Page 35 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!

Fifteen minutes later, the office door opens and Mavis walks inside. Gives me an envelope and takes a seat. “That’s the DNA results from Dr. Appleyard. He said he had a comprehensive report asked for, as it was the only way to be conclusive. The council had your parents' DNA taken when they died because of the direction they had left behind. Come on, rip off the bandaid, Adira. Let’s see if you are who we think you are.”

I slide a finger under the envelope seal and slide out the report. Unfolding it, I take a breath as my eyes flick over it. Most of this I don’t even understand, but what jumps out is the portion that states I am 99.9% the daughter of Alpha Chanon and Luna Arieka Strongbow.

I look up at Mavis with tears in my eyes, “I am the daughter.”

Mavis jumps to her feet and rounds my desk, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. That is the moment I let go of the pent-up emotions and cry, and cry for a long time.

The door opens and Rom walks into the office, coming to a sudden stop when he sees I’m upset. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, actually. I just received the DNA report that confirms I am Adira Strongbow of the Strongbow Pack.” Now, my mind is racing because once this is known, is Alpha Rudik of the Blue River Pack going to want to finish the job his grandfather started?

“Call a meeting for tomorrow, Rom. I want you, Leo, Stella, Thorn, Robbie, and Talon at the meeting. You too, Mavis.”

Mavis looks at me worriedly, but gives me a nod as she moves away from me and towards her desk.

“I have a meeting after lunch with Cayden. Make sure he is welcomed into the territory. I want him to feel he is an honored guest, because that is exactly what he is.” The door swings open, and Robbie strides in, a massive man trailing close behind.

Robbie must notice the shock on my face as I’m looking at this man mountain, and chuckles, “Alpha Adira, this is Cayden–Spirit of Battle.”

Standing, I quickly walk around my desk, holding my hand out to the man to shake. Looking up is the only option because hehas to be 6’6” or more in height. “Welcome, Cayden. I hope your journey wasn’t a bad one.”

Cayden replies with the deepest of voices. It rumbles in his chest as he speaks. His eyes flick and his pupils slit, showing me his dragon is near the surface. “We thank you for allowing our visit. It means a lot to me and my dragon, Brymrag. We have searched for our family Bible for so long that we were giving up hope. It is typical that Blaflono never told me. He was the worst of us for hording things.”

“Please, take a seat. Would you like any refreshments?” I ask. I feel myself calming, and notice Blue is watching from the back of my mind, but she’s showing no sign of being alert. She is curious as she sits on her haunches with her head cocked.

“I would love a cup of ginger tea, if you have any, that is,” Cayden states, looking at Robbie, who nods and then rushes out of the office.

“If I can get this part about what we have found over with, it would be good.” I state, and the nod from Cayden assures me to continue. “It would be good as Blaflono’s only relative if you would sign the farmhouse deeds over to the pack.”

“I can do that. I don’t want or need the farmhouse or the land it sits on. You know that the entire town sits on the farmhouse deeds, don’t you?” Cayden states.

“No, I didn’t. But we are still working our way through all the archives in the library.”

“I remember when he purchased this land, and he said to me, ‘Cayden, I’m staying. I’m going to give shifters of any kind somewhere to live. I’ve seen too many forced to go rogue and then die through lack of a home. I’m going to give them a home.’” Cayden looks faraway in his mind.

“I, as the Alpha, would never change the setup of the town. It is still a town where humans and shifters live, work, and come to find a safe place. But would you be happy for the entire property deed to be signed over to the pack?” I want to give Cayden every chance to take the property if that is what he wants. It is his by rights, after all.

“Blaflono would be thrilled to know he left a legacy behind. I’m still chasing the hunters that killed him. I have six of them dead now, but have two more to find. They are old men now, but that is no matter to me. They are murderers and need to be eliminated for what they did,” Cayden responds, but as he gets agitated, his dragon comes forward once more. It’s fairly fascinating, I have to admit, as I’ve never been in the company of a dragon before.

“Good. Now, there are jewels, cash and gold bars in the safe. Do you want to take those with you?” I ask.

“No. You can have all of that for the pack. I only want the family Bible.”

Mavis walks into the office carrying the Bible, and Cayden jumps to his feet when he sees it. His eyes lock onto the book and I feel a lump in my throat at the obvious delight on his face. Mavis slowly hands the book to Cayden with such reverence that he looks fully at Mavis’s face and murmurs, ‘Thank you.’

Taking his seat once more, Cayden holds the Bible against his chest, and it’s more than obvious he is fighting to contain his emotions. I stand, look at Mavis and flick my head to the door. “Cayden, let me go find out what has happened to Robbie and those drinks, while you have a moment.”

“Thank you, Alpha Adira.”

“Oh, you can call me Adira. I think we are friends, after all.”

In the kitchen, I find Robbie on his hands and knees with the dishwasher pulled out of its space. “Robbie, what are you doing?”

“The dishwasher leaked all over the kitchen floor. So, after mopping all the water, I had to pull this out to see what was wrong. The pipe has come loose and water is pouring everywhere. I’ll fix it.” Robbie still is behind the dishwasher and you know, I’m going to leave him there.

After making the drinks, I quickly head back to the office. Once I’ve given Cayden his drink, I take a sip of mine then throw out a question that has a look of shock cross his face, then one of expectation and delight.

“Yes, I will come with you to look at what the hunters are doing.” Cayden replies to my question, and his dragon. Brymrag is fully onboard as Cayden’s eyes are his dragons, and I smirk as a puff of smoke comes from Cayden’s mouth and nostrils.

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