Page 57 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!

Mavis places her knife and fork down, and looks over at me. “The bedrooms at the farmhouse I checked, and we have one downstairs vacant. Now Earnest has moved in with Bella at the cottage we have a vacant room upstairs.”

Bella wanders over and gives me a huge smile. Now, I’ve not said anything to Mavis in response to her comment about Papa, but I may learn more now?

“I don’t know if Earnest has had time to speak with you, Alpha Adira, but we have taken each other as chosen mates. He has moved into the cottage with me yesterday,” Bella waits for my reaction.

“Well, hot diggity damn, he has never said a word. The sneaky old man.” I give my attention to Bella who is now chewing her lip, showing she’s somewhat concerned with my reaction. “I’m thrilled for you both. Look after him, Bella. He’s had a hard time of it previously.”

“I will, I promise, Alpha Adira.”

“Okay, then, we have to get back to the farmhouse and get some work done or the day will be gone. Barrik with Robbie and Papa will storm into the place expecting a welcome of drinks and food. Both they will get after I’ve spoken to Jenni.” I grin as I walk over to the counter. Pay for our meals after telling Mavis to be quiet. I ask Jenni to bring food over so that I can pop into the oven and keep warm, ready for the three of them to return.

Back at the farmhouse I sign the official bank paperwork, which will free the account for the Strongbow Pack finances, my inheritance and the deeds for the territory. I place them in the large envelope and seal it tightly.

“What exactly are Robbie and Earnest doing at Alpha James' pack?” Mavis asks.

“They are going to help plan a vegetable garden. Give them a list of what they need, and how to do whatever it is they need to do. I didn’t get involved, Mavis. Honestly, it’s Robbie’s baby and he can do it,” I reply.

“He was very excited, and I was surprised when Earnest quickly jumped in to go with him. I wasn’t surprised Alpha Barrik went as it was a good time to visit his brother.”

Later, after our evening meal, Barrik and I have retired to our room. I’ve heard most of what happened with the garden and it sounds like Alpha James will do whatever is needed to get a garden for the kitchen relatively the same as ours.

I was shocked when Barrik tells me he has a plan to make it easier for us to access the Strongbow packlands. “What do you mean?” I ask, rather shocked hearing he has discussed something with Alpha James.

“It is awkward to always have to ask for permission to cross the bottom of the Dark Water packland so I suggested he give us a mile strip at the bottom of his land, and in return we will give him a mile strip on the side where Strongbow packland meets the Dark Water packland. It’s a simple solution, and we can give him permission to cross our mile strip if it is of an urgent nature.” Barrik leans back on the headboard and waits for me to digest what he has told me.

“What about we give James up to the river? It’s only just over the mile you are speaking of. But doing it that way would be simpler, and we can mark out an area with James where we can cross to Strongbow territory.” I lean back against Barrik and he wraps his arms around me, holding me back to his side. “Better yet would be for James to move his pack to the Strongbow territory and wetake over his. I know it is a little smaller, but it would make more sense if he was agreeable.”

“But it is your family territory that we are talking about. Don’t you want to keep it?” Barrik kisses the top of my head, which I know is his way of showing me love.

“Trouble with that statement, Barrik, is that I have no relatives, and I don’t know the territory. With that said, I have no pull to the land. Here, I have made a home, and if it was extended to include James’ territory, it would be perfect. I know we would lose some territory, but we would have a massive amount for our pack, and I won’t resurrect the Strongbow Pack. I will always now be Hunters Bow Pack.”

“Okay, we will speak with James. But let’s clean up the Strongbow territory if needed, and look at the packhouse. If we can restore things so it is tempting to James we will have more chance of him agreeing.” Barrik turns me enough to kiss me, and of course roll on top of me. Yeah, I know where this is leading!

Chapter 29

*Barrik*

Icouldn't help but feel cheerful as I walked back to the farmhouse. I'm blissfully happy and deeply in love with my soulmate; the intensity of my feelings is breathtaking. Who would have thought my mate was so close without my knowing it.

‘We have good mate, love her and Blue.’

“Yes Rawlin we love them both. We are very lucky the Goddess gave us such an excellent mate. Maybe losing our first mate was for a reason. We learned not to take things for granted, and cherish what we have. I think of Greta occasionally, but she is our past, and as we didn’t actually mate with her, her loss wasn’t as hard as it could have been.”

‘We have what the Goddess gives us, and we live and die for them.’

“Yeah, Rawlin we do.” I close our link as I walk into the kitchen.

“Hello, Alpha Barrik.” Tassy greets me as I open the fridge and take out a bottle of water.

“Hello, Tassy, Idena. You two alright?” They are looking a little worried, so I take a moment to watch them.

“Can we speak with you for a moment?” Idena asks after she’d given me a greeting.

“Of course you can. Shall we sit here while Robbie and Earnest are outside?”

They both give me a nod as they take a seat at the table opposite from me. Tassy is the bolder of the two and I expect her to tell me what’s bothering them.

“We like it here, but our mates are not here and we would like to search for a Leap or Growl. Some call it one, some call it another. It is unusual for leopards to band together, but we would like to have somewhere we belong and can have cubs.” Tassy looks embarrassed but I understand they want a partner.

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