gently held it in his tiny hands. “Does it hurt?” he asked solemnly.

I smiled and shook my head. “Not too much.”

He nodded, slowly writing his name in silver. He even gave it a swirling underline. He looked up at me, grinning. This kid. His destiny felt too big for such a tiny body. I felt it in my bones. “Can the other kids sign it too, if I promise to make them be gentle?”

---